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| value | Ecological disturbance and its impacts on organisms and ecosystems is a longstanding concept in ecology. Understanding and planning for the effects of disturbances, such as extreme weather events, on natural resources may help managers respond to the impacts of extreme events more effectively. The diversity of freshwater fish species in Puerto Rico may provide natural biotic resistance and resilience to colonization by nonnative species following disturbances; however this has not yet been studied in Caribbean island freshwater ecosystems. Puerto Rico provides an ideal study location to test this hypothesis in Caribbean fish assemblages and apply the results to other similar closed freshwater island systems. We propose to determine changes in stream and river fish assemblages over time at multiple temporal scales (e.g., seasonal, annual, decadal), examine fish assemblages and fisheries dynamics in relation to biotic resistance from exotic species invasions while relating changes to landscape (e.g., dams and reservoirs) and climate influences, project changes in fish assemblages and their ecosystem services in the future, and determine the impacts on the community and stakeholders. Through regular communication, written reports, peer-reviewed publications, and other tailored communication products, we will transfer our results to regional stakeholders to help guide strategic planning efforts. Climate change is predicted to increase the number of extreme events globally, and having a clearer understanding of the impacts of such events on natural resources will help managers develop efficient adaptation strategies and allocate resources appropriately. This work will be a collaboration among the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University, USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources |
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