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

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

The Yucatan yellow bat (Rhogeessa aeneus) is a poorly known species endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula, mainly distributed in tropical forests of the three Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan. Here, we report the first record of this species in Cayo Centro, the main cay of Banco Chinchorro atoll, located in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, 47 km from the mainland in the Caribbean Sea

Plestiodon longirostris is a critically endangered endemic skink living in the Bermuda archipelago. To know their intestinal parasites and evaluate the role that they may have in the conservation of the species, we have carried out a faecal analysis of some samples obtained from several populations. This type of analysis is presented as the most suitable for threatened species. The results show that

Two nests of Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) were observed in man-made objects in a suburban area of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. The nests were located at the base of rustic pendant lights made of metal, placed on a second-floor terrace of an inhabited dwelling. One nest contained three chicks, while the other was empty. An adult made several approaches to the breeding nest to feed the chicks, despite

We report for the first time the greenhouse frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris from San Andrés, the largest Colombian Caribbean island. This record represents the second known frog species on the island, and the second invasive Eleutherodactylus species reported from Colombian territory. In addition, we describe and discuss the morphology and some aspects of the natural history of this newly documented

Elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish) exert top-down pressure in tropical lagoons and are necessary for maintaining trophic balance, so it is important to understand how abiotic factors drive shark and ray movement and habitat use in a tropical lagoon. Our aim was to assess patterns of lagoon use by sharks and rays in Anne's Creek, Exuma, The Bahamas. Four different elasmobranch species

The biogeographic origins of flora and fauna in the Caribbean have remained a hotly debated topic in island biogeography, with evidence to suggest that both vicariance (tectonic activity) and oversea dispersal mechanisms are at play in isolating species distributions and/or expanding them. Here we document the first evidence of the Central American Snapping Turtle (Chelydra rossignonii) on Utila Island

We registered the first three localities for the invasive frog Eleutherodactylus planirostris in El Salvador within urban sites, and four new localities in Honduras, including three new department records and the first record from a protected area in Honduras. We discuss the invasion progress of the species in these two countries and mention one of several possible ways in which this species is dispersing

The gastrointestinal helminth communities of five populations of Anolis grahami, an introduced anole on Bermuda, were surveyed to determine the prevalence, abundance, and species diversity of parasites in these reptiles. Only three nematode species were found, Atractis scelopori, Parapharyngodon cubensis, and Physaloptera squamatae. This species, P. squamatae, is recorded for the first time in Anolis

Entire communities of columnar cacti such as Pilosocereus royenii are being devastated by the infestation of the invasive mealybug Hypogeococcus sp. in Puerto Rico. This insect was first described as Hypogeococcus pungens, but later studies suggest it might be a different, undescribed specie of Hypogeococcus. The use of common insecticides results in a limited control strategy because this insect inhabits

Puerto Rico was affected by two major hurricanes during the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, hurricanes Irma and Maria. These large-scale disturbances caused a restructuring of the forests across the whole island, affecting the physical environment of the terrestrial biota. One way to measure how the environment changes after a disturbance is with the use of soundscapes, or the acoustic signatures of

We measured water temperature, salinity, Secchi, and concentrations of dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, suspended matter, and nutrients in the water column at six sites at Cahuita National Park on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, at three-month intervals over a two-year time period in 2017 and 2018. We also assemble and compare the available water quality measurements for the area dating back

Double mutualism describes the situation where two species interact for the benefit of both in more than one type of interaction. For instance, if a given plant species is both pollinated and has its seeds dispersed by the same animal species. Double mutualism is thought to be more present in ecosystems where organisms are generalized, such as on oceanic islands. In the Caribbean islands, double mutualism

Precise identification of plants is critical for informed agriculture where nutraceutical properties and productivity are simultaneously important. The Jamaican-grown West Indian raspberry (Rubus rosifolius) falls into this category. The first step to taking this wild-growing plant into agricultural production is morphological identification. Although there are no botanical reports of multiple varieties

Anomalous pigmentations have been reported in several groups of reptiles. Among these, albinism is one of the most striking aberrations of body coloration. This pigmentary anomaly is caused by the absence of melanin in the integument. Many cases of albinism have been reported in snakes, primarily in species with cryptozoic habits, and several reports are available for the Dipsadidae family from South

This study focuses on understanding public support for the control of the invasive small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in order to reduce predation pressure on endangered sea turtles. A sample of 104 residents and 103 visitors on St. Kitts was verbally interviewed about their knowledge, attitudes, and support for mongoose control. Respondents generally valued mongooses, but there was a

