Coral reef ecosystems of Reserva Natural La Parguera (Puerto Rico): Spatial and temporal patterns in fish and benthic communities (2001-2007)

The report provides a spatial and temporal characterization of the fish and benthic communities of southwestern Puerto Rico, primarily within the La Parguera Natural Reserve. The reserve is a multiuse area that spans the continental shelf from the extensive mangrove forests fringing the shoreline to the complex shelfedge coral reefs that support a diverse and productive fish community. The coral reef ecosystem of La Parguera supports a locally important fishery, as well as recreational activities such as boating, snorkeling and diving. The data and synthesis in this report are intended to provide essential baseline biological information to support future management decision making. The project is a component of NOAA’s Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring (CREM) project of NOAAs Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and was conducted through an ongoing multi-agency collaboration between NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment Biogeography Branch (CCMA-BB), the University of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Government’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER).