During the National Geographic Pristine Seas Colombia Expedition in 2022, carried out in oceanic waters around the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in the Colombian Caribbean, one individual of the giant isopod, Bathynomus giganteus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879, was spotted on a deep-sea camera system. This observation is the first report for this species in the Reserve and specifically in Serranilla Bank. The isopod was recorded in a swimming behavior over soft sediments, at a depth of 650 m. Given that giant isopods are scavengers, this individual was likely attracted to the bait attached to the camera. This report extends the geographic distribution of Bathynomus giganteus in the Colombian Caribbean waters, which was previously only reported along the continental shelf.

Durante la Expedición National Geographic Pristine Seas Colombia 2022, realizada en aguas oceánicas alrededor de la Reserva de la Biosfera Seaflower en el Caribe colombiano, un individuo del isópodo gigante Bathynomus giganteus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879, fue avistado en un sistema de cámara de aguas profundas. Esta observación corresponde al primer reporte para esta especie en la Reserva, y particularmente en el bajo Serranilla. El isópodo fue registrados nadando sobre sedimentos blandos, a una profundidad de 650 m. Dado que los isópodos son carroñeros, probablemente este individuo fue atraído por el cebo adherido en la cámara. Este reporte amplía la distribución geográfica de Bathynomus giganteus en aguas del Caribe colombiano, anteriormente reportado solo a lo largo de la plataforma continental.

Biodiversity supports resiliency of ecosystems, and predators such as spiders assist with the health of ecosystems. Given the high diversity of spiders, this group of arachnids is relatively poorly understood, especially across biologically diverse regions such as the West Indies. Five species of spiders representing the genera Tmarus, Anasaitis, Habronattus, and possibly Corythalia are reported for the first time from The Bahamas, all of which are new genera records for The Bahamas.

Leucism, a mutation falling under the broader category of White Spotting, leads to white feathers or plumage in birds. While prevalent among domestic and captive birds, its occurrence in the wild is relatively rare. This mutation disrupts the normal development of melanin cells. Leucistic birds may exhibit either complete white plumage or partial white patches, with the extent of white plumage remaining consistent throughout their lifespan. In partial cases, leucism manifests in a bilaterally symmetrical manner. The male Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Ramphocelus passerinii, typically features predominantly black plumage, accentuated by vivid scarlet on the lower back, rump, and upper tail covers, along with a silvery bill, dark red iris, and blackish legs. Here, we document an instance of aberrant coloration in the Scarlet-rumped Tanager, a leucistic male observed on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica.

El leucismo, una mutación que se clasifica dentro de la categoría más amplia de manchas blancas, provoca plumas o plumajes blancosen lasaves. Aunque es frecuente entre aves domésticas y cautivas, su ocurrencia en la naturaleza es relativamente rara. Esta mutación interrumpe el desarrollo normal de las células que producen la melanina. Las aves leucísticas pueden presentar plumaje completamente blanco o parches blancos parciales y la extensión del plumaje blanco permanece consistente a lo largo de su vida. En casos parciales, el leucismo se manifiesta de manera bilateralmente simétrica. El macho del sargento, Ramphocelus passerinii, presenta el plumaje predominantemente negro, acentuado por escarlata vibrante en la parte inferior de la espalda, rabadilla y cobertoras superiores de la cola, junto con el pico plateado, el iris rojo oscuro y las patas negruzcas. Aquí, documentamos una instancia de coloración aberrante en el sargento, un macho leucístico observado en la vertiente del Pacífico de Costa Rica.

Pseudochrysops bornoi yateritas Smith and Hernández, 1992 is reported for Cuba for the first time in more than three decades, and Strymon toussainti (Comstock and Huntington, 1943) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) for the first time in more than 12 years. The observations were made between September 2023 and May 2024 at different locations in Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo provinces. The known distribution range of both species increases by more than 100 km to the west and 30 km to the east of Guantánamo Bay Naval Base. We discuss ecological implications involving possible host plants, habitat, and seasonality, although more studies are necessary to understand the biology of these butterflies.

Se reporta por primera vez en más de tres décadas en Cuba a Pseudochrysops bornoi yateritas Smith y Hernández, 1992 y por primera vez en más de 12 años a Strymon toussainti (Comstock y Huntington, 1943) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Las observaciones se realizaron entre septiembre de 2023 y mayo de 2024 en diferentes localidades de las provincias de Santiago de Cuba y Guantánamo. Se amplían los rangos de distribución conocida de ambas especies más de 100 km al oeste y 30 km al este de la Base Naval de Guantánamo. Se discuten las implicaciones ecológicas de los presentes registros, incluyendo posibles plantas hospederas, hábitats y estacionalidad, aunque se necesitan más estudios para entender la biología de estas mariposas.

Invasive species such as the cane toad (Rhinella marina) can be detrimental to the ecosystems they invade, and can cause a decline of native species diversity. Introduced in Puerto Rico since the 1920's, the cane toad can be found across the whole island. We present the first known record of a predation attempt of Grant's blindsnake (Typhlops granti) by a cane toad in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Grant's blindsnake is endemic to Puerto Rico and is considered endangered. Observations such as this one help to better understand the effects of the cane toad on Puerto Rico's trophic chain.

We have examined studies on zooplankton and meiobenthos, specifically focusing on the copepod species in the vicinity of Puerto Rico. Our effort has culminated in the creation of the first thorough species checklist of marine copepods for the island. Through this comprehensive review, we have identified a total of 135 species being distributed across 46 families. This compilation sheds light on the marine copepod diversity in Puerto Rico, accounting for approximately one-quarter of the species documented in the Caribbean, indicating a major knowledge gap on the marine copepod fauna of the island waters.

