Ramírez Irizarry, Natalia I.

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    Sources and patterns of sedimentation at reefs adjacent to a coastal Caribbean watershed, southwest Puerto Rico
    (2022-12-08) Ramírez Irizarry, Natalia I.; Sherman, Clark E.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Ramírez Martínez, Wilson R.; Canals Silander, Miguel F.; Department of Marine Sciences; Ramírez Durand, Lillian
    Terrestrial runoff and land-based sources of pollution are considered one of the most direct threats to the health of coral reefs worldwide. In this study, we use geochemical and mineralogical analysis on sediments to identify the runoff sources in reef settings southwest Puerto Rico. Sediment traps were deployed at 11 sites from inside of Guánica Bay to the insular shelf from a period of August 2009 through July 2012. During summer 2017, a single sampling event was performed and 12 sediment samples were collected across Guánica watershed. Findings showed chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) were the most useful tracers of terrigenous sediments identified at the watershed which are reaching the nearshore reefs, especially those in the south and west of the bay. On the other hand, Barium (Ba) and Vanadium (V) were abundant at the east of the bay. X-ray diffraction analysis on reefs sediment traps showed prevalence of carbonate minerals such as aragonite and calcite. This analysis showed the presence of terrigenous minerals such as quartz, at the watershed sediments. However, other terrigenous siliciclastic minerals were not observed in sediment traps from the watershed. The spatial trends in mineralogic composition of sediment trap and in the watershed were restricted occurrences. This project concludes that the Guánica Bay Watershed is a local source of terrigenous sediment, however sources at the east of the sites may also be relevant. The results suggest the use of geochemical and mineralogical analysis on sediments to identify the runoff sources is a useful technique and could be applied to other regions in Puerto Rico.