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.