United States Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agriculture Forest Service Service Refuges And Other Nearby Reserves In Southwestern Puerto Rico International Institute of Tropical Forestry General Technical Peter L. Weaver and Joseph J. Schwagerl Report IITF-40 Front cover Top, Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. The Cabo Rojo Salt flats, critical wildlife habitat at the southwestern tip of Puerto Rico, boast a long history of wildlife use and human activity (Photo by Jorge Salivia). Bottom, Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge. Farming and water diversion measures around the Cartagena Lagoon in southwestern Puerto Rico have modified its water quality and regimen (Photo by Peter L. Weaver) . Top, Wildlife refuge. Welcome to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge via Mariano Rodríguez Lane (Photo by Peter L. Weaver). Bottom, Headquarters. First constructed to monitor regional communications, the original headquarters was the home of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 35 years (Photo by Peter L. Weaver). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuges And Other Nearby Reserves In Southwestern Puerto Rico Peter L. Weaver International Institute of Tropical Forestry U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Río Piedras, Puerto Rico and Joseph J. Schwagerl U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico June 2009 International Institute of Tropical Forestry Jardín Botánico Sur 1201 Calle Ceiba San Juan, PR 00926-1119 Contents Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... vii Background Information ................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 Objectives and Parameters .................................................................................................. 1 Administrative Details ........................................................................................................ 2 Historical Perspective ......................................................................................................... 2 Environmental Conditions of the Refuges ................................................................... 6 Geology .............................................................................................................................. 6 Soils ................................................................................................................................... 9 Physiography and Hydrology ............................................................................................. 13 Climate ................................................................................................................................ 14 Flora ...................................................................................................................................... 17 Major Forest Types in the Southwest ................................................................................. 18 Other Vegetation Types ....................................................................................................... 19 Vegetation Types at the Refuges ......................................................................................... 19 Fauna on the Refuges ....................................................................................................... 21 Mammals ............................................................................................................................ 21 Birds .................................................................................................................................. 25 Reptiles and Amphibians .................................................................................................... 35 Fish ..................................................................................................................................... 36 Other Flora and Fauna ........................................................................................................ 37 Environmental Issues ....................................................................................................... 37 Endangered Species .......................................................................................................... 39 Management Activities ..................................................................................................... 41 Fire and Habitat Restoration ............................................................................................... 41 Cartagena Lagoon ............................................................................................................... 46 Structures and Improvements ............................................................................................. 48 Collaborative Activities ...................................................................................................... 50 Public Use of Refuges ....................................................................................................... 51 Visitors ................................................................................................................................ 51 Special Use permits ........................................................................................................... 52 Other Major Protected Areas in the Southwest .......................................................... 52 Boquerón Commonwealth Forest ....................................................................................... 52 Boquerón Wildlife Refuge .................................................................................................. 55 Guánica Commonwealth Forest ......................................................................................... 57 iii Contents (continued) Page Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo Lighthouse ............................................................................ 58 Parguera Natural Reserve ................................................................................................... 59 Punta Guaniquilla Natural Reserve .................................................................................... 60 General Observations and Research in Southwestern Puerto Rico ....................... 61 Flora—Mangroves and Phenology ..................................................................................... 62 Fauna—Birds ...................................................................................................................... 62 Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge Studies—Headquarters Tract and Municipality ................................................................................................................ 62 Flora—Tree Genetics, Mistletoe, and Restoration ............................................................. 62 Fauna—Birds ...................................................................................................................... 63 Other Fauna ........................................................................................................................ 64 Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge Studies—Salinas Tract ................................. 64 Lagoon System and Its Wildlife ......................................................................................... 64 Fauna—Shorebirds and Wading Birds ................................................................................ 65 Fauna—Sea Turtles ............................................................................................................. 66 Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge Studies—Lagoon Tract .................. 66 Water Quality, Insects, and Earthworms ............................................................................. 66 Native Bird Species ............................................................................................................ 66 Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge Studies—Tinaja Tract ................... 67 Secondary Succession and Restoration .............................................................................. 67 Boquerón Commonwealth Forest .................................................................................. 67 Fauna—Bird Species .......................................................................................................... 67 Guánica Commonwealth Forest .................................................................................... 69 Climatic Influences ............................................................................................................. 69 Flora—Forest and Tree Species .......................................................................................... 69 Fauna—Bird Monitoring Studies ....................................................................................... 70 Fauna—Individual Bird Species ......................................................................................... 71 Fauna—Lizards and Geckos ..............................................................................................