Understanding the variability of the floral biology of crops and the impact of abiotic factors that influence this variation can be used to inform conservation and management of their living germplasms. This study evaluated the floral characteristics, pollen germination, and flowering phenology of four commercial cultivars of Mangifera indica (‘Julie,’ ‘Keitt,’ ‘Kent,’ and ‘Tommy Atkins’) at the Juana Diaz Experimental Station (JDES) in Puerto Rico using quantitative and qualitative methods. Results show significant differences across cultivars in variables related to inflorescence size (width, length), architecture, flower production, and flower sex ratios. However, these differences were not necessarily consistent across years. Flowers of M. indica reflect color in the UV region, but these patterns are qualitatively different in ‘Keitt,’ which also shows qualitative differences between perfect flowers and staminate flowers using both UV and visible spectrum photos. Mangifera indica trees produce more sucrose than glucose and fructose, but different cultivars presented different sugar profiles based on the relative percentage of sugar contents. Pollen viability was high for all cultivars, but pollen germination exhibited an optimal temperature that varied depending on the cultivar. Likewise, for all cultivars, pollen from staminate flowers exhibited higher germination percentages compared to pollen from perfect flowers at temperatures above optimal values. But at temperatures below the optimal, they had a tendency for lower germination percentages relative to perfect flowers, although this pattern was only significant for ‘Kent.’ The results may have important implications for the management of mango cultivars, especially within the context of projected climate change. For pollen-germinating cultivars that are susceptible to temperature increases, these cultivars may be at risk of being lost.

Hurricane María, a catastrophic natural event in 2017, left an indelible mark on the Puerto Rican landscape. This study examines the hurricane's ecological repercussions by analyzing tree cover in the municipality of Ponce, southern Puerto Rico. Our primary focus is on the changes in tree cover, encompassing urban, coastal, and rural areas, from before to after the hurricane. Utilizing high-resolution spatial imagery and remote sensing techniques, we map and compare vegetation cover in 2016 (pre-Hurricane María) and 2018 (post-Hurricane María). The study covers three landscapes of Ponce, from the north, center, and south of the municipality, offering a comprehensive understanding of the hurricane's impact on different landscapes. The findings reveal profound alterations in tree cover, with specific attention to the urban, coastal, and rural zones. In the aftermath of Hurricane María, the North/ Rural zone witnessed substantial decreases of 14.73% in tree cover. The Center/Urban zone displayed a mix of trends, highlighting the complex interaction between urbanization and hurricane impacts. Coastal areas in the South/Coast zone exhibited diverse impacts, emphasizing the need for conservation and restoration strategies. Detailed insights into specific neighborhoods underscore the localized social impacts of Hurricane María. Located in the northern region of the municipality, Guaraguao's negative change in tree cover may translate into reduced biodiversity and ecosystem services. Urban neighborhoods, such as San Antón, experienced considerable negative changes, indicating challenges such as increased heat stress and decreased aesthetic value. This research not only enriches our understanding of the ecological shifts induced by Hurricane María, but also informs for future resilience planning and conservation efforts. By emphasizing the interconnected nature of social and environmental impacts, the study serves as a tool for adaptive public policies that integrate ecological resilience with community well-being.

Although the butterfly fauna of Cuba has been well studied during the last few decades in the western and eastern regions of the island, less attention has been paid to the central region. Here we preliminarily describe the butterfly richness of Caletón de Don Bruno, Cienfuegos Bay, in central Cuba, based on ten field surveys. Species richness and sampling completeness were estimated through rarefaction analyses. We recorded 90 butterfly species, of which 25 are endemic taxa, with an estimated species richness of 92 ± 8, which are high values for a preliminary sampling. This may be related to the high floral diversity of the locality and its biogeographical placement. The observed butterfly fauna resembles those of similar habitats in other Cuban localities. Biogeographical and ecological implications of some of the observations are discussed.

Marine ecosystems rely on hard corals. Since 2014, a rapidly spreading disease causing stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has devastated coral reefs in the Caribbean. In 2019, corals exhibiting necrotic lesions compatible with SCTLD were documented on the coast of Grenada in the West Indies. These lesions, hereafter called Stony Coral Necrotic Lesions (SCNL), are associated with coral death. Concomitantly on the same reefs, signs of skin hyperpigmentation were detected in French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) and ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus). This field study investigated potential correlations between SCNL abundance in representative transects and fish hyperpigmentation across 12 dive sites on Grenada's Southwest coast. The percentage of corals displaying SCNL was 45% of hard coral colonies. The study found a significant correlation (P = 0.004) between the percentage of fish affected by hyperpigmentation in a given reef and the abundance of SCNL in corals of the same dive site on evaluated transects. Sites located in St-Georges Bay also tended to have a higher proportion of diseased corals, but no significant difference was noted between study regions. This preliminary study provides insights into SCNL in Grenada and establishes a foundation for future longitudinal investigations including further evaluation of human-induced stressors that may threaten coral and fish health and make them more susceptible to diseases.

Information regarding freshwater ponds is sparse for the Caribbean and specifically for Jamaica. Although a variety of studies have highlighted the taxonomic composition of riverine habitats for Jamaica, there are few published studies which have focused on lentic habitats and none have examined the functional organisation, predator-prey interactions or diet of pond invertebrates in such systems. The study aimed to address that information deficit. From January 2014 to April 2015, eight high elevation ponds were sampled in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica. The macroinvertebrate community of each was organised into four functional feeding groups: collector, grazer, predator, and shredder. Shredders and grazers were poorly represented in the ponds based on count and productivity. Collectors were dominant in count and P/B ratios, while predators had the highest biomass proportion (68.1%; 42.09 gm^-2) and production (210.95 g m^-2yr^-1) in the sample area. The predator to non-predator ratio by count never exceeded 1:1. With predator biomass and productivity being high, the macroinvertebrate community remained stable due to prey taxa having higher P/B ratios than their respective predators. The study also highlighted the role of large invertebrates such as Odonata, as top predators in ponds that are devoid of insectivorous fish. Through dietary analyses, the baetid Callibaetis was noted to feed primarily on algae attached to surfaces, leading to its re-classification from collector to grazer. The gut content analyses for odonates showed that although there is inter-predation, these organisms primarily consumed the taxa which were most abundant in the sample area (Ostracoda, Ephemeroptera, and Chironomidae). This research represents the first of its kind to examine functional organisation of the invertebrate community in a pond system within Jamaica and allows for comparison with how communities in primarily temperate locations, where data are more available, are organised.

