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Population Dynamics and Conservation Significance of Native and Non-native Grass and Sedge Species on the Sand Flats of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Gerald Henry, Chase Straw
A systematic survey was conducted in 2013 to identify the plant species composition of the sand flats of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. A total of eight species were enumerated on the sand flat: broadleaf panicum (Brachiaria adspersa (Trin.) Parodi), Indian bluegrass (Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A.Camus), thin paspalum (Paspalum setaceum Michx.), goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.), common
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Predation of a Dry Forest Toad, Incilius coccifer, by a Blue-Diademed Motmot, Momotus lessonii, in Western Central Valley, Costa Rica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 José Manuel Mora, Miguel A. Rodríguez
El sapo de bosque seco, Incilius coccifer, es relativamente grande, los machos alcanzan hasta 69 mm de longitud estándar y las hembras hasta 99 mm. Este sapo prefiere hábitats relativamente abiertos y perturbados dentro de varios tipos de bosques y áreas semiabiertas o abiertas, aunque ocasionalmente es observado en hábitats boscosos. Tipos de hábitats similares son habitados por el momoto de diadema
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Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation Awareness in a Bufferzone Community: An Assessment of Public Engagement Strategies and Tools Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Dionne Newell, Eric Garraway
This study examines the impact of environmental conservation activities on the awareness of residents of a small rural community in Jamaica. Millbank lies in the buffer zone of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and is partially surrounded by a Forest Reserve. The community is considered a model for community conservation, however, there has never been a comprehensive study of the community's
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Ultrastructure Morphology of the Antennae of Oxysarcodexia corolla and Oxysarcodexia peltata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Latoya Foote-Gordon, Eric Garraway
The antennae of two Oxysarcodexia species were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology of the antennae is typical of cyclorrhaphan flies with the proximal scape, intermediate pedicel, and distal flagellum. The flagellum of Oxysarcodexia corolla has a pronounced waist due to the thickening of its proximal and distal ends. The postpedicel of O. peltata does not have a distinct waist
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Morphometrics, Diet, Reproductive Biology, and Ecological Interactions of the Introduced Redclaw Crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda: Parastacidae), in Jamaica, West Indies Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Sacha-Renée L. Todd, Eric J. Hyslop
The objectives of this study were to provide detailed information on the morphometrics and reproductive biology of the Australian native redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, outside its native range, and to study its diet and interactions with a review of potential biocontrol of invasive thiarid snails. Crayfishes were collected monthly using baited traps from two major river systems in Jamaica
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A First Look at Possible Diet-Induced Variations in the Fecal Microbiota of the Agricultural Pest Diaprepes abbreviatus Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Keislamari Cintron-Berrios, Tasha M. Santiago-Rodríguez, Paola G. Figueroa-Pratts, Sarah Latimer-Fantauzzi, Miranda Guerra-Montenegro, Gary A. Toranzos
Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), commonly known as the root weevil, is a pest feeding on more than 300 species of plants in tropical areas of the Caribbean and the United States. The principal control method is chemical pesticides, which negatively impact the environment and human health. Because it has been shown that the development and growth of many insects may be influenced by
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Morphology of Third Instar Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) and Blaesoxipha plinthopyga (Wiedemann, 1830) (Sarcophagidae); Species of Forensic Importance Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Rochelle Daley, Latoya Foote-Gordon, Eric Garraway
Forensic entomology is a growing field within the Caribbean, but lacks practical application. There remains room for further growth inclusive of primary baseline information, such as determining the identity of flies of forensic importance on the various Caribbean islands. Descriptions of morphology and biology of immature stages of some flies are also lacking, especially for the family Sarcophagidae
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Birds in the Diet of Invasive Boa imperator on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Mitchell Gilliland, Andrew M. Durso, Matthew F. Metcalf, Oscar Johnson, Sean P. Kelly, Edwin M. Everham III, Nicole F. Angeli
Giant constrictor populations in Florida and the Caribbean have top-down impacts on prey that are still poorly understood. We report opportunistically documented predation events by introduced Boa imperator (Central American Boa Constrictor) on four species of native birds on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, compare these to more detailed dietary studies from Aruba, and encourage detailed studies of
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First Documented Record of Eurema daira daira (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Coliadinae) from Cuba Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Yosiel Álvarez
The occurrence of Eurema daira daira (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on Cuba is documented for the first time. This is based on adult specimens, eggs, and pupa observed and collected in Varadero, Hicacos Peninsula, Matanzas, during November 2023. The implications of this discovery are discussed.
