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ee Fer ST FABIAN JOLLA DCOLOGGICAL oo, ee ee RESEARCH STATION ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 1590 Prepared for Virgin Isiands National Park Service by Dr. Lisa Muehlstein Assistant Research Professor Environmental Research Center Caribbean Research Institute University of the Virgin Islands March 1991 VIRGIN ISLANDS ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION ACTIVITY REPORT FOR 1294 INTRODUCTION. ' In a continuing effort to meet the requirements of the memorandum of understanding between the University of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands National Park, the following report has been prepared outlining the activities of the Virgin Islands Ecological Research Station (VIERS) for 1990. | | | The primary focus of the program at VIERS is environmental education appropriate for the Virgin Islands community and various research projects primarily directed at marine habitats. Stateside educational groups and | scientists are encouraged to use the facilities. The staff members of the Environmental Research Center (ERC) and VIERS have a significant commitment to maintain the standards of © VIERS and uphold the memorandum of understanding with the. “Virgin Islands National Park Service. FACILITY. IMPROVEMENTS | The seawater tables located behind the shore laboratory were completely rebuilt to replace the tables lost in the hurricdne in 1989. Two large seawater tables are available for use with an efficient system of constant seawater -. aeration. | ‘Improvements to the main station facilities continued, including many minor repairs to the cabins. A new washing “Machine was purchased for the facility, a new Ford pick-up “truck was. purchased to replace the old truck and a new computer and printer were put into the main office. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION “An environmental education program was started at VIERS. The staff members were available for mangrove walks, beach walks as well as walks focused on terrestrial botany and medicinal uses of local piants. The staff members emphasize environmental awareness to all student groups using the facility. | : | FACILITY USE - There has been an increase in the use of VIERS during the 1990 year. The most noticeable increase was in the use by local groups for environmental education purposes. There were a total of nine local groups using the facility in 1990, compared to only three in i989. WATOR RESEARCH PROJECTS AT VIERS Dr. Lisa Muehlistein - Caribbean Research Institute Algal census. Macroscopic algae on Yawzi reef and surrounding areas was documented, including species present. and percent cover of algae. This work is ongoing and conducted in cooperation with the NPS as a portion of the NPS long-term coral reef monitoring project. Seagrass ecology. A research project documenting the recovery of the seagrass bed following the extensive damage from Hurricane Hugo including successional patterns and | areal recovery was established. Three permanent transects were established in Great Lameshur Bay. Basic ecological parameters including productivity, shoot densities and | community structure of the seagrass bed were monitored over the year. A study examining disease related seagrass declines and effect on seagrass Loss to coastal erosion was. initiated. (Projects funded by Sea Grant and US Geological Survey) an _ | Dr. Irwin Ting - University of California, Riverside _ Growth of the strangler fig, Clusia rosea. Dr. Ting conducted post~hurricane assessment of strangler fig | populations found on St. John. Dr. Ting also continued his extensive research on Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis in Clusia rosea and other plant species. Dr. Ting returned in the summer with a group of teachers from California for a terrestrial botany course. Dr. Peter Edmunds - Northeastern University Coral reef ecology. Continuing researcn was conducted to study the progress and effects of the black band disease in Great Lameshur Bay. Photo quadrats were used to document the disease and determine mortality as well as -recolonization. Ongoing research was conducted on the progress and effects of the bleaching phenomenon of corals. (NPS co-operative agreement) } Nr. Don Levitan - Bamfield Marine Station | -_ Population biology of Diadema antillarum. Extensive long-term research was conducted on the size, distribution, and density of the long spined black sea urchin, Diadema antillarum following the massive die-off of urchins in 1983. (NPS co-operative agreement) } Dr. Jon Whitman - Northeastern University Coral reef ecology. Long-term monitoring of coral reefs was continued in Great Laméshur Bay. Photo quadrats were used to document species abundance, species richness, overgrowth, recruitment and mortality of corals. | (NPS co-operative agreement) YIERS USERS LIST (1990) SCLENTISTS 01/12/90 - 01/14/90 : Dr. Bob Askins, Dr. Dave Ewert Connecticut College : NPS study: assessed impact of Hurricane Hugo on the local bird populations. (02/02/90 ~ 02/05/90 : Dr. Irwin Ting | University of California, Riverside Assessed impact of Hurricane Hugo on the strangler fig, Clusia rosea. 03/19/90 - 04/04/90 : Ms. Marilyn Schiltz | . University of Texas Studied the cultural significance of bush medicines on St. John. 04/26/90 - 05/11/90 : Dr. Don Levitan Bamfield Marine Station NPS study: populations dynamics of Diadema antillarun. : 07/30/90 -~08/13/90 : Mr. Rich Holdeman | : | Culver Academy, Culver, Indiana Extensive photo-documentation of coral reefs, grass beds and mangroves. | | 09/10/90 - 09/20/90 : Dr. Jon Whitman, Dr. Pete Edmunds - Northeastern University NPS study: coral reef research. “HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE GROUPS (off island) 12/28/90 - 01/09/90 : Antioch University, New York : Group leader: Dr. Ty Minton Coral reef ecology, impact of Hurricane Hugo on Great Lameshur Bay 01/03/90 05/20/90 05/27/90 06/10/90 07/09/90 01/23/90 ; 06/02/90 05/06/90 : 06/24/90: 07/22/30 “LOCAL GROUPS 03/02/90 05/01/90 05/25/90 06/05/90 06/03/90. 07/09/90 07/27/90. 03/03/90 05/03/90 05/27/90 06/07/90 06/10/90 07/20/90 07/30/90 Group leader: Ms. > Montessori School, : Antilles School Cub Scouts, St. Gustavus Adolphus College, Group leader: Dr. Myron Anderson Coral reef ecology, terrestrial ecology University of New Yor k, Oneonta Group leader: Dr. Willard Harmon Tropical marine biology Connecticut Collede Group leader: Dr. Paul Fell Tropical marine biology : Blevins. J.H.S., Colorado Group leader: Mr. Richard Martz VI History, Marine Biology University of California, Riverside Group leader: Dr. Irwin Ting Terrestrial botany VI Environmental Education Workshop Group leader: Ms. Pat Mortenson Environmental Education Good Hope School, St. Crolx Group leader: Ms. Dorothy Hutchins > Environmental Education St. Thomas > susan Russo Environmental Education Antilles: School, St. Thomas Group leader: Ms. Williams Environmental Education Group leader: Mr. Tnomas young Environmental Education Anglican Diocese, St. Thomas Group leader: Rev. Don Taylor Environmental Education : Assembly of God Group leader: Mr. Pedro Williams Environmental Education © Themas 08/07/90 ~ 08/13/90 : 09/07/90 ~ 09/09/90 MISCELLANEOUS (01/25/90 = 02/5/90 : VI Diabetics association Group leader: Mr. Steve Prosterman Environmental Education Boy Scouts of America Group leader: Mr. Van Ford Environmental Education National Park Service Trail Crew Group leader: Mr. Rabbsatt Assist VINPS with trail maintenance. Ur APPENDIX VIERS Staff Organization Coordinator, Environmental Research Center Dr. Mary Lou Coulston (January - July) Assistant Research Professor, Environmental Research Center. Dr. Lisa Muehlstein , : Program Specialist I, VIERS Patricia Moss (November - present) Program Assistant II, VIERS Donna Roberts Maintenance Leader, VIERS - Vincent Powell Maintenance Worker Iil, VIERS Ernie Clendenin Cooks, VIERS Enid Francis — Cassilda Roberts Laverne Roberts