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From the Mountains to the Beach: Water Purification Ecosystem Services and Recreational Beach Use in Puerto Rico

Author

Listed:
  • Maya Corridore

    (Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308, USA)

  • Rebeca de Jesús Crespo

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA)

  • Mariam Valladares-Castellanos

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA)

  • Thomas Douthat

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA)

Abstract

Recreational beach use is important for coastal economies and is influenced by water clarity, a trait that may be maintained by water purification ecosystem services (ESs). However, few studies have addressed these linkages. In this study, we ask the following questions: (1) Do watershed-scale water purification ecosystem services influence coastal water quality? (2) Does coastal water quality help explain beach visitation rates? To address these questions, we focused on Puerto Rico (PR), where coastal tourism has economic and cultural importance. We estimated water purification ESs using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST), coastal water quality using long-term monitoring data, and beach visitation rates using the InVEST Recreation model. We used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis to evaluate these linkages accounting for influential anthropogenic factors (amenities, population density, and impervious surfaces). Water purification ESs strongly predicted coastal water quality, which, in turn, significantly explained beach water clarity. However, amenities and impervious surfaces best explained beach visitation. Our study suggests a disconnect between water quality and recreational beach use in PR, which should be explored further.

Suggested Citation

  • Maya Corridore & Rebeca de Jesús Crespo & Mariam Valladares-Castellanos & Thomas Douthat, 2025. "From the Mountains to the Beach: Water Purification Ecosystem Services and Recreational Beach Use in Puerto Rico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2556-:d:1612190
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
    2. Peng, Marcus & Oleson, Kirsten L.L., 2017. "Beach Recreationalists' Willingness to Pay and Economic Implications of Coastal Water Quality Problems in Hawaii," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 41-52.
    3. Dengyue Zhao & Mingzhu Xiao & Chunbo Huang & Yuan Liang & Ziyue An, 2021. "Landscape Dynamics Improved Recreation Service of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
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