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Foraging Behavior of Chilabothrus inornatus Using Natural and Artificial Vines at Culebrones Cave in Arecibo, Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Fabián A. Feliciano-Rivera, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón
Culebrones cave is well known among Puerto Rican herpetologists as a bat hunting ground used by the Puerto Rican boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). As such, their foraging ecology has been previously studied. However, multiple strong hurricanes have impacted the island reducing the number of natural vines around the cave directly affecting the population of snakes foraging at the cave entrance. We compared
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First Study of Invasive Lionfish (Pterois sp.) Population Dynamics in Martinique, Lesser Antilles Using Photo-Identification Method Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Céline Valin, Célia Ortolé, Aurore Feunteun, Nathalie Duporge, Morjane Safi, Benjamin De Montgolfier
The invasive alien species Pterois sp. has strongly invaded the Western Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea since the 1980s. Many studies have been set up to monitor this species. This study is the first to carry out a follow-up of these populations by capture-marking-recapture with photo-identification in a natural environment. The monitoring was carried out over a period of five months at two sites to
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Two Neotropical Snakes Attacked as Prey by Army Ants in Costa Rica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 José Manuel Mora, Ronald Vargas, Randy Alvarado, Lucía I. López
Geophis hoffmanni y Ninia sebae pertenecen al grupo de serpientes “comedoras de gusanos” pues su dieta consiste exclusivamente en invertebrados de cuerpo blando. Geophis hoffmanni es nocturna, terrestre, fosorial y se encuentra frecuentemente en la vegetación herbácea y la hojarasca de áreas húmedas. Ninia sebae es terrestre, fosorial y se encuentra comúnmente debajo de troncos, montones de hojas y
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A Review of Endosymbiont-Assisted Reproductive Isolation and Speciation Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Courtney Wayne Simons
Changes in the genome of an organism can cause changes in phenotype. Its phenotype can then determine how well-suited the organism is to its environment. The hologenome concept expands this view by suggesting instead, that it is not only the host genome at play in natural selection, but also the genome of endosymbiotic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) associated with their hosts. The concept
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Reproductive Traits of Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans, at Two Sites Off the Northern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Alfonso Aguilar-Perera, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, Virginia Nóh-Quiñoes
El pez león Pterois volitans fue introducido en el Océano Oeste Atlánico desde hace más de 30 años, pero fue registrado por vez primera en el Golfo de México en 2010. Dada su expansión poblacional en la región, el pez león se ha convertido en una invasión biológica que amenaza el ecosistema marino. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir algunas características reproductivas básicas de este pez por
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Increase in Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) Fishing Success Off the North Coast of Puerto Rico during Hurricane Leslie Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Wessley Merten, Shuai Zhang, Chuanmin Hu, Margaret Rodrigue, Richard Appeldoorn, Nilda Jimenez
Documenting how storms and environmental variability affect the population dynamics, trends, and abundance of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) on short temporal scales is important for improving dolphinfish resource monitoring, conservation, and management. Here, a multifaceted technique was used to document an abrupt increase in fishing success among small-scale fishing sectors off the north coast
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First Report of Reptarenavirus in the Invasive Red-tail boa, Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758, from Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Aslin Almeda Castro, Alberto R. Puente Rolón, Alondra M. Díaz-Lameiro
Reptarenavirus es un arenavirus que mayormente ha sido detectado en serpientes en cautiverio. Se cree que el mismo es el agente etiológico de la enfermedad conocida como Boid Inclusion Body Disease (BIBD), la cual es mortal para los miembros de las familias Boidae y Pythonidae. En Puerto Rico, la boa de cola roja (Boa constrictor) fue introducida durante la década de los 1990 a través de la trata de
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Population Density of the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata) Across Multiple Habitat Types and Seasons in Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Are R. Berentsen, Caroline C. Sauvé, Mel J. Rivera-Rodriguez, Fabiola B. Torres-Toledo, Richard B. Chipman, Amy T. Gilbert
