About the Project

Mangrove ecosystems of the greater Caribbean region face growing threats from increasingly frequent tropical cyclones. The resilience of these ecosystems is being tested by the combined effects of cyclones, sea level rise, hydrologic changes, and coastal development. In 2017, Jobos Bay NERR and Rookery Bay NERR sustained severe impacts from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, respectively. Just five years later, both reserves were again impacted by powerful hurricanes (Hurricanes Fiona and Ian). Both reserves realized a need to understand storm impacts and recovery trends in mangrove forests. A team of scientists, managers, and educators from Florida and Puerto Rico came together to address this need through the Mangrove Coast Collaborative project and the Limits to Resilience project. These projects have strengthened partnerships between the two reserves, increased understanding of the factors influencing recovery from hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Florida, and informed management to better maintain resilient mangrove forests.

About the Data

The project generated fourteen datasets of field assessments, hydrologic monitoring data, habitat maps, and mangrove interannual change maps for Jobos Bay and Rookery Bay NERRs. The dataset description outlines field data collection types, methods, and locations.

List of project datasets

1. Post-hurricane Maria mangrove forest structure data, Jobos Bay NERR (Mar - Aug 2022)
2. Post-hurricane Irma mangrove forest structure data, Rookery Bay NERR (Feb 2022 - Mar 2023)
3. Post-hurricane Maria mangrove forest understory data, Jobos Bay NERR (Mar - Aug 2022)
4. Post-hurricane Irma mangrove forest understory data, Rookery Bay NERR (Feb 2022 - Mar 2023)
5. Down woody debris data in mangrove forests, Jobos Bay NERR (Mar - Aug 2022)
6. Down woody debris data in mangrove forests, Rookery Bay NERR (Feb 2022 - Mar 2023)
7. Hydrologic monitoring data in mangrove forests, Jobos Bay NERR (Apr - Dec 2024)
8. Hydrologic monitoring data in mangrove forests, Rookery Bay NERR (Apr - Dec 2024)
9. Habitat maps for Jobos Bay NERR (2014 - 2020)
10. Habitat maps for Jobos Bay NERR (2021 - 2024)
11. Habitat maps for Rookery Bay NERR (2014 - 2020)
12. Habitat maps for Rookery Bay NERR (2021 - 2024)
13. Mangrove interannual change maps for Jobos Bay NERR (2014 - 2024)
14. Mangrove interannual change maps for Rookery Bay NERR (2014 - 2024)

Please note:

• Datasets 1 - 6, 9, and 11 are associated with the Mangrove Coast Collaborative project.
• Datasets 7, 8, 10, and 12 - 14 are associated with the Limits of Resilience project.
• Datasets 13 and 14 are derived from datasets created during both projects.

Data access and archival:
All datasets are available from the NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO). Datasets may be requested as a single package by following the blue data request button to the top right of this page.

Questions about these datasets can be directed to:
Danielle Ogurcak ([email protected]), Digna Rueda Roa ([email protected]), and Tylar Murray
([email protected])