Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Encyclopedia
Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR, sometimes JOBNERR or JOBANERR) is a federally protected estuary
in Aguirre
, Puerto Rico
. The bay is an intertidal tropical ecosystem dominated by seagrass beds
, coral reef
s, and mangrove
s. In an area of 1140 hectare
s, the reserve contains five distinct habitat types and provides sanctuary to several endangered species. JBNERR is one of 27 reserves that comprise the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)
National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The reserve is operated in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA).
and Guayama. Most of the land in the reserve was owned by the Aguirre Corporation, which operated an extensive sugarcane farm and sugar mill in the region. After the burst of the sugar industry, the corporation closed in 1980 and sold the land to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. JBNERR was established as a National Estuarine Sanctuary in 1981.
Since the 1980s, land-use in the areas surrounding JBNERR has continued to change. The reserve borders the Aguirre State Forest
on the East, a fisherman village (Las Mareas) on the West, and agricultural and residential land on the north. Due to urbanization in the region and shifting irrigation regimes, watershed dynamics have changed significantly.
, mangrove forests
, mudflat
s, and evergreen
littoral forests. Jobos is the second largest estuary in Puerto Rico by total area and the largest (by a factor of three) by total coastline . The Jobos mangroves are estimated to comprise 42.6% of that habitat type on the south coast of Puerto Rico.
At least seven endangered species can be found at JBNERR.
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
in Aguirre
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The bay is an intertidal tropical ecosystem dominated by seagrass beds
Seagrass
Seagrasses are flowering plants from one of four plant families , all in the order Alismatales , which grow in marine, fully saline environments.-Ecology:...
, coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s, and mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s. In an area of 1140 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s, the reserve contains five distinct habitat types and provides sanctuary to several endangered species. JBNERR is one of 27 reserves that comprise the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The reserve is operated in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA).
History
Jobos Bay is located on the south coast of Puerto Rico in Aguirre, between SalinasSalinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
and Guayama. Most of the land in the reserve was owned by the Aguirre Corporation, which operated an extensive sugarcane farm and sugar mill in the region. After the burst of the sugar industry, the corporation closed in 1980 and sold the land to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. JBNERR was established as a National Estuarine Sanctuary in 1981.
Since the 1980s, land-use in the areas surrounding JBNERR has continued to change. The reserve borders the Aguirre State Forest
Aguirre State Forest
The Aguirre State Forest is a nature reserve on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It consists mainly of mangroves and floodplain forest and borders on the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Aguirre State Forest is owned and maintained by the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.-External...
on the East, a fisherman village (Las Mareas) on the West, and agricultural and residential land on the north. Due to urbanization in the region and shifting irrigation regimes, watershed dynamics have changed significantly.
Ecology
Jobos Bay is a tropical estuary with five distinct habitat types grading roughly from the ocean landward: coral reefs, seagrass bedsSeagrass
Seagrasses are flowering plants from one of four plant families , all in the order Alismatales , which grow in marine, fully saline environments.-Ecology:...
, mangrove forests
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
, mudflat
Mudflat
Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...
s, and evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
littoral forests. Jobos is the second largest estuary in Puerto Rico by total area and the largest (by a factor of three) by total coastline . The Jobos mangroves are estimated to comprise 42.6% of that habitat type on the south coast of Puerto Rico.
At least seven endangered species can be found at JBNERR.
See also
- National Estuarine Research Reserve System
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
- EstuaryEstuaryAn estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....