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is a rabies reservoir on several Caribbean Islands including Puerto Rico. In the continental United States, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been used to control and locally eliminate rabies viruses targeting meso-carnivores including raccoons (Procyon lotor), grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and coyotes (Canis latrans), and has more recently been
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First Quantitative Assessment of Benthic and Fish Assemblages of Silver Bank, Dominican Republic Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-10-01 Rita Inés Sellares Blasco, Aldo Croquer, María F. Villalpando, Andreina Valdez-Trinidad, Omar Shamir, Jonathan Delance, Samuel Antonio King Pérez, Sergio D. Guendulain-García
Caribbean coral reefs have been declining at unprecedented rates, with about 50% of live coral cover lost over the past 50 years. The description of benthic and associated fish assemblages in remote areas, supposedly less vulnerable to human stressors, is necessary to better understand the spatial extent of declining trends, and to target areas for special management and protection. We present results
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Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Endemic Foci of Leishmaniosis in Guatemala Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-10-01 Dex Yorman Barrios-Barrios, Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal, Mónica Elisa Barrientos-Juárez, Julio César Bobadilla-Balseis, Jaime Abraham Juárez-Sandoval, Lorenzo Diéguez-Fernández, Sergio Ibáñez-Bernal
En Guatemala, tres millones de personas se encuentran en riesgo de contraer leishmaniosis cutánea, principalmente en las regiones del norte. A pesar de esta alarmante situación epidemiológica, se han realizado pocos estudios faunísticos sobre los flebotomos en este país, el más poblado de América Central. Se llevó a cabo un estudio entomológico de los flebotomos desde marzo hasta septiembre de 2018
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Predation of a La Loma Robber Frog, Pristimantis caryophyllaceus (Barbour, 1928), by a Rhinoceros spear Bearer, Copiphora rhinoceros Pictet, 1888 Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-10-01 José Manuel Mora, Kenneth Matarrita Gutiérrez, Lucía I. López
Los anuros desempeñan papeles vitales en sus ecosistemas donde actúan tanto como depredadores como presas, y como tal, son componentes clave en las redes tróficas de muchas regiones. El sapito de lluvia, Pristimantis caryophyllaceus, se distribuye en Costa Rica y Panamá, desde el nivel del mar hasta una elevación de 1,900 m. Encontramos a uno de estos sapitos siendo presa de un Copiphora rhinoceros
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Future Presence of an Invasive Grass in the Caribbean: Modeling Potential Distribution of Cenchrus ciliaris L. (Buffelgrass) in Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-10-01 Juan G. García-Cancel, Robert D. Cox
Invasive plants can cause drastic changes in their new ecosystems, and these changes might depend also on future climatic conditions. Buffelgrass is an African C4 bunchgrass that has been introduced outside its native range for rangeland improvement and livestock feed. In the Caribbean region, it has been introduced to supplement managed pasturelands and can have an effect on the surviving native flora
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Histological Observations of the Sharpnose Pufferfish, Canthigaster rostrata (Bloch, 1786), Collected Along the Caribbean Coast Affected by Mass Mortality Episodes Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-10-01 Lourdes Vásquez-Yeomans, Rebeca Vásquez-Yeomans, Eloy Sosa-Cordero, Yanet Guerrero Rentería, Jorge Cáceres-Martínez
El pez globo de nariz afilada Canthigaster rostrata es uno de los integrantes de los ecosistemas de arrecifes coralinos del Caribe; sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre su histología. El pez globo se ha visto afectado periódicamente por episodios de mortalidad en el Caribe desde 2008. Los estudios histológi-cos brindan información sobre las condiciones del sistema, e indican presencia de parásitos
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The Morphology and Feeding Ecology of the Ground Croaker, Bairdiella ronchus (Cuvier, 1830), in Salt River Bay, Jamaica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-10-01 Tremaine Bowman, Eric J. Hyslop
The morphology and feeding ecology of the ground croaker, Bairdiella ronchus, in a shallow bay on the south coast of Jamaica was studied. Morphological assessments revealed that the species displays positive allometric growth. Their bodies become thicker and deeper as they grow in length. Stomach content analyses were performed, and the feeding indices of the two size classes (juvenile and sub-adults)
