As top predators, crocodilians can bioaccumulate high concentrations of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) that may have adverse effects on their physiology and health. Recent and illegal uses of OCPs in Mexico could affect populations of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), already threatened by other factors. We analyzed 16 OCP compounds using gas chromatography with electron capture detection in seven infertile eggs and in the substratum of nine nests of American crocodiles in Banco Chinchorro, an atoll off the Mexican coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Nest type, clutch size and distance from nests to nearest lagoon were also recorded, while total length of the females attending each nest was measured directly or estimated. Although Banco Chinchorro is isolated from the mainland and from known sources of contamination, OCP residues were detected in egg and nest substratum samples collected from the atoll. OCP concentrations in eggs (range: 0.002–4.000 ppb) and nest substrata (range: 0.01–1.82 ppb) are ten to thousands times lower compared to other studies. Total OCP concentration (sum of all OCPs) in nest substrata decreased with increasing distance from the shore, suggesting that eggs deposited farther from the shore were less exposed to OCP absorption from substratum. Total OCP concentrations in eggs were positively correlated with total length of females and thus with their age. We speculate that maternal transfer from laying females is likely the major source of contaminants in eggs. Future investigations are needed to identify the origin of contaminants in Banco Chinchorro.

The deep-sea (200–1000 m) seafloor off the southeastern U.S. has a variety of extensive deep-sea coral ecosystem (DSCE) habitats including: deep-water coral mounds; various hard-bottom habitats off Florida including the Miami Terrace, Pourtalès Terrace, and deep-water canyons (Agassiz and Tortugas Valleys); and deep island slopes off western Bahamas and northern Cuba. The dominant structure-forming scleractinian corals are Lophelia pertusa and Enallopsammia profunda; other structure-forming taxa include stylasterid corals, gorgonians, black corals, and sponges. This biota is associated with hard-bottom seafloor of variable high-relief topography which can be remotely identified from bathymetric data. NOAA bathymetric contour maps and digital elevation models were used to identify and delineate the areal extent of potential DSCE habitat in the region from northeastern Florida through the Straits of Florida. These were ground-truthed with 241 dives with submersibles and remotely operated vehicles which confirmed deep-sea coral habitat. We estimate a total of 39,910 km² of DSCE habitat in this region. By comparison, the estimated areal extent of shallow-water coral habitat for all U.S. waters is 36,813 km². Bottom trawling remains the greatest threat to DSCEs worldwide, and as a result NOAA has established five deep-water Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (CHAPCs), encompassing 62,714 km² from North Carolina to south Florida, which will protect much of the known deep-sea coral habitat in this region. High-resolution surveys are not only critical to define DSCE habitats but also to define areas devoid of coral and sponge habitats that may allow for potential bottom fisheries and energy development.

Settlement of Caribbean coral planulae with and without zooxanthellae was followed in response to four different settlement environments; one harboring zooxanthellae, one harboring crustose coralline algae (CCA) and one containing zooxanthellae and CCA. Aposymbiotic planulae of Montastraea faveolata settled preferably in both environments where zooxanthellae were present. Planulae of Agaricia humilis, that already possessed zooxanthellae through maternal inheritance, showed no preference for either settlement environment. These results suggest that planulae that lack zooxanthellae actively respond to the presence of zooxanthellae upon settlement and preferably settle in areas where zooxanthellae are present. Early successful acquisition of symbionts likely enhances recruitment success as symbionts provide the settler with additional resources to increase survival probabilities and enhance early growth.

Australian pine is a problematic invasive species in The Bahamas, yet little information exists regarding their population dynamics in their host environment. The objective of this study, then, was to quantify changes in Australian pine number of individuals and size-class distributions on infected beaches on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas. Transects were setup at thee established Australian pine beach locations, and number and height of individuals were recorded annually, in two cases semiannually, from January 2005 to June 2009. An additional transect was setup at a beach location where Australian pine may have recently established. Here, numbers and heights of individuals were recorded annually, in one case semiannually, from January 2007 to June 2009. During the study period, established Australian pine sites had <18% increase in number of individuals but had a >570% increase in median height. Contrastingly, the recently established site increased in number of individuals by 35% and increased in median height by only 72%. During the last field season, June 2009, the average number of individuals ≤ 50 cm tall was 4% at established sites but was 40% at the recently established site. Established sites averaged over 55% of individuals within the 400 cm or taller size-class during the last three field seasons. These results suggest important differences in population structure between established and recently established Australian pine sites, and they provide insight into population dynamics of this invasive tree.

