University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

Funded by National Science Foundation and the University of Puerto Rico

NSF-HRD 0206200 (2002-2007); NSF HRD 0734826 (2007-2012)

MISSION State-of-the-art research in conservation biology

and environmental issues

Training of human resources at the graduate, undergraduate and post-doctoral levels

Infrastructure improvement

Production of relevant results for policy and conservation management.

promote research programs that synthesize multiple levels of biological organization, from genes to environment.

produce high quality research scientists and students (graduate and undergraduate) in areas of applied ecology and conservation.

Objectives

To become an institutionalized leading research center in applied tropical ecology and conservation in the Netropics.

GOAL

Strategic alliance-building partners:

Department of Natural Resources

and EnvironmentGovernment of Puerto Rico

University of Puerto Rico MayagüezRio Piedras Agricultural Experimental Station

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

USDA Forest ServiceInternational Institute of Tropical

Forestry

US Fish and Wildlife Service

National Zoological Park- Conservation Research Center

Caribbean Water Science Center

Institute of Tropical Ecosystem Studies

Research partnersInternational

Jardín Botánico NacionalDr. Rafael Ma. MoscosoSanto Domingo, R.D.

Universidad Simón Bolívar

Chelonia

Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo

National

Universidade Sao Paulo

UNESCOInternational Hydrology

Biodiversity Conservation Under a Scenario of Climate

Change in the Caribbean

Why the Caribbean?

The Caribbean archipelago is considered to be among the first ten biodiversity hotspots worldwide due to their high number of species and endemics. Puerto Rico, Cuba and Hispaniola have 30% of the species in the archipelago.

Climate change is expected to affect biodiversity, particularly in tropical islands, where species are vulnerable to extinction due to their prolonged isolation from continental gene pools and the introduction of exotic species.

The Caribbean is affected by the Southern Oscillation (ENSO and La Niña), the North Atlantic Oscillation and changes in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.

Natural and anthropogenic disturbance regimes are expected to be changing simultaneously.

Natural ecosystems in tropical islands and reefs are vulnerable to climate change because climatic conditions largely control population and community dynamics.

Even modest climate changes can alter the life cycle of many species.

Precipitation trends in the Caribbean- Neelin et al. 2006

5-30% less precipitation within the next hundred years

Climate change effects on ocean temperatures

What effects do these disturbances have on the biota, function and landscape of tropical islands and the coastal linked ecosystems such as coral reefs?

Research AreasMEEG – Molecular Ecology, Evolution and Genetics

Addresses conservation issues using molecular markers to understand the phylogeny, the spatial distribution of genetic diversity, and species

interactions in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

SPM - Species and Population ManagementAddresses the impact of interactions between exotic and native species, and understanding patterns of regional diversification and distribution of

endangered species and species of economic importance

EPF - Ecosystem Processes and FunctionAddresses the response of terrestrial and marine species to temporal and

spatial variation in climate as well as anthropogenic changes in land use on ecosystem structure and function

http://www.catec.upr.edu

OFFICES: FB 301-AUPR-Rio PiedrasTEL: 787-764-0000 EXT. 2914, 7365FAX: 787-773-1622