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Miocene Fossils of Old Providence Island (Western Caribbean, Colombia) and Geological Heritage of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-09-01 Julián Esteban Durán Gómez, Germán David Patarroyo Camargo, José Manuel Torres Parada
Se presentan los resultados de la prospección geológica del registro sedimentario del Mioceno en la Isla de Providencia (Caribe Occidental, Colombia). Material fósil fue colectado y analizado, correspondiendo principalmente a fragmentos coralinos, bivalvos, gasterópodos y equinodermos. A pesar del heterogéneo estado de preservación del material colectado, observaciones taxonómicas y paleobiogeográficas
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Rapid Communication on the Presence of Holothuria arenicola in the Port of Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatan, Mexico (Shallow Eastern Coast of the Campeche Bank) Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-08-01 Miguel Ángel Gamboa-Álvarez, Claudia Febles-Gutierrez, Alicia Virginia Poot-Salazar, Edgar Francisco Cob-Pech
Se registró un espécimen de Holothuria arenicola cerca del puerto de Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatán, México. Este hallazgo representa el primer registro formal de H. arenicola en aguas someras del sur del Golfo de México, lo cual confirma las proyecciones de distribución de la especie emitidas por la FAO para la región del Banco de Campeche, México, y formaliza su presencia en la región. El descubrimiento
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Illustrated Checklist of the Cacti of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) with Keys to Genera and Species Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-08-01 Paul Hoxey, Andrew Gdaniec, José Dolores Hernández, Mario Guzmán, Wilmer Corniel, Alastair Culham
This checklist of the cacti of Hispaniola and adjacent islands accepts 43 native taxa (42 species and one inter-generic hybrid) in 15 genera and one hybrid genus (×Opulea, Consolea × Opuntia). A total of 27 of the 42 species (64%) are endemic to Hispaniola, indicating a high degree of endemism. An additional three non-native but naturalised species are encountered on Hispaniola and are briefly discussed
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Ultrastructure Morphology of the Antennae of Three Peckia (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) Species: Peckia dominicana, P. nicasia, and P. chrysostoma Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-08-01 Latoya Foote-Gordon, Eric Garraway
A scanning electron microscopy investigation of the antennae of three Peckia Robineau-Desvoidy (Peckia (Euboettcheria) nicasia (Lopes, 1941), Peckia (Sarcodexia) dominicana Lopes, 1982, and Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830)) species of potential forensic relevance, is presented for the first time. The collection of the three species was done using baited traps. The antennae of each species
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Unraveling the Effects of Hurricane Maria on the Abundance and Composition of Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) Species Along an Elevational Gradient in Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-07-01 Maynard H. Schaus, Victor R. Townsend Jr, Amanda C. Albert, Donald A. Yee, Daniel N. Proud
Harvestmen exhibit substantial responses to environmental conditions, disturbances, and modifications of their habitat. We examined the abundance and species distribution of harvestmen along an elevational gradient in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) on Puerto Rico 6–12 weeks before and 9–10 months after Hurricane Maria passed over the island in September, 2017. This provided a unique opportunity
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Species Richness and Origin of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Urban and Suburban Areas of St. Andrew, Jamaica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-07-01 Gavin R. Campbell, Desireina Delancy, Tannice Hall
The ant fauna in natural and rural areas of Jamaica has received substantial interest in the past. However, no recent works have focused primarily on the ants of urban and suburban areas. In this study, we assessed the species richness and origin of ants in urban and suburban areas of St. Andrew, Jamaica. Ant specimens were hand-collected within a 30 m radius area during a 15 minute search conducted
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Aberrant White Plumage in a Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum) in Costa Rica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-05-01 José Manuel Mora, Lucía I. López, Elián Villalobos Alvarado
Los patrones y el color del cuerpo tienen múltiples funciones en los animales, incluido en el comportamiento social. La coloración de las aves se ve afectada por varios factores que pueden resultar en varios tipos de aberraciones cromáticas, la mayoría causada por mutaciones genéticas. Aunque no se han cuantificado sistemáticamente en múltiples especies y poblaciones, los trastornos cromáticos en las
