NOAA NCCOS Assessment: Agency priorities for mapping coral reef ecosystems in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 2021-11-03 to 2022-01-14

Description:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) developed a spatial framework, process, and online application (Buja and Christensen 2019) to identify mapping needs along the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island (USVI) coasts to support shallow coral reef management by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Participants from local, federal, academic, and other institutions (sixteen in Puerto Rico, eighteen in USVI), entered their priorities in an online participatory Geographic Information System (pGIS). Participants used virtual coins to denote their priorities in 2.6 km² hexagonal grid cells overlaid on the study area, individually for Puerto Rico and USVI. Grid cells with more coins were higher priorities than cells with fewer coins. Participants also reported why these locations were important, what data types were needed, and data collection methodologies using a pre-set list of options. Results were compiled, summarized, and mapped to identify high priority areas, reasons for those priorities, and information needs. Identifying these high priority areas provide a critical spatial framework for prioritizing mapping efforts in shallow coral reef ecosystems in Puerto Rico and USVI.

Purpose:

The overall goal of the project was to systematically gather and quantify suggestions for mapping needs to support management of shallow coral reef ecosystems along the coasts of Puerto Rico and USVI. This dataset supports these goals by compiling input from a diversity of regional experts on their recommended priorities for mapping data collection.

Methods:

An advisory group was established which included individuals from NOAA CRCP and NOAA Fisheries. This advisory team customized the pGIS process specifically to meet the needs of CRCP and local coral reef manager priorities. In the online pGIS, the Puerto Rico study area was divided into 2007 hexagonal grid cells 2.6 km2 in size. The USVI study area was divided into 644 hexagonal grid cells 2.6 km2 in size. Existing relevant spatial datasets (e.g., bathymetry, Sanctuary Protection Areas, etc.) were provided as a digital atlas to help participants understand information and data gaps within the project area and to identify locations they wanted to prioritize for future data collections. The pGIS was used by 16 participants in Puerto Rico and 18 participants in USVI to convey their recommendations. Each Puerto Rico participant was provided with 600 virtual coins to place into grid cells that they wished to prioritize. Each USVI participant was provided with 200 coins. They were instructed to place more coins in grid cells that were higher priorities. A maximum of 60 coins could be placed into an individual grid cell in Puerto Rico by each respondent, and a maximum of 20 coins could be place into an individual grid cell in USVI. Respondents also reported why these locations were important by selecting a minimum of one, and a maximum of two, management uses from the following list: endangered species management (e.g.,), habitat restoration, monitoring, coastal vulnerability planning, watershed management, fisheries management, consultations and permitting, emergency response, and spatial protection and management. Respondents also reported requirements of data were needed in priority cells. A minimum of one, to a maximum of two choices were selected from the following list: delineations of large topographic features, delineations of hard vs. soft bottom, models of habitat suitability for key taxa or communities, delineations of substrate type (e.g. sand, mud, coral, rock), models of presence/absence or density of corals, identification of coral species and their local environments, documentation of individual specimen condition. Coin values were summarized and mapped to identify high priority areas, reasons for those priorities, and information needs. This ESRI shapefile contains the 2.6 km2 grid cells used in this prioritization and their associated coin values overall, as well as by management use, data product, and mapping methodology. Other summary values include the number of participants, number of participating groups, number of management uses, and number of data requirements. Additionally, coins for microscale (identification of coral species and their local environments and documentation of individual specimen condition), mesoscale (delineations of substrate type, models of presence/absence/density of corals), and regional (delineations of topographic features, delineations of hard vs. soft bottom, models of habitat suitability) requirements were summarized. Also included is a ranking of each grid cell based on the total number of coins, management uses, and participating groups allocating coins in the respective cell. For a complete description of the process and analysis see: Kraus et al. 2022, in prep.