Michelle Scharer Umpierre

Central New York – Puerto Rico AGEP
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez


The purpose of my research in biological oceanography is to analyze how the abundance and distribution of marine benthic habitats at Mona Island Natural Reserve control the abundance, distribution, and species composition of coral reef fishes to ultimately inform the management community of the effectiveness of the marine protected area. Underwater visual surveys of the coral reef fish community performed throughout the insular platform provide a “seascape approach” that emphasizes the connectivity among habitats throughout fish development in the determination of essential habitat. The localized distribution patterns of key habitats used as settling, nursery and spawning grounds suggest that zoning patterns of no-take versus open areas will be important in maintaining populations. As an isolated island in the middle of a partial bio-oceanographic boundary, healthy fish communities at Mona Island are essential both for population maintenance and genetic connectivity between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Study results will be presented to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources within the context of management implications for this marine protected area, and will also provide a spatially explicit baseline for monitoring the effectiveness of the no-take zone.

Click here to edit your profile