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Ultrastructure Morphology of the Antennae of Bahamiola orbitalis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-05-01 Latoya Foote-Gordon, Eric Garraway
This study presents the first scanning electron microscopy investigation of the antenna of adult Bahamiola orbitalis, a species of potential forensic relevance. The specimens used in the analysis were obtained from traps baited with decomposing chicken in Jamaica, and 16 males were used in the morphometric analysis of the species. The antennae of B. orbitalis exhibit the typical characteristics of
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Geographic Distribution of the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly (Atlantea tulita): an Ensemble Modeling Approach Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-04-01 Carlos Ramirez-Reyes, Francisco J. Vilella, Kristine O. Evans, Garrett Street, Carlos Pacheco, Omar Monzon, Alcides Morales
Species distribution models have become increasingly important tools for species conservation. This modeling approach can help guide conservation practitioners and inform decisions. Distribution models are particularly relevant for rare species, whose habitat associations are often not well understood. Using species occurrence data, and a variety of predictor variables, we developed three individual
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Are Gasteromycetes Silent Helpers in Habitat Conservation? Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-02-01 Kiara L. Pérez Medina, Hernán Torres-Pratts, Sandra L. Maldonado Ramírez
The informal group of Basidiomycetes commonly known as Gasteromycetes, are now included in the sub-classes Agaricomycetidae and Phallomycetidae. These fungi are characterized mainly by distinctive enclosed fruiting bodies with a gleba that stores spores until maturity. For Puerto Rico, there is no official inventory of Gasteromycetes. To fulfill this need, a study was conducted within five different
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Telemetry-Based Assessment of Home Range to Estimate the Abundance of Invasive Green Monkeys on St. Kitts Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2023-01-01 Kerry M. Dore, Christa A. Gallagher, Aileen C. Mill
Green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) have been a “pest” species on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts for hundreds of years, and data on their abundance are crucial to inform effective management strategies. To estimate population size, we present the first use of radio telemetry tracking technology combined with home range estimation and habitat analysis. We use detailed tracking information collected
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Occurrence of Histamine Toxicity and Metal and Mineral Contaminants in Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Grenada, West Indies Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-07-01 Viktoria Czaran, Jonnel Edwards, John Buchweitz, Christine Finney, Alfred Chikweto, Brian P Butler, David Marancik
Targeted fishing of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in the Caribbean creates an opportunity to monitor lionfish for food safety and to examine their utility as environmental sentinel species. The goals of this study were to assess P. volitans for histamine toxicity (scombroid poisoning) and to quantify mineral and heavy metal contaminants in lionfish in Grenada, West Indies. Histamine
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Satellite Telemetry Elucidates Migratory Pathways and Foraging Areas for Hawksbill Sea Turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, in the Caribbean Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-07-01 Andrew S. Maurer, Clara Dawson, Rhema Bjorkland, Andrea Donaldson, Seth P. Stapleton, James I. Richardson, Denise M. Parker, George H. Balazs, Barbara A. Schroeder
Adult female sea turtles are highly migratory, moving between foraging and nesting areas that can be thousands of kilometers apart. Conserving sea turtles and their habitats therefore depends on knowledge of space use across these migration-linked environments. Here, we describe migratory behavior of hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), a globally imperiled species. We used satellite telemetry
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A Case of Albinism in the Common Earth Snake (Geophis hoffmanni (Peters, 1859)) (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in the Caribbean Lowlands of Costa Rica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-06-01 José Manuel Mora, José Alberto Pérez Arrieta, Pablo Marín, Gerardo Chaves, Lucía I. López
Las serpientes del género Geophis son un elemento faunístico típico de Mesoamérica, donde la culebra de tierra común (Geophis hoffmanni) es una de las especies más ampliamente distribuidas. En Costa Rica se encuentra en las tierras bajas del Atlántico, las tierras bajas del centro y suroeste del Pacífico, el Valle Central y las laderas de las cordilleras hasta los 1200 m s.n.m. El 2 de julio de 2021