The countries of the Caribbean basin are regularly subjected to intense climatic events such as hurricanes. In early July 2024, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record, striking Martinique with unprecedented intensity. These extreme weather events pose a significant threat to the breeding success of endangered sea turtles in the Caribbean. The main objective of this research was to determine the direct impact of Hurricane Beryl on the nesting populations of Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and Hawskbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). We estimated the different levels of the coastline in order to evaluate the evolution of the sea level height, swell intensity, and erosion across three beaches that were being monitored during the sea turtle nesting season. Map analyses show a total loss of Leatherback turtle nests due to submersion. While Hawskbill turtle nests were also submerged, the impact on egg survival is yet to be fully determined as short-term immersion could have less severe effects, especially for nests located further from the shoreline. These observations highlight the devastating consequences of Hurricane Beryl, in particular for Leatherback turtle nests. The increasing frequency and intensity of early-season hurricanes may have long-term implications for sea turtle populations in the Caribbean.

In Costa Rica, five species of squirrels are present, with the Variegated Squirrel, Echinosciurus variegatoides, being the largest and most common. This species primarily feeds on nuts, seeds, fruits, and other plant material, occasionally supplementing its diet with fungi, insects, and birds or their eggs. We observed the Variegated Squirrel consuming seeds from Aristolochia ringens fruits. This represents the first report of a species from the Aristolochiaceae family in the diet of the Variegated Squirrel. This discovery is significant due to the toxic compounds present in Aristolochia species, though many of these plants are used medicinally across various cultures. We reviewed the literature on the diet of the Variegated Squirrel and compiled a list of 54 plant species across 31 families. Some of these species are cultivated or have economic importance, which has led to the Variegated Squirrel being considered a pest in certain areas. The population of this squirrel has been significantly reduced in several regions where it was once abundant. Developing management strategies is crucial to protect this species from overhunting, while also safeguarding economically valuable crops from its impact.

En Costa Rica, hay cinco especies de ardillas, incluida la ardilla variegada, Echinosciurus variegatoides, la más grande y común. Esta especie se alimenta principalmente de nueces, semillas, frutos y otras partes de las plantas, complementando ocasionalmente su dieta con hongos, insectos y aves o sus huevos. Observamos a la ardilla variegada consumiendo semillas de los frutos de Aristolochia ringens. Este es el primer reporte de una especie de la familia Aristolochiaceae en la dieta de la ardilla variegada. Este hallazgo es significativo debido a los compuestos tóxicos presentes en las especies de Aristolochia, aunque muchas de estas plantas son utilizadas medicinalmente en diversas culturas. Revisamos la literatura sobre la dieta de la ardilla variegada y compilamos una lista de 54 especies de plantas pertenecientes a 31 familias. Algunas de estas especies son cultivadas o tienen importancia económica, lo que ha llevado a que la ardilla variegada sea considerada una plaga en ciertas áreas. La población de esta ardilla ha disminui-do significativamente en varias regiones donde antes era abundante. Es crucial desarrollar estrategias de manejo para proteger a esta especie de la sobrecacería, al mismo tiempo que se salvaguardan los cultivos de valor económico de su impacto.

Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae) is a tropical species that was cultivated by the Mayans, who established the first cacao plantations in Central America. Cacao belongs to the group of plants with recalcitrant seeds, which, in some cases, reduces their viability. The use of somatic embryogenesis for its propagation has been highly relevant for improving production conditions and maintaining the production, aroma, and flavor characteristics of special cacao materials. The objective of this work was to obtain graphical information to compare the morphology and development of the zygotic and somatic embryos of Theobroma cacao. For this study, 40 fruits at different stages of development were collected and grouped into eight stages according to fruit length and development time. A total of 10 seeds per fruit were evaluated, and their embryos were extracted and compared in their different embryonic states (globular, torpedo, heart, and cotyledonary), with those produced asexually in vitro. The observations provide relevant information that allows for the comparison of the morphology of both types of embryos (zygotic and somatic), establishing a parallelism between the embryo development stages. This study highlighted that the development time of the zygotic embryo is shorter, but the desirable production and resistance characteristics achievable in the somatic embryo are not preserved.

Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae) es una especie tropical, cultivado por los Mayas, quienes establecieron las primeras plantaciones cacaoteras en Centroamérica. El cacao está dentro del grupo de plantas que presentan semillas recalcitrantes, lo cual en algunos casos reduce su viabilidad. El uso de la embriogénesis somática para su propagación ha sido de gran relevancia para mejorar las condiciones de producción y mantener características de producción, olor y sabor de materiales especiales de cacao. El objetivo de este trabajo fue obtener información gráfica para la comparación de la morfología y desarrollo del embrión cigótico y somático de Theobroma cacao. Para este estudio se colectaron 40 frutos en diferentes etapas de desarrollo, los cuales se agruparon en ocho etapas de acuerdo con la longitud del fruto y tiempo de desarrollo, en total se evaluaron 10 semillas por fruto a las cuales se les extrajo el embrión, los cuales fueron comparados en sus diferentes estados embrionarios (globular, torpedo, corazón y cotiledonar) con los producidos de forma asexual in vitro. Las observaciones obtenidas proporcionan información relevante que permite establecer la comparación de la morfología de ambos tipos de embriones (cigótico y somático), permitiendo establecer un paralelismo entre las fases de desarrollo del embrión. En este estudio se destacó que el tiempo de desarrollo del embrión cigótico es menor, pero no se conservan las características deseables de producción y resistencia que se puede lograr en el embrión somático.