The Desmarest's hutia (hereafter hutia, Capromys pilorides) is a rodent endemic to the Republic of Cuba (hereafter Cuba) and its associated islands. There is little recent research focused on hutia population abundance and range use in southeastern Cuba. We evaluated the current status of the hutia population in southeastern Cuba through (1) estimation of population density via walking and driving

Information on the distribution of the Northern Ghost Bat, Diclidurus albus, in its natural distribution range, is scarce. In Honduras, four previous records are known. Here we add seven new locations, corresponding to five departments: Atlántida, Choluteca, Copán, Cortés, and Valle. We document the first records in the insular zone of the Gulf of Fonseca. We confirm the presence of D.albus on the

From January 2014 to April, 2015, eight high elevation ponds were sampled in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. These ponds were classified as small, mixed, or large based on cluster analysis, which created these groups based on size and physicochemical parameters. Regression of mass on length was completed for most benthic macroinvertebrate taxa, and consequently 170 length-mass equations were developed for

Estimates of the survival of juvenile sharks within their critical habitats are important in defining the dynamic of the species and designing management strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, at Los Roques Archipelago. During the period 2005–2014, 29 field surveys were conducted in the Sebastopol Lagoon, an area previously

Animals are particularly vulnerable during sleep, yet studies addressing sleeping behavior are rare among reptiles. Although the behavior of Anolis lizards has been widely documented, only a handful of studies have described sleeping behavior in this group. Very few of those studies focus on the cryptic twig anoles, an ecomorph characterized by extreme morphology and unique behavior among Anolis. Here

Phytoplankton samples were taken at mesophothic depths (30–150 m) over the Frijol Bank seamount inside the Corales de Profundidad National Natural Park during the dry and rainy seasons. Sixty-four forms (genera and morpho-species) of phytoplankton were found. Seasonal influence on phytoplankton assemblage structure was detected, with a number of genera preferentially associating with the dry season

We studied the micro- and macrohabitat preferences of black rats (Rattus rattus) and house mice (Mus musculus) on St. Eustatius, a small, inhabited Caribbean island. Our study builds upon a preliminary assessment of invasive alien rodents on St. Eustatius, which has no extant native rodent species. We deployed tracking tunnels (baited cards with ink left overnight to track animal visitors to the card)

We evaluated the impact of the Harrisia Cactus Mealybug (HCM), Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on seed germination of Pilosocereus royenii (Cactaceae) in Puerto Rico. Mature fruits were collected from individuals of P. royenii at various levels of HCM infestation, ranging from completely healthy plants to fruits growing directly on HCM-induced tumors. We hypothesized that germination

We report the details of a case of toxicosis in two four-month-old mixed breed dogs by the Caribbean Sharp-nosed Pufferfish, Canthigaster rostrata, a small but lethally neurotoxic marine fish that contains tetrodotoxin (TTX) as well as potential saxitoxins (SSXs). Following consumption of at least 30 juvenile C. rostrata individuals, one dog showed gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms indicative

The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is an opportunistic omnivore introduced to sugar producing islands primarily to control rat (Rattus spp.) populations, yet is now considered an invasive pest species on multiple Caribbean islands. Data on home range estimates of mongooses in Puerto Rico and other regions are limited. We fitted 24 mongooses (15 males and nine females) with very high frequency

The small Indian mongoose (Urva aurpunctata) is a non-indigenous wildlife reservoir for rabies virus on several Caribbean islands. Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been suggested to prevent the spread of rabies in mongooses, but there are limited data on ORV bait survival in maritime/tropical climates. We compared disappearance rates of an egg-flavored bait block vs. a control (canned tuna) and for

We present the first record of total leucism for the Clay-colored Thrush, Turdus grayi, and the fourth case of chromatic aberration for this species. From April 2019 to August 2020, we observed an adult individual characterized by a lack of pigmentation with completely white plumage and eyes of normal color. The locality of occurrence corresponds to the tropical humid forest of the Lancetilla Botanical

Larvae and small juveniles of Caribbean Polydactylus species (Teleostei: Polynemidae) are rarely seen. Here we describe a juvenile individual of Polydactylus oligodon, the Littlescale threadfin, collected on Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, West Indies.