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Capture-Recapture Reveals Heterogeneity in Habitat-Specific Mongoose Densities and Spatiotemporal Variability in Trapping Success in St. Kitts, West Indies Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-05-01 Caroline C. Sauvé, Are R. Berentsen, Amy T. Gilbert, Anne Conan, Luis Cruz-Martinez, Patrick A. Leighton
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is a non-native invasive species across the Caribbean and a rabies reservoir on at least four islands in the region. Although previous studies reported mongoose density estimates in their non-native range, the variability in trapping designs, study seasonality, and analytical methods among studies precludes direct comparisons. This study is the first to
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Polychaetes (Annelida, Polychaeta) Associated with Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-05-01 Juan A. Laverde-Castillo, Monica Alfaro, Ernesto Weil, Nikolaos V. Schizas
Information about the taxonomy and ecology of polychaetes from Caribbean Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) is limited. To fill this information void, substrata samples were collected using technical diving from several mesophotic localities (between 40–91 m depth) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands between 2007 and 2012. A total of 76 genera, distributed among 34 families, were identified
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Bryophyte Diversity and Distribution in the Virgin Islands Based on Historical Collections Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-04-01 Jahnyah Brooks, Amelia Merced
In botanical research, vascular plants tend to overshadow their counterparts, the bryophytes. This trend can be observed in the Virgin Islands, with roughly 1,200 tracheophytes identified in the region and no official count of bryophytes on record. In this study, we documented the diversity and distribution of the bryophyte species of the Virgin Islands (British, United States, and Puerto Rico) using
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Length Weight Relationships and Condition Factor of Sicydium sp. (Gobiidae) from the Yallahs River and Swift River, Jamaica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-03-01 Candiece Duscent, Eric Hyslop
Sicydium sp., commonly known as gobies, are migratory freshwater fish that spend most of their life cycle in rivers, but when the larvae emerge they drift downstream to the sea where further development of juveniles occurs. Although Sicydium sp. are abundant in Jamaican rivers, little is known about the ecology of these species on the island and throughout the Caribbean. This study examines aspects
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Salting Reduces Mercury Concentrations in Odontocete Muscle Tissue Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-03-01 Russell Fielding, Kelsie Schiavone, Jessica Dutton
High mercury (Hg) concentrations in seafood present a major global public health concern, especially in regions heavily dependent upon seafood like the Caribbean. Tissues from predatory fishes and other high trophic-level marine organisms such as odontocetes (toothed whales and dolphins) are often elevated in mercury, owing to biomagnification. We investigated whether salting reduces the total mercury
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Planktonic Egg Masses of the Diamondback Squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus in the Western Caribbean, Honduras; a Comprehensive Review of Global Observations Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-03-01 Tom W. Brown, Andrea Izaguirre, Roxana De Silva-Dávila
The Diamondback Squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus is a globally distributed deep-sea species, one of only a few oegopsid nektonic cephalopods in which planktonic egg masses are well known. Here, we report three new T. rhombus egg masses found in the Bay Islands, Honduras, in 2020. Using the egg trace method, these egg masses provide one of the first indications that T. rhombus adults occur and spawn, and
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Direct Economic Inputs from Internationally Funded Science Projects to the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2022-03-01 Craig A. Layman, Olivia Patterson Maura, Sean T. Giery, Jacob E. Allgeier, Andrew L. Rypel
International expenditures for scientific research are important for small island developing nations, especially for those local communities that directly support research activities. We used the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas, as a case study to quantify the direct monetary inputs to a local economy via internationally funded scientific research. We found that over two years the external monetary influx
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Statistical Methods Used in Research Concerning Endangered and Threatened Animal Species of Puerto Rico: a Meta-study Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-11-01 Sebastian J. Rivera, Kristine M. Alpi, Jaime A. Collazo, Michael K. Stoskopf