Mangrove habitats such as those at Salt River, Jamaica are considered to be nurseries for juvenile fishes as they provide shelter from waves. These habitats are highly productive, leading to increased food availability, and the complex mangrove terrain allows juvenile fishes to evade larger predators. The role of small and juvenile piscivores has been widely overlooked, and one hypothesis suggests that their presence in an ecosystem exerts considerable predation pressure on the new recruits. The diets of five piscivores that inhabit Salt River and the adjacent shores (Caranx hippos, Gobiomorus dormitor, Sphyraena barracuda, Tylosurus crocodilus, and Lutjanus apodus) were examined. The working hypothesis for this study was that the piscivores that inhabit Salt River do not prey on the more abundant secondary consumers in this ecosystem, but rather compete with them for similar resources. The stomach analyses revealed that three of the five piscivores fed on fishes in varying amounts. Tylosurus crocodilus had a high feeding index of anchovies, amphipods, and fish remains. Lutjanus apodus had a high feeding index of fish remains, decapods, amphipods, anchovies, and crustacean remains. For Sphyraena barracuda, the highest feeding index was fish remains. Caranx hippos fed on oligochaetes and polychaetes, and Gobiomorus dormitor fed predominantly on amphipods.

Reef fish are characterized by a complex cycle of life, including a pelagic larval phase and a benthic phase during their juvenile and adult stages. Although the ecology of fish can be easily studied on coral reefs, their ecology during the larval migration in the pelagic environment is more challenging. In the present study, we used an isotopic approach to investigate the ecology of larvae from eight fish families (Acanthuridae, Apogonidae, Gobiidae, Haemulidae, Labridae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae, and Muraenidae), six of which were identified to species, and three to genus. Isotopic niches were described using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N) to discuss the partitioning of their ecological patterns at a larval stage. The results showed that individuals of different taxa exhibited close isotopic compositions indicating that the various fish taxa occupied similar isotopic niches during their pelagic migration, with the exception of the muraenid, which exhibited lower carbon isotopic composition. Most reef fish seemed to use the same food resources and habitat types during their larval stage, demonstrating their gregarious behavior during this pelagic phase.

Among the different ecosystems colonized by aquatic macroinvertebrates, phytotelmic habitats, those that form in water retained within various plant structures, represent ample opportunity for study. In the case of plants from the Bromeliaceae family, morphological characteristics such as rosettes of leaves allow for the formation of reservoirs that store water and detritus, which also harbor a diverse fauna of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Some of these invertebrates are of medical relevance because they serve as vectors of pathogens. In this study, we set out to document the biodiversity of phytotelmic systems at the level of aquatic macroinvertebrates, particularly mosquitoes, that colonize different bromeliad species in the municipality of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. In addition to sampling macroinvertebrates, various morphometric characteristics of the plants, as well as physical-chemical parameters of the water contained in the bromeliads, were recorded. Insects were identified to the family level, while other invertebrates were identified to order, except for flatworms, which were identified to class. Specimens from the Culicidae family were identified to species. A total of 10,500 individuals were collected, corresponding to three phyla, seven classes, and 12 orders. Phylum Arthropoda accounted for 88.7% of all the captured organisms, followed by Annelida (10.8%); the remaining (0.5%) belong to phylum Platyhelminthes. At the rank of Class, Ostracoda accounted for 53.8% of all captured organisms, followed by Insecta (26.9%). In terms of orders, Podocopida (which includes all Ostracoda) represented 53.8% of the captured individuals, followed by Diptera (26.4%). Within Diptera, five different families were identified; Chironomidae was the most abundant with 43.9%, followed by Culicidae with 38.4%. Six species of culicids were identified, of which 74.9% were Wyeomyia mitchellii, with the remainder consisting of Aedes aegypti, A. albonotatus, A. albopictus, Culex biscaynensis, and W. vanduzeei. Family Pseudostigmatidae (Odonata) is documented for the first time in Hispaniola, and family Scirtidae (Coleoptera) for the second time.

De entre los diferentes ecosistemas que colonizan los macroinvertebrados acuáticos, los ambientes fitotélmicos, aquellos que se generan en agua retenida en diferentes estructuras vegetales, representan amplias oportunidades para estudiar. En el caso de las plantas de la familia Bromeliaceae, característicasmorfológicascomorosetasdehojaspermitenlaformacióndereceptáculosdealmacenamiento de agua y detritos, en la que además existe una fauna diversa de macroinvertebrados acuáticos. Algunos de estos invertebrados son de relevancia médica por ser vectores de patógenos. En este estudio nos dedicamos a documentar la biodiversidad de los sistemas fitotélmicos a nivel de macroinvertebrados acuáticos, particularmente mosquitos, que colonizan las diferentes especies de bromelias en el municipio de Jarabacoa, República Dominicana. Además de muestrear macroinvertebrados, también se registraron diferentes características morfométricas de las plantas, así como parámetros físico-químicos del agua contenida en las bromelias. Los insectos se identificaron a nivel de familia, mientras que otros invertebrados se identificaron a orden, excepto los platelmintos que se identificaron a clase. Especímenes de la familia Culicidae se identificaron a especie. Se colectaron 10,500 individuos, correspondientes a tres filos, siete clases y 12 órdenes. El filo Arthropoda representa el 88.7% de todos los organismos capturados, seguido de Annelida (10.8%); el resto (0.5%) pertenece al filo Platyhelminthes. En el rango de Clase, Ostracoda representa el 53.8% de todos los organismos capturados seguida de Insecta (26.9%). En relación con los órdenes, Podocopida (que incluye todos los Ostracoda) representa el 53.8% de los individuos capturados, seguido de Diptera (26.4%). Dentro de Diptera, se identificaron cinco familias diferentes; Chironomidae fue la más abundante con el 43.9%, seguida de Culicidae con el 38.4%. Se identificaron seis especies de culícidos, de los cuales el 74.9% fueron Wyeomyia mitchellii, y el resto consistieron en Aedes aegypti, A. albonotatus, A. albopictus, Culex biscaynensis y W. vanduzeei. La familia Pseudostigmatidae (Odonata) es documentado por primera vez en La Española, y la familia Scirtidae (Coleoptera) por segunda vez.

