Sampling Matrix Transcends Scales:  Recreation : High, Medium, and Low Use  Road Size : Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Class 4, and Trail  Stream Class : Low, Medium, High (Relative Size) Modeling Complex Interactions of Overlapping River and Road Networks in a Changing Landscape Road Network - Human Activity Stream Network - Aquatic Biology Human Activity - Stream Network Aquatic Biology - Human Activity Stream Network - Road Network NSF Biocomplexity Grant Collaborators: John Loomis 1, Melinda Laituri 1, Jorge A Ramírez 1, Kirk Sherrill 1 and Ellen Wohl 1, Alan Covich 2, Paul Box 3, Todd Crowl 3, and Kaite Hein 3, Armando González-Cabán 4, Elías Gutíerrez 5, and Luis Santiago 5, and Andy Pike 6, Fred Scatena 6, and Dana Tomlin 6. 1 Colorado State University, 2 University of Georgia, 3 Utah State University, 4 USDA Forest Service, 5 University of Puerto Rico, and 6 University of Pennsylvania Integrative tool for database management and analysis. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Travel time is an important factor in human activity and access to recreational river sites. Stream communities are a function of elevation, waterfall and human activities. Arrows show species distribution from mouth to headwater reaches. The importance of road and river network intersections in determining dynamic changes to landscapes will be tested using individual/agent-based simulation modeling that integrates field-based physical, biological and social sub-models.  Evaluate the Direct Effects of Roads on River Hydrology and Aquatic Species  Evaluate Indirect Effects of Roads on Water Quality and Aquatic Species from the Recreation Visitation Roads make possible  Understand Interactions across space, time and themes (Biotic, Physical, Social) Objectives: Hypothesis: As road density increases, habitat connectivity decreases. There is an increase in the number of perturbations in ecological connections that effect processes such as species migration (shrimp), stream flows, and disturbance regimes. Why this study area? Three river networks in Puerto Rico have similar elevational gradients, hydrological regimes, steep-headwater channels, drainage areas, vegetative cover, food-web composition, and seasonally defined recreational uses. They differ in road densities and access by visitors via roads. Land uses (urban, rural, and tropical forest) in each of these three tropical coastal watersheds reflect elevation, with human developments primarily along the coastal plain. Shrimp species richness and average visitor use of rivers are inversely related Aquatic Biology - Road Network SWARM: Individual Agent Based Model Society Demand Economic Demand Recreation Hydrology Geology Vegetation Habitat Trophic Migration Road Traits Connectivity Usage Streams are influenced by road effects due to road proximity and density.  Identify feed back loops  Recognize Interconnects  Create Education and Outreach through K-12 partnerships  Determine Emergent Properties across scales Higher stream flows may inhibit human activities along streams. River-road intersections create visitor access to streams where aquatic species can be harvested and water quality can be effected. Stream Network Road Network Topography River - Road Nodes