This study is based on the behavioral responses of Leptodactylus albilabris tadpoles, a widely abundant frog native to Puerto Rico. We evaluated changes in habitat preference and activity levels in the presence of a predator (fish). Tadpoles were collected and allocated to one of three treatments: no fish predator, one fish (Astronotus ocellatus), and two fish. Results showed a significant decrease

Butterflies have proven to be excellent indicators of the disturbance and biodiversity of habitats. Cuban butterflies are well known taxonomically, but the state of knowledge of their ecology is still insufficient and no studies have been carried out in some ecosystems. Here we characterize and compare the richness and diversity of butterfly assemblages associated with secondary forest and secondary

Aerobiological studies focus on studying biological particulates such as pollen and fungal spores in the lower atmosphere. Dispersion of these bio particulates is widespread, and their capture can be difficult, requiring the development and use of different methods to achieve their capture. For this research, a modified unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as drone, fitted with remote-controlled

Although rare, hypopigmentary disorders have been observed in many vertebrate species. These disorders include albinism, leucism, and piebaldism, and can be differentiated based on the pattern and degree of lack of pigmentation. For many species, these disorders persist in nature, suggesting that affected animals can survive and potentially reproduce. Here we report a case of albinism in a Jamaican

We describe the records of two adult males of Chiroderma trinitatum captured in the Caribbean lowlands of Ciudad Blanca, Gracias a Dios in eastern Honduras. These records extend more than 527 km from what was known as the northernmost record of this uncommon species in Costa Rica. Further research is needed for the conservation of the biodiversity in the core of the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, which

The Pale-face bat (Phylloderma stenops) is a species found from southern Mexico to South America and there has been no record of this species in Honduras since 1971. We rediscovered this species 46 years later based on an adult male captured in eastern Honduras (Ciudad Blanca, Gracias a Dios) at 204 m asl on February 20, 2017, in a Tropical Moist Forest. We now deposit the specimen in the museum Biodiversidad

The Caribbean is a biodiversity hotspot due to its rich biodiversity and wholesale loss of primary vegetation. Yet, there is a paucity of studies on the status and trends of terrestrial avifauna populations in the region. We combined survey data from six habitats (Quill and Gilboa Hill, Town, Botanical Garden, Garden Road, and Venus Bay) on a small Lesser Antillean island over a seven-year period.

Norops cupreus inhabits lowland dry forests and gallery forests along the Pacific Coast of Central America. We used operative temperature models (OTM) to examine the thermoregulation of this species in Parque Nacional Palo Verde (Costa Rica) by conducting a field study in February 2003. Norops cupreus in Palo Verde appeared to thermoregulate during early morning hours, late evening, and during the

The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), has at least two generalist predators that are well-known for their biological control potential, the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata and various species of lizards in the genus Anolis. While it is frequently suggested that multiple control elements make biological control more efficacious, particular situations may not reveal such an effect

The male of the endemic species Alpaida elegantula is described. Ten species are recorded for the first time from Martinique, Lesser Antilles: Wulfila sp. (Anyphaenidae), Eilica sp. (Gnaphosidae), Schizocosa sp. (Lycosidae), Microdipoena guttata (Mysmenidae), Nesticus sp (Nesticidae), Nesticella sp. (Nesticidae), Theotima minutissima (Ochyroceratidae), Stenoonops sp. (Oonopidae), Thwaitesia sp. (Theridiidae)

Just over 200 species of marine tardigrades have been described, and most of these have been collected in sand and other sediments. However, several species are known to associate with other invertebrates such as barnacles, bryozoans, and holothurians. It is possible that many epizoic tardigrade species remain to be discovered, since surveys of tardigrades on other potential animal hosts are very rare

Microalgae are promising sources of biofuels due to the high lipid content of some species. However, growing microalgae at large scales involves high production costs, mainly associated with nutrient inputs and harvesting processes. Therefore, to be cost competitive, species to be used as a source of fuels should be capable of accumulating lipids and biomass at lower fertilizer inputs. In the present

A phylogenetic analysis of representatives of the red algal genus Hypnea in the Cuban archipelago was carried out utilizing two genetic markers: plastid rbcL and the mitochondrial cox1. Percent of base pair differences and Bayesian analyses indicate the presence of three species of Hypnea in Cuba: H. musciformis, H. spinella, and H. cryptica. The species H. cryptica, first described from Brazil, is

The Roatan Coral Snake (Micrurus ruatanus) is the only coral snake known to be endemic to an island. The ex situ management of a Roatan Coral Snake individual maintained at the Serpentarium of the Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP) is presented. This individual was fed with a diet based on colubrid snakes of the genus Geophis, presenting a curve of variation in body weight during 15 years in captivity

Based on four years of butterfly monitoring in four contrasting natural habitats on St. Eustatius, we document large and consistent differences in the butterfly species assemblages in the different habitats and compare the butterfly assemblages of the three windward Dutch islands to those of other islands of the Lesser Antilles. Seven new species records were established for St. Eustatius, thereby