Salmonella enterica infection can result in salmonellosis in humans. I list 30 S. enterica serovars reported as recovered from Gekko gecko and Phelsuma cf. grandis, two non-native gecko species established in the Caribbean and southern Florida, U. S. A. Several of these serovars are clinically significant, indicating that zoonotic transmission poses a potential risk to public health.

The ocean sunfish, Mola mola (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae), is among the world's heaviest bony fish. Despite its worldwide distribution and conspicuous appearance, its presence in certain oceanic regions remains underreported. This note documents the occurrence of a deceased Mola mola specimen on Utila, Bay Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea of Honduras. We present data on the morphology and osteological characteristics of the partially recovered specimen, as well as a photographic voucher from a previous encounter with a live individual in this region. Our contribution adds to a better understanding of the distribution of this species in the Western Atlantic and Mesoamerican Caribbean by confirming their occasional presence in the Bay Islands National Marine Park of Honduras.

The distribution of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) remains poorly understood in many regions due to a scarcity of sightings and recorded strandings. Here, we report the stranding of a false killer whale calf on Utila Island, Honduras in 2022. The newborn calf was found in poor physical condition with an undetermined cause of death. We present morphological data and supplementary notes on the partial skull and skeletal features of the calf, contributing information to the understanding of this species in the Western Caribbean Sea.

Small island states are amongst the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Many of these effects have been occurring along the coastal zones. Mangrove ecosystems are amongst the most effective natural protection against coastal erosion and inundation. Mangroves are particularly important to the islands of the Caribbean which are subject to the impacts of hurricanes and sea-level rise. Mapping of mangrove ecosystems is key for monitoring changes in their structure and health. This is critical for their conservation and rehabilitation and aids in improving coastal protection and the numerous other ecosystem functions that mangroves provide. Mangrove extent mapping and monitoring have been effectively carried out using advanced geospatial techniques and data. Mangrove species mapping from remotely sensed data, however, has been challenging due to the spectral similarity among several species. Despite this, species maps remain an integral component of monitoring changes within mangroves and provide a core metric towards their conservation. In this study, we combined radar backscatter data from Sentinel-1 with the spectral reflectance information from Sentinel-2 and tree height data from a global high resolution Canopy Height Model (CHM) produced by World Resources Institute (WRI) and Meta, to produce mangrove species maps for the Caroni Swamp region of Trinidad. A machine learning model was trained within Google Earth Engine's (GEE) open-source platform to produce five classes. We also included Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) to improve the detection of the two main mangrove species. Independent sets of GPS field data were collected and used to train the machine learning model and then conduct an accuracy assessment of the final mangrove species map. The combined optical-radar-CHM classified product resulted in an overall combined accuracy for both seasons of 98.95% and outperformed a classification based on 3 m PlanetScope SuperDove 8-band imagery at 96.55%. This study recommends that the combined multispectral, radar, CHM, GEE approach is a simple, cost-effective, highly accurate method that can be applied to mangrove species mapping within the Caribbean region.

The conservation status of more than 160,000 species has been assessed following IUCN guidelines, with greater than 13% considered data deficient. Maintaining an accurate understanding of native populations is challenging, especially for species with geographically large or discontinuous insular ranges. Here we assessed a data deficient population of a critically endangered reptile within the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot. We surveyed the island of Antigua for three weeks to assess whether the native Iguana delicatissima remains present. Morphological data from 98 observed and 29 captured iguanas showed no sign of pure remaining I. delicatissima; whilst 19 individuals had some morphological features of I. delicatissima. Sequence data and discriminant analyses of 17 microsatellite loci assigned all captured iguanas to I. iguana, although the presence of two I. delicatissima alleles are indicative of an old introgressed population. The only present mtDNA haplotype matched to the non-native iguana population on Grand-Terre, Guadeloupe. This provides genetic evidence of hurricane-mediated translocation as proposed happened in the aftermath of two 1995 hurricanes when debris-rafts with iguanas landed on Anguilla, Barbuda, and Antigua. The rapid decline of I. delicatissima places urgency on finding and conserving any surviving remnant populations, which we show are likely absent from Antigua, though we cannot rule out the presence of a few individuals.

The cactus Leptocereus grantianus is an endangered species endemic to the island municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico. Given its critical population status, several conservation and restoration actions have been developed to restore its dwindling populations. However, the limited understanding of its biology and ecology has constrained such efforts. Our project aims to enhance the knowledge of L. grantianus demography by monitoring survival, growth, and phenology in three natural populations. After one year, survival rates ranged from 70% to 100%. The observed mortality was linked to basal dislodgement, which resulted from an unstable substrate. Conversely, growth rates (net change in branch length) were low, with mean rates not exceeding 0.32 cm per month in any of the studied populations. Nevertheless, significant seasonal variations were observed, with 46% of individuals exhibiting a reduction in length during the dry season compared to only 11% during the wet season. Flower-budding occurred year-round in all populations; however, flowering and fruit production were rare. The observed low growth rate and reproductive output may be adaptive strategies to enhance survival in the harsh environmental conditions of Culebra. Therefore, conservation and restoration initiatives should incorporate these insights to effectively address the challenges faced by L. grantianus and support its recovery.

