B072-05
Resilience of the Mangrove Coast: Understanding Links between Degradation, Recovery, and Community Benefits at the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) of Jobos Bay (SE Puerto Rico) and Rookery Bay (SW Florida) - A NERR System Science Collaborative Program

Friday, 11 December 2020: 19:16
Virtual
Frank E Muller-Karger1, Danielle E Ogurcak2, Brita Jessen3, Sara Mason4, Matthew James McCarthy5,6, Jessica McIntosh7, Aitza Pabon8, Angel Dieppa9, Carmen Gonzalez9, Milton Muñoz Hincapie9, Ernesto Olivares Gomez10, Jeffrey Carter11, Keith Laakkonen12, Sarah Falkowski12, Jill Schmid12, Marissa Figueroa12, Tylar Murray13 and Digna T Rueda-Roa14, (1)University of South Florida Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States, (2)Florida International University, Institute of Water and Environment, Miami, FL, United States, (3)Department of Environmental Protection Florida, Naples, FL, United States, (4)Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Durham, NC, United States, (5)University of South Florida St. Petersburg, IMaRS, St Petersburg, FL, United States, (6)Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States, (7)Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Naples, FL, United States, (8)Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponce, PR, United States, (9)Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponce, United States, (10)Departamento De Recursos Naturales Y Ambientales (DRNA), San Juan, United States, (11)Florida Department of Environmental Protection, RB NERR, Naples, United States, (12)Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Naples, United States, (13)University of South Florida, ST. Petersburg, United States, (14)University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Recorded Presentation
Abstract:
For tropical and subtropical coastlines, mangrove wetlands provide substantial ecosystem services and economic value including storm buffering and essential wildlife habitat. Within the US National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System, mangrove ecosystems are dominant within two: Jobos Bay (SE Puerto Rico) and Rookery Bay (SW Florida). Both reserves are located in areas of high frequency of landfall of Category 3-5 storms. Mangrove forests have adapted to storm events through a cycle of mortality and regeneration. However, the extent of mortality and ecosystem recovery for a site is highly variable and dependent on proximity to hurricane landfall, local storm effects, geomorphic characteristics, and the legacy of prior disturbances. In 2017, Hurricanes Maria and Irma severely impacted natural and human communities in Jobos Bay and Rookery Bay reserves, respectively. Through a series of interviews in 2019 the managers and local communities of Jobos Bay and Rookery Bay NERRs identified a need to better understand storm damage and long-term damage and recovery trends. The two NERRs and several academic, state and federal partners are working to define an observing program that includes remote sensing and human and automated field observations to inform the public. The partnership brings together experts that collaborate with the NERR program and with the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON). The scientific information would be used to shape management options for enhanced recovery and resilience. Preliminary assessments of damage due to Hurricane Irma (September of 2017) and recovery at Rookery Bay NERRs have been done using WorldView-2 satellite images (2 meter resolution and field observations collected between 2010 and 2018. Hurricane related degradation of mangroves was estimated at 17% (~5 km2) of total previous mangrove forest cover. Approximately 35% (1.7 km2) of these mangroves recovered one year after Hurricane Irma.
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