Desecheo Island
Sabanetas |
Desecheo (
Flora and fauna
Desecheo, which has no known bodies of
Geology
Although politically part of Puerto Rico, along with the islands of
History
No evidence of
On May 12, 2022, 11 Haitian migrants died, 31 were rescued and others were feared missing, near Desecheo Island after their boat capsized on its way to Puerto Rico, from Haiti.[5]
Conservation and Restoration
In the early
Invasive mammals, including goats and rats, began to impact Desecheo NWR early in the 20th century. Around and during the time of World War II, the island was used as an artillery range by the US Air Force. That and the invasive species’ damage to Desecheo's ecosystem have been severe, and by the turn of the millennium, virtually no seabirds were using the refuge. [6] In response, in 2016 the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Island Conservation, and other key partners, including the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Bell Laboratories and Tomcat, worked together to remove invasive black rats and Rhesus macaques from the island.[7][8][9][10]
One year later, Desecheo Island was declared free of invasive species, and signs of recovery were observed, including Audubon's shearwaters sighted on the island for the first time and new bridled tern nests discovered. [11][6][12] In addition, 72 Federally protected Higo Chumbo cactus, (Harrisia portoricensis), were found and measured pre (2003-2010) and post eradication (2017). In 2017, individuals with flowers and huge yellow fruits were observed which is a good sign for the overall reproductive status of the population.[13][14]
Since 2018, social attraction equipment has been installed to augment bridled tern and brown noddy colonies and establish a species of conservation concern, the Audubon's shearwater.[15]
Diving
Because of a healthy reef and clear waters, with common visibility ranging from 98 to 148 feet (30 to 45 m), Desecheo is a very popular place for diving enthusiasts. Although diving is permitted around the island, the refuge is closed to the public due to the presence of unexploded military ordinances. Trespassers are subject to arrest by Federal law enforcement officers.
Amateur radio
As a separately administered area, under
See also
- Geography of Puerto Rico
- Islands of Puerto Rico
References
- Citations
- doi:10.5479/si.00775630.251.1. Archived from the original(PDF) on February 21, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2006.
- UPR-Mayagüez Departament of Biology Herbarium. Archived from the originalon April 21, 2002. Retrieved July 10, 2006.
- ^ Desecheo - Welcome to Puerto Rico.org. Retrieved on August 14, 2006.
- ^ Guia Informativa para la Pesca Recreativa en Puerto Rico (aka, Reglamento de Pesca de Puerto Rico). Caribbeanfmc.com. Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. Negociado de Pesca y Vida Silvestre. 3rd Edition. 2011. Appendix 2. Page 20. Accessed 24 March 2016.
- ^ "Eleven dead after Haitian migrant vessel capsizes near Puerto Rico". Reuters. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c May 2, 2020 (June 27, 2017). "Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge safe from invasive mammals after nearly 100 years". Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. US Fish & Wildlife.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - ^ "Applying lessons learnt from tropical rodent eradications: a second attempt to remove invasive rats from Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico" (PDF). ISSG. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ "Rhesus macaque eradication to restore the ecological integrity of Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge, Puerto Rico". IUCN. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ "Restoring Wildlife Habitat on Desecheo Island". USFWS. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
- ^ "Desecheo Island Restoration Project". Island Conservation.
- ^ "Seabirds Return to Desecheo Island One Year After Restoration". Island Conservation. June 27, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "After Nearly a Century, Desecheo Wildlife can Thrive Again". Island Conservation. June 27, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ISSN 1863-5407.
- ^ "The Threatened Higo Chumbo Cactus Resurges on Desecheo Island!". Island Conservation. November 29, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ISSN 2688-8319.
- ^ "American Hams to Lead 2009 DXpedition to Desecheo Island". ARRL.org. October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- ^ "K5D - Desecheo Island 2009". KP5.us. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
- ^ "News / Updates". KP1-5.com. October 19, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
- Other information