El cactus Leptocereus grantianus es una especie en peligro de extinción endémica de la isla municipio de Culebra, Puerto Rico. Dado su crítico estado poblacional, se han desarrollado varias acciones de conservación y restauración para recuperar sus poblaciones en disminución. Sin embargo, el conocimiento limitado de su biología y ecología ha restringido tales esfuerzos. Nuestro estudio tiene como objetivo mejorar el conocimiento de la demografía de L. grantianus mediante el monitoreo de la supervivencia, el crecimiento y la fenología en tres poblaciones naturales. Al cabo de un año, las tasas de supervivencia variaron entre el 70% y el 100%. La mortalidad observada estuvo asociada al desprendimiento basal, resultado de un sustrato inestable. Por otro lado, el crecimiento (cambio neto en la longitud de las ramas) fue lento, con tasas medias que no superaron los 0.32 cm al mes en ninguna de las poblaciones estudiadas. No obstante, se observaron variaciones estacionales significativas, ya que el 46% de los individuos mostraron una reducción en longitud durante la temporada seca, en comparación con solo el 11% durante la temporada de lluvia. La producción de capullos se observó durante todo el año y en todas las poblaciones; sin embargo, la floración y la producción de frutos fueron escasas. Las tasas bajas de crecimiento y el pobre desempeño reproductivo pueden ser estrategias adaptativas para mejorar la supervivencia del cactus en las duras condiciones ambientales de Culebra. Por lo tanto, las iniciativas de conservación y restauración deben incorporar estos conocimientos para abordar eficazmente los retos que enfrenta L. grantianus y apoyar su recuperación.

Copepods of the genus Cletocamptus are common inhabitants of coastal saline lagoons of the greater Caribbean. They are abundant in southern Puerto Rico, where past studies indicate the presence of one species, Cletocamptus dominicanus; but genetic and ecological studies have yet to be conducted. For a year, we surveyed the Cletocamptus populations of three lagoons (Candelaria, Fraternidad, and Playa Sucia) in southwestern Puerto Rico. Densities fluctuated within and between lagoons, suggesting patchy distribution. Their average density per lagoon ranged from 0 to 608 copepods/cm² of sediment. Salinity, temperature, and pH were not correlated with copepod densities, suggesting tolerance to environmental fluctuations. Specimens exhibited morphological variability, motivating us to assess the standing genetic variability and the potential of cryptic species by employing two molecular markers. The mitochondrial COI and the nuclear ribosomal 28S genes were sequenced from 130 and 118 specimens, respectively, collected from Candelaria, Fraternidad, and Playa Sucia, as well as from an additional four lagoons (Petrona, Encarnación, Providencia, and Flamenco). Phylogenetic analyses using both genes indicate the presence of at least four lineages. Based on COI sequences, corrected sequence divergence between the lineages ranged from 13% to 43%. Given the large sequence divergence among the Cletocamptus lineages, we used single-locus species delimitation tools (GMYC, bPTP, mPTP, ASAP, and ABGD) to assess for the presence of additional species beyond the previously reported C. dominicanus. Most delimitation tests grouped taxa into five putative species. Cletocamptus spp. are often the numerically dominant benthic metazoans in these important coastal habitats and warrant taxonomic, genomic, and physiological studies to understand their divergence and adaptations to this unique environment.

Understanding the contribution of protected areas to pollinating insect conservation is crucial, especially in Haiti because of intense deforestation and environmental degradation. To that end, we assessed the importance of two relatively small, protected areas in Western Haiti, the suburban Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve (WFER) and the Urban National Park of Martissant (UNPM). Using colored pan-traps, we compared the abundance and assemblage composition of pollinating insects both between the two sites and between habitats (forest patches, agroforestry, and agricultural crops) within each site. We collected 3,722 insects from six orders, with 68.2% identified to family level due to taxonomic limitations. Overall insect abundance was significantly higher at WFER compared to UNPM, with inconsistent differences between habitats within sites. Site, habitat, and their interaction significantly influenced insect composition. However, both sites had a similar proportion of domestic bees among all identified hymenopterans. Among 118 identified families, only 30.51% were shared between sites, indicating that the combination of the two protected areas conserves a wider and more even diversity of pollinating insects than either area on its own. We provide the first report of the presence of Cosmosoma odilae in Haiti. Finally, we report observations for Haiti of endemic lepidopteran and hymenopteran species of cultural importance and conservation interest, thus emphasizing the importance of protected areas and the need for enhancing entomological expertise in the country.

