Density of adult Diadema antillarum was assessed on live coral patch reefs and dead Acropora cervicornis rubble patches next to Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA in June 2009. Mean density on live coral patch reefs (0.49 individuals m^-2) was not statistically different from mean density on dead A. cervicornis rubble patches (0.30 individuals m^-2), while the highest density on live coral patch reefs (1.39 individuals m^-2) was twice that of dead A. cervicornis rubble patches (0.63 individuals m^-2). A significant negative correlation was found between two-dimensional area and density of adult D. antillarum on live coral patch reefs, while no significant correlation was found between two-dimensional area and density of D. antillarum on dead A. cervicornis rubble patches. No significant correlation was found between rugosity and density of D. antillarum on dead A. cervicornis rubble patches. While adult densities are higher than after the mass mortality event of the 1980s, they have not recovered to pre-mass mortality levels. The ability of D. antillarum to occupy completely dead rubble may help in the long-term reestablishment of the species on live reefs by allowing it to utilize additional areas for possible spawning and juvenile recruitment.

The introduction of non-native seed dispersers has the potential to significantly alter distributions and relative abundances of native plants. Although effects of introduced seed predators have been documented, little is known about how introduced dispersers influence seed movement patterns. We investigated seed removal of seven rainforest species on the island of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles by the entire seed-remover community and specifically by the Red-rumped Agouti, Dasyprocta leporina, a scatter-hoarding rodent introduced to the island approximately 2500 years ago. We recorded removal rates in three regions of Dominica from 168 experimentally placed seed groups containing a total of 1356 seeds. Seed groups were either accessible to the entire seed-remover community or placed within exclosures designed to exclude agoutis. Within 13 days, 47 percent and 28 percent of seeds had been removed from control groups and agouti exclosure groups, respectively, leading to 19 percent of seed removal being attributed to agoutis. Species with smaller seeds were preferentially taken by seed removers other than agoutis, whereas agoutis were responsible for the majority of the removal of larger-seeded species. Seed removal was greater in areas with higher regional conspecific adult densities regardless of treatment, but agoutis had a greater impact relative to other seed removers on the seed removal of the study's rarest species. The results of this study highlight the potential impacts that introduced dispersers may have on native plant communities and call for further study of disperser introductions worldwide.

The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR) was established in 1996 to protect the queen conch (Strombus gigas) fishery in southern Belize. However, no systematic survey of queen conch populations in the SCMR had been conducted. To determine the state of the queen conch population and to provide a baseline to measure management effectiveness, we conducted shallow-water surveys of historical conch fishing areas from 2006 — 2008 during July and August. We collected data on habitat, depth, maturity, length, and density. We sampled 1,778 conch at eight sites throughout the reserve. Conch were found primarily in seagrass meadows (88.6%) in an average depth of 1.7±0.01 m (range: 0.3–4.9 m). 93% of conch were juveniles and the percentage of juveniles in aggregations averaged 85.0±3.8 (range 28.6 — 100.00%). Average shell length was 14.6±0.1 cm (range: 6.5–25.0 cm) and varied among aggregations and among years within aggregations. 85% of conch were below the legal harvestable size for Belize. Average density (all age classes) ranged from 0.00±0.00 to 4014.29±741.12 conch/ha and varied among sites and year. Average adult density ranged from to 0.00±0.00 to 75.00±41.19 conch/ha, subadult density ranged from 0.00±0.00 to 214.29±67.01 conch/ha, and juvenile density ranged from 0.00±0.00 conch/ha to 3785.00±737.57. Only twice was an aggregation above the density threshold required for reproduction (50 conch/ha). The SCMR appears to be an important nursery area for queen conch.

The influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) produces pronounced regional variability in drought over the Caribbean, Central America and equatorial South America area. Through spatial statistical analyses, we identified a marked dichotomy between drought values of the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) in northern Mexico and equatorial South America as a function of the AMO. The relationship is such that significant negative correlations between the drought index and phase of the AMO are identified for northern Mexico and on the Atlantic side of Central America. This indicates that drought (negative values of the SPEI) episodes are linked to the positive phase of the AMO. Alternately, there are high positive correlations between the AMO and on the Pacific side of Central America, the Caribbean and mainly in the northern South American area closest to the equator. Although many potential causes have been proposed in explanation of precipitation variability over the region, this geographic dichotomy suggests that movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) may play a significance role. The heightened vulnerability of the developing nations in this region to drought episodes makes forecasting droughts of great importance. These nations are greatly dependent on water intensive industries to maintain economic development. Thus, the findings of this research can assist in informing drought preparedness strategies to mitigate significant losses due to drought.

