The Vieques Project > NOAA Projects > NOAA 2006 R.V. Nancy Foster Cruise

NOAA Projects

NOAA R.V. Nancy Foster Cruise, April 5 - April 15, 2006

Map showing the location of 7 sampling sites in southeastern Puerto Rico and Vieques. Sites 1, 2, and 3 are cross shelf transects.

As part of NOAA’s research programs to promote coral reef and seagrass conservation and protection we are conducting a series of studies the vicinity of southeastern Puerto Rico and Vieques Island .  The cruise scheduled aboard the R.V. Nancy Foster for the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico and Vieques Island between April 5^th and April 15^th, 2006 is planned as part of a multidisciplinary effort to continue NCCOS and NOS strategic plan research directed toward the mission of coastal stewardship in U.S. Trust waters.  This cruise will continue our previous work in Puerto Rico such as:

1. Fishery habitat research to assist in the development of proposals for marine protected areas and the restoration of Vieques Island;
2. Seagrass habitat characterization, distribution and abundance in eastern Puerto Rico and Vieques;
3. Calibration of seagrass disturbance and recovery forecasting models, and
4. Habitat utilization by Antillean manatees. 

We are also adding an additional focus of study pertaining to the withdrawal of the U.S. Navy from Vieques Island and the subsequent restoration of marine resources in Vieques. 

During the FY06 cruise our projects will cover three specific research topic areas:

1. Field sampling for calibration of a seagrass injury recovery model and development of a forecasting model for predicting the impact of physical disturbance on seagrass communities;
2. Comparative analysis of fish populations across habitat gradients on bank-shelf transects from extending from mangrove fringe out to seagrass and coral reefs, to include both southeastern Puerto Rico and the island of Vieques, and
3. Characterization of benthic habitats utilized by Antillean Manatees.    

Pre-existing seagrass injury and disturbance sites surveyed in southeastern Puerto Rico and Vieques before and after Hurricanes Georges (1998) will be re-sampled to evaluate the rates of recovery, species composition and effects of physical disturbance on the seagrass community.   Data from these studies will enable us to calibrate our tropical seagrass recovery model over a significantly longer time horizon and better understand how to distinguish between the effects of natural and human induced disturbances in oligotrophic seagrass communities.  These improved models will significantly enhance the capabilities of resource managers and economists to assess damages and develop restoration plans for seagrass communities.  Likewise, comparative analyses of intensively surveyed fish communities in La Pargara (FY01 and FY02) with similar mangrove, seagrass and coral habitats in southeastern Puerto Rico and Vieques Island will significantly improve our understanding of the complex connections and interactions between adjacent coastal ecosystems and the ecological services they provide.  These studies are critical to the development of forecasting models for predicting seagrass response to natural and anthropogenic stresses and to assess alternative management strategies to promote the recovery and conservation of seagrass meadows, associated fish communities, and the endangered Antillean manatee in southeastern Puerto Rico and Vieques.

For more information:

• NOAA Ship Nancy Foster Cruise Plan (179 kb PDF)
• NOAA Ship Nancy Foster Ship Log web site