Protists, ciliates in particular, play a role in ecosystem functioning by recycling microbial biomass, and thus, nutrients and energy. Studies on their secondary production in aquatic ecosystems suggest that their overall contribution to annual secondary production is relatively minor, only becoming significant during bloom episodes. It remains unclear if the ecological role of soil ciliates, as estimated by their secondary production, is similarly minor. Temporal data on ciliate abundance and biovolume among the rhizosphere of three flowering plant species were used to estimate biomass and potential secondary production of soil ciliates in a subtropical forest of Puerto Rico. Ciliate abundance, biomass, and secondary production were estimated in the top 5 cm of soil during both the dry and wet seasons. Mean ciliate abundances in these months were 5 ± 10.3 and 16 ± 16.1 (n = 93 soil samples) for nanociliates and microciliates, respectively. Mean ciliate biomass was 41,854 ± 37,055 pg C g^-1 of dry weight soil. Mean nano- and microciliate biomass were 418 ± 704.4 pg C g^-1 of dry weight soil and 45,315 ± 39,466.8 pg C g^-1 of dry weight soil, respectively. The season in which the ciliates were collected significantly affected ciliate abundance and biomass, but this effect showed no predictable pattern, suggesting a lack of seasonality. Mean daily ciliate secondary production (the product of biomass and growth rate) was 1.74 × 10⁴ ± 1.95 × 10⁴ pg C g^-1 of dry weigth soil d^-1 (0.002 kJ m^-2 d^-1 or 0.047 kJ m^-3 d^-1), ranging from 0 to 107,804 pg C g^-1 of dry weigth soil d^-1. Based on monthly precipitation data, annual ciliate secondary production was estimated to be 40.0 × 10⁵ pg C g^-1 of dry weight soil yr^-1, equivalent to 1.1 kJ m^-2 yr^-1 or 21.7 kJ m^-3 yr^-1. Reduced secondary production estimates, in addition to low mean consumption of microbial biomass (0.002%), indicates that ciliates have a relatively minor role in this subtropical soil ecosystem.

Herein we report for the first time the occurrence of the Cuban endemic phasmid Venupherodes venustula (Audinet-Serville, 1838) (Phasmida: Phasmatidae) in Cienfuegos province, Cuba, which also represents its easternmost finding in Cuba, and the first outside the western region of the island. An adult female specimen was photographed and collected in its natural habitat, and the eggs were obtained under laboratory conditions. Buxus glomerata (Buxaceae) is recorded for the first time as a host plant of this species. The implications of this discovery are discussed, as well as the conservation status of its habitat.

Aquí se reporta por primera vez la presencia del fásmido endémico cubano Venupherodes venustula (Audinet-Serville, 1838) (Phasmida: Phasmatidae) en la provincia de Cienfuegos, Cuba, lo que también representa su hallazgo más oriental en Cuba y el primero fuera de la región occidental de la isla. Se fotografió y recolectó un espécimen hembra adulta en su hábitat natural, y los huevos se obtuvieron en condiciones de laboratorio. Buxus glomerata (Buxaceae) se registra por primera vez como planta hospedera de esta especie. Se discuten las implicaciones de este descubrimiento, así como el estado de conservación de su hábitat.

Anthropogenic activities have created new marine habitats through artificial basaltic barriers intended to prevent coastal erosion. These barriers support a diverse range of species, including the rock-boring sea urchin Echinometra lucunter, important for controlling algae and providing habitat in tropical limestone areas. This study assessed the suitability of artificial basaltic substrates for E. lucunter by comparing two sites: basaltic vs limestone substrates. Two sites with different types of substrates were selected, abiotic, sea urchin abundance, aggregation, stress levels, and four morphometric measurements. Results showed that E. lucunter populations were more abundant, but also more stressed in the limestone substrate. Sea urchins found on basaltic barriers exhibited larger body sizes but had shorter spines, likely as an adaptation to the hardness of the substrate. They also clustered more in basaltic areas, possibly due to the rock's structure. Overall, basaltic substrates appear less suitable for E. lucunter compared to natural limestone substrate. Our findings raise important concerns about the suitability of such substrates for coastal marine life. This emphasizes the need for more research to understand their long-term effects, highlighting the need for further research on the long-term effects of artificial habitats on coastal species.

Many cities support species-rich bee communities, but little is known about bee communities in tropical urban environments. This paper contains a checklist of the bee species found in the tropical city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as a list of their functional traits and the flowers on which they were observed. For two years, bee specimens were collected at urban and peri-urban sites using hand netting and bowl trap collection methods. Nineteen bee species were found in the San Juan Metropolitan Area (both urban and peri-urban), while 16 bee species were observed in the city itself. This represents, respectively, 47.5% and 40% of the regional species pool, which is comparable to temperate regions. A variety of functional groups were also observed, though the urban bee community was primarily characterized by species that are below-ground nesting, solitary, and/or small to medium in size. This characterization varies from many urban bee communities in temperate regions. Bees were observed interacting with 59 different species of flowering plants. Our findings indicate that San Juan supports a bee community that is both taxonomically and functionally diverse, relative to the depauperate island fauna of Puerto Rico.

En numerosas ciudades se encuentran comunidades de abejas con alta diversidad de especies, pero existe poca información sobre estas comunidades en entornos urbanos de clima tropical. Este artículo contiene una lista de las especies de abejas encontradas en la ciudad tropical de San Juan, Puerto Rico, al igual que una lista de sus características funcionales y las flores en las que fueron observadas. Durante dos años, se recolectaron especímenes de abejas en sitios urbanos y periurbanos utilizando métodos de captura con red de mano y trampas de cuenco. Se encontraron 19 especies de abejas en el Área Metropolitana de San Juan (tanto urbana como periurbana), y 16 especies de abejas en la ciudad. Esto representa el 47.5% y el 40% del conjunto regional de especies, respectivamente, lo cual es comparable con regiones templadas. También observamos una variedad de grupos funcionales, aunque la comunidad urbana de abejas se caracterizó principalmente por especies que anidan bajo tierra, son solitarias y/o de tamaño pequeño a mediano. Esta caracterización difiere de muchas comunidades urbanas de abejas en regiones templadas. Las abejas fueron observadas interactuando con 59 diferentes especies de plantas con flores. Nuestros hallazgos indican que San Juan alberga una comunidad de abejas que es diversa taxonómicamente y funcionalmente, en relación a la fauna insular depauperada de Puerto Rico.

The genus Astrocasia (Phyllanthaceae) is registered for the first time for the flora of El Salvador, represented by the newly-described taxon Astrocasia elenae. The presence of an extrafloral nectary, more specifically an acropetiolar/basilaminar nectary, is described for the new species, a character that is shared with A. neurocarpa and A. tremula. Information about the known distribution, images of the species, phenology, and a list of examined specimens are presented. Given the very little data presently available for the new species, a formal conservation assessment would likely conclude that the taxon is endangered. However, more field work is required to better understand the full extent of this species. An updated key to the now seven species of the genus is also presented.

