Michael Martínez-Colón November 15, 2019 Puerto Rico Sea Grant Program- Annual Report 2018-2019 (Grant no. R-104-1-18)
Annual Report: Title: Benthic foraminifera and the FORAM Index: application and implementation in the coral reef monitoring plan in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve System in Puerto Rico Name and affiliation of researchers: Michael Martínez-Colon: Florida A&M University Charles Jagoe: Florida A&M University Angel Dieppa-Ayala: Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Note to program officers: Due to delays in Federal Government assignment of funds and in paperwork processing (FAMU-Sea Grant), the research account at FAMU was initiated in November 2018. We proposed to undertake four sampling trips (March, June, September, and December). 1. March 2018: No account had been created. Dr. Martinez-Colon had an out-of-pocket expense of $850 (not reimbursable) for this sampling trip. 2. June 2018: No sampling trip was scheduled because no account was created and funds were not allocated/transferred to FAMU. 3. September 2018: FAMU’s Sponsored Research Office created an “emergency” account to cover field expenses. 4. November 2018: Account was created and funds were allocated/transferred to FAMU. 5. December 2018: Awarded Sea Grant funds were used to cover the sampling expenses. 6. A no-cost extension (until August 2021) has been approved. Results and findings: 1) Given the weather/marine conditions at the times of sampling, modifications were made to the number of stations sampled. - December 2018 sampling trip: 6 stations were not sampled. It was decided not to sample one transect in Cayo Caribe due to constant rough seas and it will become a safety issue when doing seasonal sampling if the Foram Index is implemented in Jobos Bay management plan. - March 2019 sampling trip: 6 stations were not sampled - June 2019: 4 stations were not sampled - September 2019 sampling trip: all stations were sampled The following results are based on samples collected from November 2018 and October 2019.
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