A concern about statistics in wildlife studies, particularly of endangered and threatened species, is whether the data collected meet the assumptions necessary for the use of parametric statistics. This study identified published papers on the nine endangered and six threatened species found only on Puerto Rico using five different databases. The results from the Zoological Record database identified
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Spatial Ecology of Invasive Predatory Species Informs Predator Control Program for the Jamaican Rock Iguana (Cyclura collei) Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-12-01 Kirtana Kumar, Stesha A. Pasachnik, David Reid, Aaron M. T. Harmer
Extinctions and population decline of species on islands are often attributed to invasive alien species (IAS). Predation from IAS, such as the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata) drove the Critically Endangered Jamaican Rock Iguana (Cyclura collei) to near extinction. Historical and ongoing conservation efforts have restored the population to 500 to 600 adults today. Despite intensive control
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Surficial and Shallow Subsurface Geology of the Northern and Central Exuma Cays, The Bahamas Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-12-01 Paul J. Hearty, Joni T. Backstrom
The surface and subsurface geology of the Exuma Cays in the central Bahama Islands records sea-level cyclicity that extends back to the Jurasssic, however the focus of this paper is the Plio-Pleistocene, since approximately 1–3 million years ago. During the 1990s, the first author surveyed a large number of the islands by boat, mapped the geology on 1:25,000 topographic maps with the aid of air photos
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DNA Barcoding of Adiantum (Pteridaceae: Vittarioideae) in Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-12-01 Karlyn Grafals Nieves, Benjamin W. van Ee
We used the chloroplast markers trnL-F and rbcL to construct a DNA barcode sequence library of Adiantum (Pteridaceae) from Puerto Rico. By conducting BLAST searches, the trnL-F marker was able to successfully determine specimens of six out of 10 species for which data were generated, and failed for four. For the nine species for which rbcL sequences were obtained, the BLAST search method was successful
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Taxonomy of Croton flavens (Euphorbiaceae), a Caribbean Endemic, and a Preliminary Subsectional Classification of Croton section Adenophylli Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-12-01 Benjamin W. van Ee, Paul E. Berry
Croton flavens shares a general morphology with multiple species throughout Croton section Adenophylli, which has complicated the application of names to these taxa. We generated nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (trnL-F) phylogenies of C. sect. Adenophylli in order to identify the phylogenetic placement of C. flavens and morphologically similar species. Based on these phylogenies, we recognize six subsections
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A Morphometric Assessment of Non-indigenous Populations of Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Pisces, Loricariidae) in Jamaica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-10-01 Aisha Bailey, Eric Hyslop
A morphometric investigation of suckermouth catfish specimens collected from the Upper and Lower Morass of Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica was conducted between June 2007 and May 2008. Descriptions of 39 morphometric and 15 meristic measures are given. Taxonomic assessment through the application of dichotomous keys, photographic identification, and comparison with other morphometric work on similar
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The Mastofauna of Banco Chinchorro Atoll, Mexico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-10-01 Pierre Charruau
Banco Chinchorro Atoll, the largest atoll in the Caribbean and Mexico, was declared a biosphere reserve due to its cultural, economic, and biological importance. The diversity of fish, birds, and reptiles in its aquatic and terrestrial environments has been well studied. However, knowledge about its richness in mammals is scarce and the existing information has not been synthesized to date. The objective
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In Memoriam: Paul Yoshioka (1945–2021) Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-10-01 David L. Ballantine, Richard S. Appeldoorn, Nilda E. Aponte
Abstract not available
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An Unusual Aberrant Colored Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus, Ramphastidae) in Northern Costa Rica Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-09-01 Lucía I. López Umaña, José Manuel Mora
Although plumage color aberrations are common in birds, they often are difficult or even impossible to properly identify in the field. Even though some of these aberrations are common, including progressive greying, leucism, and albinism, there is confusion among the mechanisms responsible for each of the color aberrations. Other color abnormalities, such as dilution and ino, are found or reported
