Puerto Rico Critical Wildlife Areas - Puerto DRNA - Gobierno de ...

Crustaceans
Callinectes marginatus, Cardisoma guanhumi, Goniopsis cruentata, Macrobrachium
acanthurus, M. elongate, Ocypode quadrata, Paleomonon pandaliformis, Armases ricordi, Uca
thayeri (Acosta et al 1973; DNR 1980 and 1981; Negrón et al 1984).
Fish
Awaous tajasica, Caranx hippos, Caranx latus, Centropomus enfiserus, Centropomus
pectinatus, Centropomus undecimalis, Cetengraulis endentulus, Diapterus plumieri, Eleotris
pisonsis, Elops saurus, Eucinostomus melanopterus, Gobiomorus dormitor, Gobionellus
boleosoma, Gobionellus oceanicus, Gobiosoma gemmatum, Lepomis microlophus, Lutjanus
jocu, Megalops atlantica, Mugil curema, Mugil liza, Ostethus brachyurus, Poecilia reticulata,
Poecilia vivipara, Strongylura timucu, Tilappia mossambica (Acosta et al. 1973; DNR 1980 and
1981; Negrón et al. 1984).
Mammals
Small Indian mongoose Herpestes javanicus, House mouse Mus musculus, Norway rat
Rattus novergicus, Black rat R. rattus.
Threats:
Degradation of the habitat is one of the factors responsible of the waterfowl population
decline. The HNR was heavily degraded during the 1920’s for agricultural purposes (sugar
cane). This results in deforestation and drainage of nearly all HNR coastal wetlands (DNR,
1985). Coastal forest and beach scrub were also cleared for cultivation of coconut palm (Cocos
nucifera) and grazing (Vilella and Gray 1997).
Theses lagoons store water carried from rivers and runoff from landscape. These waters
may contain contaminants, pesticides, herbicides and nutrients (DNER 1994). Frontera canal is
still listed as an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site, because of heavy metal
contamination in the late 1970’s-early 1980’s (Vilella and Gray 1997).
In the sandy beaches areas, sea turtles nesting are threatened by various human activities:
vehicles, cavalcade, and cows traveling across the nesting areas; construction near the coast;
artificial illumination; turtle eggs poaching; and killing of a nesting female. These activities
were reported for the 2003 breeding season in Humacao area (Montero 2004).
Conservation Recommendations:
Precipitation, runoff, and effluents affect water qualities in the HNR lagoons. Water
chemistry in the drainage should be continuously monitored to prevent fish kills. Management
should include water level manipulation in managed cells and vegetation control on selected
areas. For more information see the HNR ecological assessment and management plan (Vilella
and Gray 1997).
References:
Acosta, C.R.T., M.J. Vélez, and R. Woodbury. 1973. Estudio ecológico e Inventario del Pantano
de Agua Dulce de Naguabo y Humacao, Puerto Rico. U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
121