The remarkable diversity of the Orchidaceae has been attributed to specialized plantpollinator relationships. Limited gene flow among populations would enhance the probability of adaptation to local conditions, including the availability of different pollinator pools. Orchid populations are often viewed as small and hyperdispersed which is consistent with expected low levels of gene flow. Nonetheless, there are very few quantitative assessments of the dispersion of orchid populations. We describe the spatial distribution of orchids in the Caribbean National Forest of Puerto Rico along 2.05 km of transects covering 10250 m². Thirteen species were encountered, eight of which were abundant enough for statistical analyses. The two most abundant species were Pleurothallis ruscifolia and P. pruinosa (respectively). Green's Index of Dispersion was used to categorize dispersion on hosts as being regular, random, or clumped. All eight species exhibited a random distribution. The distance between conspecific subpopulations was analyzed for each species, and the general distribution was what would be expected for orchids—hyperdispersal. The pattern of small, randomly dispersed subpopulations is consistent with an enhanced probability of local isolation, genetic drift and possibly differentiation. An assessment of effective population sizes and gene flow among subpopulations are needed to fully assess the effect of dispersion on these orchids.

The Homerus Swallowtail, Papilio (Pterourus) homerus, is an endangered butterfly endemic to Jamaica. We report conspecific male interactions observed in the Cockpit Country. Field observations of the patrolling behavior and the conspecific male circular flights suggest that males are territorial. Unlike most previous reports of male butterfly territoriality, physical contact occurs in the male circular flights, evidenced by the sound of the wings hitting each other, which may contribute to wing damage. We were able to quantify the extensive wing damage accumulated on a single territorial male with photographs; this male lost more than 90 percent of an individual wing, and still patrolled an area. In addition, we discuss the possible variables that might determine the outcome of territorial disputes, the habitat associated with territory establishment, and lekking in this species.

The yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis (Cuvier) has been the subject of a multitude of diverse studies on its natural history, morphology, and physiology. We have attempted here to briefly review all the studies on U. jamaicensis both published and unpublished with the goal of providing comparative information for researchers working on related species as well as to highlight areas of research requiring further investigation in this one.

Gloiotrichus (Liagoraceae; Nemaliales), a red algal genus originally described from Western Australia and later found in Hawaii, is reported for the first time in the western Atlantic Ocean, from the Caribbean Sea. A new species, G. vermiculatus, is described based on specimens collected fromsubtidal waters near Carrie Bow Cay, Belize and off St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Features of the new species are compared with G. fractalis Huisman et Kraft (1994), the generitype, and only other species presently in the genus. Gloiotrichus vermiculatus differs reproductively; in having fewer cells in its carpogonial branch, (3-) 4 (-5) cells versus 5–8 cells for G. fractalis; and dioecious gametophytes while those of G. fractalis are monoecious. The timing of sterile lateral filament initiation from carpogonial branch cells varies between the two species, with G. fractalis generally initiating them before the first transverse division of the zygote, while those of G. vermiculatus are typically initiated concurrently or after the first division. The basal cell or other proximal cells of the sterile lateral filaments occasionally issue rhizoid-like filaments that can develop to a higher degree in G. vermiculatus, where they may loosely drape or encircle carpogonial branch cells. The new species differs vegetatively from G. fractalis in its longer (290–500 mm) and more complex primary cortical fascicles, which are trichotomously to polychotomously branched, not only at the basal division but at several inner divisions, thereafter the cortical filaments are subdichotomously branched outward, while those of G. fractalis are described as subdichotomously branched throughout.

Although the flora of Bonaire has been well studied three previously undocumented species have been found for Bonaire. Two of these three species are fern species and are new for the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean. The third species (Capparis linearis) occurs also on Curaçao and Aruba and is also a rare species on those islands. Data on the distribution of twelve rare species (eleven are previously unreported rare species for the Washington-Slagbaai National Park (WSNP) are also presented. A number of publications indicate the deleterious effects of introduced goats, donkeys and pigs on the vegetation and flora of islands. These animals are also found in the WSNP. The lack of saplings and the (very) small numbers of seedlings of only a few rare tree species found in the present study are ascribed to the deleterious effects of goats, donkeys and pigs.

Harrisia portoricensis is a threatened columnar cactus whose distribution range is currently restricted to three small islands of the Puerto Rican Bank: Mona, Monito, and Desecheo. In this work we present a brief summary of results on natural history and population size estimates of H. portoricensis populations, extracted from two years of population and community-level intensive studies performed at Mona and Monito Islands. Analyses of the demographic profiles of H. portoricensis populations demonstrated that for Mona Island populations included plants in the adult, juvenile, and seedling stages, whereas population of this species on Monito Island only included adult plants. For both islands, we detected a high percentage of H. portoricensis plants showing vegetative lesions. Additionally, we found that the presence and abundance of these vegetative lesions in H. portoricensis were significantly associated with increases in total plant length. Our combined results suggested that active management in situ is necessary for the recovery of this threatened species and also highlight the need for long-term monitoring to determine the effects of changing biotic and abiotic interactions on the future of H. portoricensis populations.