Se registra por primera vez el género Astrocasia (Phyllanthaceae) en la flora de El Salvador, representado por el taxón Astrocasia elenae, que es nuevamente descrito. Para esta especie nueva se describe la presencia de un nectario extrafloral, más específicamente un nectario acropeciolar/basilaminar, una característica compartida con A. neurocarpa y A. tremula. Se proporcionan datos de distribución conocida, imágenes de la especie, fenología y una lista de especímenes examinados. Dada la escasez de datos disponibles actualmente de la nueva especie, una evaluación formal de conservación probablemente concluiría que el taxón está en peligro de extinción. Sin embargo, se requiere más trabajo de campo para comprender mejor la distribución completa de esta especie. También se presenta una clave actualizada de las ahora siete especies del género.

Coral reefs are declining at alarming rates due to the synergistic effects of natural and anthropogenic impacts. Natural recovery is dependent on reproductive success of the main reef-building species. Assessing metabolic activity and its variability over biological processes such as reproduction in scleractinian corals has been a challenging task. The main question of this study was if the high-energy process of gametogenesis affects other important metabolic processes (calcification, growth, etc.) by diverting energy to the production of eggs in scleractinian corals. Therefore, the goals of this study were to characterize the changes/variability in metabolic demands of the Caribbean, reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia, Cnidaria) throughout the gametogenic cycle. To answer this question changes in the respiration, photosynthesis, and calcification rates were measured in six large, tagged, healthy-looking colonies in Turrumote reef, La Parguera Natural Reserve on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. Four incubations lasting 20 minutes each were done between 10:00 am and 2:30 pm on the surface of each colony once a month, from April to September, 2018, to measure respiration and photosynthesis rates using a newly developed, diver-portable, non-invasive respirometer called Community In Situ Metabolism (CISME). Water samples were collected from the surrounding water and from the incubation chamber to measure total alkalinity (TA) to calculate calcification rates. Results indicate changes in respiration, photosynthesis, and calcification rates, suggesting energy translocation during gametogenesis. The energy translocation hypothesis is supported by lower calcification rates obtained by the end of the reproductive cycle, indicating a probable transition from asexual to sexual reproduction. This study is the first to measure metabolic rates in ambient conditions in situ along the gametogenic process of a scleractinian coral.

Los arrecifes coralinos se están deteriorando rápidamente debido a los efectos sinergísticos de impactos naturales y antropogénicos. La recuperación natural de poblaciones de las principales especies constructoras de arrecifes depende del éxito reproductivo de estas. Estimaciones del metabolismo y su variabilidad a lo largo de ciclos biológicos como la reproducción en organismos marinos sésiles son complicadas. La pregunta principal de este estudio era si el proceso de gametogénesis con su alta demanda energética afecta otros procesos metabólicos importantes (calcificación, crecimiento, etc.) en el coral caribeño constructor de arrecifes Orbicella faveolata. Para responder esta pregunta se uso un nuevo respirómetro portátil y no-intrusivo llamado Community In Situ Metabolism (CISME) para medir respiración y fotosíntesis directamente sobre la superficie de seis colonias grandes y saludables (in situ) en Turrumote, Reserva Natural La Parguera en el sur-oeste de Puerto Rico. Se hicieron cuatro incubaciones de 20 minutos c/u entre las 10:00 am y las 2:30 pm en cada colonia una vez al mes durante el ciclo reproductivo (abril–septiembre, 2018) para estimar la variación en las tasas de respiración y fotosíntesis durante la gametogénesis. Se recogieron muestras de agua durante cada incubación para estimar alcalinidad total y las tasas de calcificación. Los resultados obtenidos indican una disminución en las tasas de respiración y de fotosíntesis a lo largo del ciclo reproductivo, posiblemente indicando translocación de energía para la formación de gametos y/o una interacción con los simbiontes. La disminución en las tasas de calcificación hacia el final soporta la translocación energética para reproducción. Este estudio es el primero en medir cambios en tasas metabólicas “in situ” durante la gametogénesis de un coral escleractínido.

The Common House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus, is native to Asia, but has been introduced to numerous regions worldwide and is notably abundant in urban and semiurban areas given that it is a synanthropic species. Several predators of this gecko have been identified in its new distribution areas. Here, we report the first documented case of the Common House Gecko being used as food by the Olive Sparrow, Arremonops rufivirgatus. This sparrow feeds mainly on insects, small spiders, and seeds, and inhabits the ground of scrublands and the edges of deciduous forests, thorn forests, plantations, and gallery forests from southern Texas, U. S. A., to the Central Valley of Costa Rica. We briefly discuss the implications of the feeding interaction between the House Gecko and the Olive Sparrow.

El geco casero común, Hemidactylus frenatus, es nativo de Asia, pero ha sido introducido en numerosas regiones de todo el mundo y es notablemente abundante en áreas urbanas y semiurbanas, ya que es una especie sinantrópica. Se han identificado varios depredadores de este geco en sus nuevas áreas de distribución. Aquí, informamos el primer caso documentado del uso del geco casero común como alimento por parte del pinzón aceitunado, Arremonops rufivirgatus, Este pinzón se alimenta principalmente de insectos, más pequeñas arañas y semillas y habita en el suelo de matorrales y en el borde de bosques deciduos, bosques espinosos, plantaciones y bosques de galería desde el extremo sur de Texas, EE. UU., hasta el Valle Central de Costa Rica. Discutimos brevemente las implicaciones de la interacción alimentaria entre el geco casero y el pinzón aceitunado.