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Abundance Episode of Historis acheronta semele (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Havana, Cuba Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-09-01 Yosiel Álvarez
The occurrence of an unprecedented abundance episode of Historis acheronta semele in July, 2021 in Havana, Cuba is reported. Ecological and ethological notes are made, and the possible causes and outcomes of the presence of large numbers of butterflies in the city are discussed. The absence of additional records makes it impossible to assess if the event is a migration or just a local abundance episode
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Identity of Fish Fry from the “Tetí” Fishery in Eastern Cuba Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-09-01 Sheila Rodríguez-Machado, Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera, Prosanta Chakrabarty
Fisheries of juvenile and larval fishes (i.e., fish-fry fisheries) often exploit the migratory behavior of diadromous species on their return to rivers. Although these fisheries are common worldwide, fish-fry fisheries are subject to insufficient management and the identity of the target species is frequently unknown. The artisanal fish-fry fishery in Cuba is known as “Tetí,” and is restricted to the
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Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Areas Covered and Devoid of the Floating Fern Salvinia Within the Mangrove Forest in the Boquerón Wildlife Refuge, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-08-01 Nahíra Arocho Hernández, Carlos J. Santos Flores, Dennis Pérez López, Mónica Alfaro Lozano
The Boquerón Wildlife Refuge is the largest mangrove forest on Puerto Rico's west coast. Many of the mangrove channels there are periodically invaded by mats of the floating fern Salvinia. Since invasive plant species impact the biodiversity of wetlands, a monthly assessment of the aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity was conducted from June to November of 2013, in three mangrove areas invaded by Salvinia
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Micro and Macroplastics Analysis in the Digestive Tract of a Sea Cucumber (Holothuriidae, Holothuria floridana) of the Placencia Lagoon, Belize Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-08-01 Charles Coc, Arlenie Rogers, Eduardo Barrientos, Henry Sanchez
Microplastics have been identified as an emergent pollutant in the aquatic environment. Ingestion of microplastics in the wild by various biota has been documented around the globe, but little has been documented on sea cucumbers and none on microplastics in sea cucumbers in the Caribbean region. In this study, we document the presence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of the sea cucumber
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Genetic Evidence Documents Extra-Pair Paternity in Breeding Colonies of the Wood Stork Mycteria americana (Ciconiidae) in Cuba Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-08-01 Massiel Alfonso-González, Alexander Llanes-Quevedo, Adolfo G. Navarro-Sigüenza, Georgina Espinosa López
The Wood Stork Mycteria americana is a rare resident bird species in the Caribbean, where it has small population sizes and reduced genetic variability. In the present study, we inferred the mating systems of the only two breeding colonies of Wood Stork known in the Caribbean, which are located in two of its most important wetlands: the Zapata Swamp Wetland and the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago, both
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Genetic Diversity and Reproductive Biology of Two Species of Vaccinium (Ericaceae) in the Dominican Republic Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-07-01 Rosa A. Rodríguez-Peña, Rosanna Carreras-De León, Katherin Manzueta-Acevedo, Josué Fernández-Canela, Ruth H. Bastardo
Vaccinium ekmanii Berazain (Ericaceae) is an endemic species from the Dominican Republic whose habitat is particularly vulnerable to human activities due to their proximity to developed areas. Its related species, V. racemosum (Vahl) Wilbur & Lutyen, is native, widely distributed, and is thought to be abundant. Using nine microsatellite loci and pollinator exclusion experiments, this study compared
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First Data of Reproductive Biology of Metlapilcoatlus indomitus (Serpentes: Viperidae) in Captivity Caribb. J. Sci. (IF 0.4) Pub Date : 2021-06-01 Luis Gualberto Zúniga López, Manuel Alejandro Paz
The Jumping Viper genus Metlapilcoatlus is composed of five species distributed throughout the Mesoamerican region, with M. indomitus being endemic to Honduras. While there have been numerous publications about its distribution, basic data concerning the species natural history (reproduction, diet, and behavior) remain poorly known. Here we expand on the knowledge of M. indomitus through an ex-situ