Using forest inventory data from 6457 trees collected from 128 sites we make the first nationwide assessment of tree number density and woody structure for the lowland pine savanna woodlands of Belize. We analyse tree diameters and tree height distributions to quantify the structural differences observed between unprotected (here termed UPR) pine woodlands compared to pine woodlands that are protected and passively managed (termed PRPM), and others that are protected and actively managed for commercial pine extraction (termed PRAM). We find that the lowland pine woodlands of Belize can occasionally reach densities of up to 700 trees/Ha and with a biomass up to 100Mg/Ha locally, but that the tree density is often less than 300 trees/Ha. 95% of the trees surveyed were between 9–16m in height and more than half had diameters < 20cm, suggesting that many of these woodlands are dominated by juvenile individuals.

When our plot data is subdivided according to the type of protection and management applied, we find statistically significant differences in the tree diameter and total height distributions between the PRPM, PRAM and UPR types of woodlands (Kruskal Wallis ANOVA, P<0.001). The PRPM areas are found to have the highest diversity of tree diameters (RCV = 0.9), and the largest number of bigger trees [dbh (≥40cm) ≈ 10 trees ha^-1], while UPR areas are found to have the least variability in tree diameter (RCV = 0.6), and fewest big trees [dbh (≥40cm) ≈ 0.7 trees ha^-1]. These results provide the first published data to suggest that different structures may develop within these pine savanna woodlands depending on the type of woodland management that is applied (e.g. active management for extraction, compared with passive management for biodiversity conservation), and that a different structure is observed in those pine woodlands that have no form of protection.

A new species of the genus Campylaspis G.O. Sars, C. grazielae and also Campylaspis sp. are described from the mesophotic coral ecosystems of St. John, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean Sea. Similarities and dissimilarities with related species are discussed and a taxonomic key is provided for the Western Atlantic species of the genus Campylaspis. With the addition of C. grazielae sp. nov. described herein, there are 17 recognized species of Campylaspis in the Western Atlantic. This is the first record of the genus Campylaspis from the US Virgin Islands.

In this study, we evaluate the potential of the heterodyne system for the acoustic identification of bat species from Mormoopidae in Cuba. The heterodyne transformation of the echolocation calls of the three mormoopid species of Pteronotus (P. macleayii, P. quadridens and P. parnellii) was initially analyzed by setting the frequency of the heterodyne detector (f _tuned) 5 kHz above and below the constant frequency value of the second harmonic, respectively. We then studied the feasibility for the identification of several Pteronotus species with single f_tuned values. The heterodyne transformation of calls from the mormoopid Mormoops blainvillii and four Cuban phyllostomid bats was studied by selecting frequency values contained in the calls of each of the species under study. We showed that, by selecting the appropriate f _tuned, the Pteronotus species could be accurately identified based on the spectral signatures of their heterodyned calls. Frequency modulated (FM) bats presented very similar heterodyne signatures and therefore could not be identified to species level. The study points to heterodyne detectors as appropriate to conduct acoustic surveys of mormoopids and other constant frequency (CF) and quasi CF bat species.

Tropical islands such as St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands are naturally susceptible to terrigenous (land-based) sediment erosion due to their high-relief slopes, fast weathering rates, and intense precipitation events. Nearshore ecosystems that exist near these islands tend to thrive in static conditions, and are especially stressed by increases in terrigenous input. In the last few decades, island development and population have increased dramatically in some areas of St. John. We conducted a detailed characterization of watersheds and their sediments from ‘source to sink’ in eastern St. John. To accomplish this we combined field observations and sampling with a digital elevation model. Our research was focused on several morphologically similar embayments in eastern St. John; three impacted by anthropogenic development (Coral Harbor, Johnson Bay, and Sanders Bay) and an adjacent, virtually undeveloped bay within the Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (Otter Creek). We found a large disparity in upslope watershed size between Otter Creek and Coral Harbor: Otter Creek (0.09 km²) is ∼73× smaller than Coral Harbor (6.54 km²). As expected, watersheds transport terrigenous volcaniclastic sediments directly to the marine environment where shallow-water marine carbonates precipitate. Terrigenous volcaniclastic sediments persist furthest from the source in the basin of the largest watershed with the most development (Coral Harbor), and decay closest to the source in the basin of the smallest watershed with the least development (Otter Creek). Due to large disparities in watershed size, further research is required in order to determine the relative contribution of development on the distribution of terrigenous sediments.

The most important hypersaline environment in Bolivia is the Uyuni salt flat. It is the largest salt flat in the world and, it presents certain unique chemical characteristics and composition on its surface such as a gradient of ion concentrations from south to north. The autochthonous microbial communities in these salt flats have yet to be studied in detail, and it is not clear if these communities are somehow homogeneous across in the ca. 10,000 km² flat. The present study was done in order to describe the structure of the microbial communities and determine any possible correlations with abiotic factors. Total DNA was extracted from rock salt samples obtained at different locations, and 16S rDNA followed by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses. Statistical analyses of the communities indicated that the highest diversity indices were found in the southern area, and the microbial communities were clustered in three groups for bacteria and in two groups for archaea. This variation could be explained by different concentrations of lithium and calcium, in addition to other abiotic variables on the surface crust. Our results indicate that even under extreme hypersaline conditions abiotic factors such as wind or geological activity may determine the composition of the resident microbiota.

The occurrence of basking sharks in the Caribbean Sea is only recently documented by satellite tagging studies, which show that some individuals migrate through the region en route from waters off the east coast of the USA to waters off northeastern South-America. The observation of a basking shark on 7 November 2013 ca. 130 km north-northeast of Aruba during an aerial survey of marine mammals in the waters around the Dutch Leeward Islands is reported. This observation constitutes the first visual record of a living basking shark in the Caribbean.

The Peale's free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops aurispinosus) is found in Sonora and Tamaulipas (Mexico) and in South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil) but there are no records from Central America. Known altitudinal range of this bat is from sea level to 3,150 m; most known records are from below 1,000 masl. We report the occurrence of Nyctinomops aurispinosus in Central America based on a recently dead male found in southern Honduras. The nearest localities where it has been reported are western Sonora and eastern Tamaulipas, México. The specimen was found at 1,239 masl on December 5^th, 2014 in a disturbed oak-pine forest used for cattle ranching with some human infrastructure recently built in the site. We have registered several other species of bats in this study site, including N. laticaudatus, Eumops underwoodi, four vespertilionids and three mormoopids, most of them difficult to catch by mist nets. We add a new bat species to the Honduras list which now stands at 108 species.

Spiders were opportunistically collected in 2006 and 2007 in the Turks and Caicos Islands during focused collecting of selenopid spiders. These samples were combined with a previous collection, and all were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. We found 28 families, 55 genera and 62 species. There appear to be several undescribed species, and the fauna incudes endemics, a mixture of widespread species, species only found on one or a few other islands as well as some apparently introduced species. Some species occur on both the Caicos and the Turks banks, whereas others are only found on one or the other. Additional work should be conducted using systematic collection methods covering more geographic regions, especially some of the less-developed areas of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This study presents new information on the diet of Tyto insularis in Dominica, Lesser Antilles. The study of 57 pellets and bulk material collected in 1999 (23) and 2000 (34) contained 517 prey items of relatively high diversity. These included squamates (2 species), rodents (2 species), bats (7 species), birds (17 identified taxa and several unidentified Passeriformes) and insects. Although our inferences stem a few owls, results suggested that the diet of T. insularis in Dominica is similar to the diet of T. glaucops in Hispaniola.