The present study reports a new record of the suctorian ciliate Thecacineta calix (Schröder, 1907) as an epibiont of harpacticoid copepods from the mesophotic coral ecosystems of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (St. John). Morphological measurements of the epibionts are presented. Distribution and host specificity of T. calix is also discussed.

The striped yellow-eared bat Vampyriscus nymphaea is known from southeastern Nicaragua to northwestern Ecuador. Here, we report the existence of this species in Honduras from a female captured in the eastern part of that country. The new record's site, in the Moskitia region of Honduras—an extensive forested region—is located over 400 km north of the previously recognized distributional limit of the species. On 28 July 2011, we captured one female in a mist net in Nueva Esperanza, Patuca National Park, Olancho, Honduras. The specimen was caught in a pastureland adjacent to a patch of forest. It fits descriptions of size and coloration given in the literature for this species. It also was compared with some voucher specimens at Texas Tech. Univ. The captured female was pregnant. We add a new bat species to the Honduras list which gets now to 103 species.

The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is the primary rabies vector in Puerto Rico. Mongooses are implicated in up to 74% of rabies cases on the island, and pose a threat to domestic animals and human health and safety. No rabies management program exists in Puerto Rico and development of an oral rabies vaccination program requires determining which flavors on the vaccine's bait coating matrix that are attractive to mongooses. Our objective was to evaluate preference among three flavors (cheese, coconut and fish) in the Ultralite bait matrix that is used for delivery of Rabies Vaccine, Live Adenovirus Vector (ONRAB®). Placebo baits were offered to free-ranging mongooses in two different ecological environments. The study was conducted at El Yunque National Forest and Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. At each site we established bait stations with three bait flavors offered simultaneously. We placed a remote camera at each station to monitor bait fate. Cheese ranked higher than fish flavor (W = 1473, P = 0.0273) and cheese and fish both ranked significantly higher than coconut (W = 2180.5, P < 0.0001 and W = 2065.0, P = 0.0008, respectively). These results suggest cheese and fish flavors should perform better than coconut flavor in attracting free-ranging mongooses to consume ONRAB^® baits in Puerto Rico.

Despite years of collecting anecdotal and scientific information of cetaceans around Puerto Rico, the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), was never reported. Here, we report the first stranding and sighting event to take place in Puerto Rico in January, and March 2013, respectively. Both events took place along the south coast of Puerto Rico. During the sighting, cooperative prey sharing tactics were observed when two animals appeared to attack a common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus).

The Little Swan Island hutia became extinct in the 1950s. Two, previously unrecorded, specimens have been discovered in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter, UK and are added to the hypodigm of the taxon. They apparently originate from a failed attempt at captive management in the 1930s.

The occurrence of the introduced seagrass Halophila stipulacea (Hydrocharitaceae) is reported for Puerto Azul, Playa Mansa, Venezuela. This record documents range expansion to the Caribbean mainland, and first observation of male flowers, of this introduced seagrass, which until April 2013 was only reported at several Caribbean islands.

Belize in Central America supports one of the largest populations of endangered Antillean manatees in the Caribbean. In 2012, a country—wide survey resulted in the highest count ever recorded (507 manatees). Manatee use of atolls has only been documented at Turneffe Atoll in Belize. Manatees in Belize, including those that use Turneffe, have been shown to be impacted by human activities including habitat degradation, entanglement in fishing gear, poaching, and watercraft. The atoll itself faces threats to its diversity and productivity. In 2002, the Oceanic Society began monitoring manatees on Turneffe to document numbers, distribution, and seasonality of use to facilitate the atoll's designation as a protected area. Since 2002, 52 sightings of manatees have been recorded at Turneffe, including cow/calf pairs, indicating it is an important part of the resource network used by the manatees. Protecting the atoll should be a priority for all working to protect manatees and Belize's natural resources.

Lipids from microalgae are a suitable feedstock for biofuel production. Some algal strains can produce up to 60% of their weight in lipids under favorable growth conditions, a trait that could be desirable for fuel production. In order to accelerate the screening process of high lipid containing microalgae a procedure combining Percoll density gradient and Nile red spectrofluorometry was evaluated. Native Chlorella sp. was grown under nitrogen-replete (2.94mM) and nitrogen deplete (1 mM) conditions. Cells were separated by buoyant density on a Percoll step gradient (100, 80, 60 and 10% v/v) and lipid content of the bands was estimated by measuring emitted fluorescence using Nile red spectrofluorometry. Cultures with increased lipid production (nitrogen depletion) generated lipid peaks (∼570nm) and reached equilibrium at 10% Percoll whereas cells with low lipid content (nitrogen sufficiency) emitted no fluorescence and layered at 80% Percoll. The difference in banding pattern indicates that cell buoyant density is due to lipid content. This method is a practical tool for rapid screening of high lipid containing microalgae.