Most climate models for the Caribbean predict drying trends, increased temperature, and precipitation variability. We used regression analyses to evaluate how global predictions translated into local temporal patterns of climatic variation within the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico, and which variables were more useful for expressing precipitation and temperature variability trends there. We used

Nothing is known about the impact on marine meiofauna of submarine volcanic eruptions in the Grenada Basin. The benthic foraminiferal fauna is here examined in piston cores taken within ∼8 – 38 km of the crater of Kick ‘em Jenny (KeJ), decadal eruptions of which disseminate ash to the NW via the Caribbean Current. Piston core Gs29, taken ∼8 km W of the crater, consists of clay-rich material from the

Invasive predators are among the most detrimental biological invaders of island ecosystems. However, information detailing the effectiveness of trapping for these invasive species is often underreported. Here, we quantified the influence of environmental features on mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) trapping success across five forest types in eastern Puerto Rico. Specifically, we evaluated how canopy

Limited financial resources coupled with competing social demands may require novel approaches for biodiversity conservation. Within the Bahamas archipelago, subtropical dry forest (“coppice”) provides habitat for many resident and migratory bird species including the U.S. federally endangered Kirtland's warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii). On the islands, this migratory bird relies heavily on fruits of

Anolis lizards are common throughout the islands of the West Indies, often with several species existing in sympatry by demonstrating conspicuous niche separation. With increasing occurrences of Anolis species being introduced to islands outside of their natural range, there is potential for significant disturbance to natural Anolis communities and particularly to endemic species that have evolved

Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are abundant, diverse and usually with high substrate coverage in coral reef environments. In 2009, we initiated the systematic study of the coralline bottoms of the Isla de Aves, the most remote island of Venezuela. The study consisted in the identification and quantification of the sponges at 16 localities along 1x10 m transects (n=60). The surveys were done in shallow and

Sponges provide an array of ecological services and benefits for Caribbean coral reefs. They function as habitats for a bewildering variety of species, however limited attention has been paid in the systematics and distribution of sponge-associated fauna in the class Calcarea or for that matter of sponges in the Caribbean. The goal of this study was to characterize infaunal assemblages from a calcareous

Stressor-response research on stony corals in the laboratory relies on detecting relatively small changes in the size of coral fragments throughout the course of an experiment. Coral colonies are complex, three-dimensional (3D) communities of organisms, so small changes in size are best detected by changes in 3D surface area. Traditional methods to estimate 3D coral surface area commonly require destruction

Geomicrobiology is an interdisciplinary field which studies the impact of microbes in a given geologic environment. Besides understanding the role of microbes in processes such as mineral degradation, organic matter mineralization, and biogeochemical cycles, the presence of microbes as part of the indigenous population of contaminated areas can be used as a tool for in situ treatment and removal of

This article shows how archaeological and geological data can be used to visualize the ‘invisible’ production of salt through solar evaporation in the archaeological record. Evidence of salt exploitation from natural salt ponds is difficult to obtain using standard archaeological methods, limiting our ability to assess the significance of these practices in the past. Salt, however, was an important

Ophioderma cinerea (Müller & Troschel, 1842) is a species of warm water ophiuroid that lives primarily in rocky habitats in the tropical Atlantic. Competition for resources can be high in their habitat. Behavioral observations in aquaria led to a hypothesis that differences in body size may affect feeding strategies, and thus affect survivorship. It is widely accepted that echinoderm ontogenic growth

Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are able to adapt to various environmental conditions and are even among the few species that can tolerate extensive pollution. In the Pitch Lake of Trinidad they live in highly toxic waters due to natural seepage of oil and bitumen. In this paper, we describe phenotypic divergence in several life-history traits between guppies from the Pitch Lake and from

We report for first time the species Laurencia natalensis for the Atlantic Ocean based on collections made in Venezuela. Once thought to be restricted to the Indian Ocean, the presence of this species is confirmed in this study by phylogenetic analyses using the plastid-encoded large subunit ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene (rbcL). Sequences of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI)

Fossil holoplanktonic mollusks (pteropods and heteropods) are so far little known from Trinidad and have not yet been employed in paleoenvironmental studies in this region. Specimens >125 µm were examined in samples from two sections of the Middle Miocene Brasso Formation of Central Trinidad. Samples from the type section at Brasso Village were younger (planktonic foraminiferal Zones N11–N12) than

The introduction of non-native organisms has caused changes in island ecosystems world-wide. Two of the main drivers of island extinctions and ecosystem changes are goats and black rats. These organisms alter considerably the flora of island ecosystems by limiting propagule production and dispersal as well as constant herbivory. Even so, island floras can still be diverse if human contact is limited