77779 Data Set Published / External 47021 NERRS Project Completed Unknown Unknown 2024-10 Shared impacts and needs following Hurricanes Irma and Maria brought together two reserves to assess mangrove recovery, leading to more holistic decision-making strategies for mangrove restoration and adaptive management. The Project Within the NERR system, Rookery Bay and Jobos Bay are unique in being the only reserves with coastlines historically dominated by mangrove habitats. These reserves also experience a higher frequency of Category 3-5 hurricanes. While mangrove forests are adapted to frequent hurricane disturbance, the resilience of mangrove ecosystems is challenged by the cumulative effects of climate change, urbanization, and water management. Against these background stressors, major hurricanes may serve as tipping points for rapid ecosystem transformation of mangrove forests. The Mangrove Coast Collaborative project began in the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma as Jobos Bay and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) jointly recognized the need to understand and enhance the resilience of their mangrove ecosystems and the surrounding communities in southeastern Puerto Rico and southwest Florida, respectively. The project's multi-disciplinary team achieved four main objectives, including: Identifying the spatial extent of the post-hurricane loss and recovery of mangrove habitat using satellite imagery; Assessing the relationships between hurricane impact and recovery in mangrove forests using field sampling; Representing the socio-ecological mangrove system at both reserves by generating a conceptual model of ecosystem services (ES) and an associated ES evidence library; and, Creating increased understanding of how managers make information-based decisions by conducting manager focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Collaborative engagements were a cornerstone of the project, with over 70 engagements conducted. User input was integrated into the development of products and was critical to the improvement of mapping products, the design of the field sampling campaign, and the development of a conceptual model of ecosystem services. Not only is the science generated during this project being used to aid management decisions and continued recovery efforts for the two reserves, the relationships and trust built among project participants serves as a platform for continued collaboration. The Impact Established a strong foundation for a long-term inter-reserve collaboration in Florida and Puerto Rico. Generated guidance to identify and prioritize management strategies that benefit natural resources and local communities at each reserve. Increased scientific knowledge of interacting drivers of mangrove stress and techniques to spatially identify regions of vulnerability. Deepened understanding of links between ecosystem resilience and human-valued services. Project Lead and Co-Technical Lead: Danielle Ogurcak, Florida International University Collaborative Leads: Marissa Figueroa, Rookery Bay NERR Jessica McIntosh, Rookery Bay NERR Aitza Pabon, Jobos Bay NERR Technical Leads: Brita Jessen, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium Sarah Mason, Duke University Digna Rueda Roa, University of South Florida Partners: Florida International University Institute of Environment; Duke University Nicholas School of Environment; University of South Florida Institute for Marine Remote Sensing Theme Coarse woody debris Theme Hurricane Maria Theme Mangrove map Theme WorldView Theme disturbance Theme field assessment Theme fine woody debris Theme habitat map Theme land cover Theme mangrove forest Theme permanent plot sampling Theme pneumatophore Theme quadrat sampling Theme regeneration Theme southwest Florida Theme transect sampling Spatial Jobos Bay, PR NERR Spatial Puerto Rico Spatial Rookery Bay Spatial Rookery Bay, FL NERR Data Set As Needed The distributor does not assume liability. 77783 Published / External Other N/A Data Steward 2015 Organization Office for Coastal Management OCM https://ror.org/05v14bq57 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ Distributor 2015 Organization Office for Coastal Management OCM https://ror.org/05v14bq57 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ Metadata Contact 2017-10-31 Person Cothran, Jeremy jeremy.cothran@gmail.com Originator 2016-11 2019 Person Ralston, David dralston@whoi.edu Ground Condition -66.262 -66.2 17.97 17.91 Jobos Bay, PR NERR -81.78 -81.455 26.1 25.8 Rookery Bay, FL NERR Range 2020-11 2024-10 Unclassified None Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC). https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Ogurcak20 2015 Organization Office for Coastal Management https://ror.org/05v14bq57 Ogurcak20 Multiple formats https://EDIrepository.org EDI repository Online Resource https://code.earthengine.google.com/43dcf3fa21c55013e0f8d8b54a1ff87f annual habitat maps Online Resource https://code.earthengine.google.com/?asset=projects/nerrs-mcc/assets/Final_mangroveMaps_MCC_Catalyst Final_mangroveMaps_MCC_Catalyst Online Resource https://code.earthengine.google.com/?asset=projects/nerrs-mcc/assets/nerrs_jobos_classmaps nerrs_jobos_classmaps Online Resource https://code.earthengine.google.com/?asset=projects/nerrs-mcc/assets/nerrs_rookery_classmaps nerrs_rookery_classmaps Online Resource https://github.com/USF-IMARS/wv-land-cover/tree/master wv-land-cover Online Resource https://github.com/USF-IMARS/wv-land-cover/tree/master/gee-uploads wv-land-cover/tree/master/gee-uploads Online Resource https://nerrs-mcc.projects.earthengine.app/view/land-classification-mosaics-jobos land-classification-mosaics-jobos Online Resource https://nerrs-mcc.projects.earthengine.app/view/land-classification-mosaics-rookery land-classification-mosaics-rookery Online Resource https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Ogurcak20 Ogurcak20 Online Resource https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Ogurcak23 Ogurcak23 Online Resource https://usf.app.box.com/s/7m79jwmg0j7sncd7fjrx0befpjjr4l38 rookery maps Online Resource https://usf.app.box.com/s/czj0v9w778wgixvqs6k5ds3otg5yf8d1 jobos maps Online Resource https://usf.app.box.com/s/z3sj5iwmyc7a1xu7x1zsxx9kj6jtc7l7 jobos map Online Resource https://usf.app.box.com/s/zfwz6jf0xqb2nv75tnhupu59prsq6qia rookery maps Online Resource N/A This information is detailed within the project links. This information is detailed within the project links. N/A 1 N/A Organization Office for Coastal Management OCM https://ror.org/05v14bq57 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ 77783 Entity gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:77779 Jeremy Cothran 2025-09-22T15:07:19 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-03-04T19:17:17 2025-09-22 Office for Coastal Management OCM 1002 Public No No 2019-11-08 3 Years 2022-11-08