Two new amphipod crustaceans of the genusBahadziafrom ‘blue holes’ in the Bahamas and some remarks on the origin of the insular stygofaunas of the Atlantic

1986 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan H. Stock
Keyword(s):  
The Bahamas ◽  
Blue Holes

scholarly journals Unique Habitat for Benthic Foraminifera in Subtidal Blue Holes on Carbonate Platforms

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna N. Little ◽  
Peter J. van Hengstum ◽  
Patricia A. Beddows ◽  
Jeffrey P. Donnelly ◽  
Tyler S. Winkler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tidal Flats ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
Carbonate Platforms ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Blue Hole ◽  
Hydrographic Conditions ◽  
Sea Level Oscillations ◽  
Karst Landscapes ◽  
Blue Holes

Dissolution of carbonate platforms, like The Bahamas, throughout Quaternary sea-level oscillations have created mature karst landscapes that can include sinkholes and off-shore blue holes. These karst features are flooded by saline oceanic waters and meteoric-influenced groundwaters, which creates unique groundwater environments and ecosystems. Little is known about the modern benthic meiofauna, like foraminifera, in these environments or how internal hydrographic characteristics of salinity, dissolved oxygen, or pH may influence benthic habitat viability. Here we compare the total benthic foraminiferal distributions in sediment-water interface samples collected from <2 m water depth on the carbonate tidal flats, and the two subtidal blue holes Freshwater River Blue Hole and Meredith’s Blue Hole, on the leeward margin of Great Abaco Island, The Bahamas. All samples are dominated by miliolid foraminifera (i.e., Quinqueloculina and Triloculina), yet notable differences emerge in the secondary taxa between these two environments that allows identification of two assemblages: a Carbonate Tidal Flats Assemblage (CTFA) vs. a Blue Hole Assemblage (BHA). The CTFA includes abundant common shallow-water lagoon foraminifera (e.g., Peneroplis, Rosalina, Rotorbis), while the BHA has higher proportions of foraminifera that are known to tolerate stressful environmental conditions of brackish and dysoxic waters elsewhere (e.g., Pseudoeponides, Cribroelphidium, Ammonia). We also observe how the hydrographic differences between subtidal blue holes can promote different benthic habitats for foraminifera, and this is observed through differences in both agglutinated and hyaline fauna. The unique hydrographic conditions in subtidal blue holes make them great laboratories for assessing the response of benthic foraminiferal communities to extreme environmental conditions (e.g., low pH, dysoxia).

The Blue Holes of the Bahamas

1986 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Alexander Maitland ◽  
Robert Palmer
Keyword(s):  
The Bahamas ◽  
Blue Holes

Revision of the Bahamian cave-fishes of the genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), with description of a new species from islands on the Little Bahama Bank

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1223 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER R. MØLLER ◽  
WERNER SCHWARZHANS ◽  
THOMAS M. ILIFFE ◽  
JØRGEN G. NIELSEN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Long Island ◽  
Cave Fish ◽  
Gill Rakers ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Deep Waters ◽  
New Providence ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Blue Holes ◽  
Cave Fishes

Since the description of the Bahamian cave-fish Lucifuga spelaeotes Cohen & Robins, 1970, which was based on two specimens from New Providence Island, the species has been observed and/ or collected several times in marine blue-holes and inland caves on various Bahamian Islands. Hitherto, all Lucifuga records from the Bahamas have been referred to L. spelaeotes, but examination of 50 specimens (42–166 mm SL) collected at 7 different islands showed that two species are represented in the Bahamas: 44 specimens from Berry, New Providence, Eleuthera, Great Exuma and Long Island belong to L. spelaeotes, whereas 6 specimens from Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands are referable to L. lucayana, new species. The new species is here described and compared to the material of L. spelaeotes, which includes specimens from several hitherto unpublished locations. The two species are well separated from the Cuban species in number of caudal finrays (10 vs. 8), size of eye (0.7–1.8 vs. 0.0–0.3 % SL) and number of vertebrae (50–55 vs. 45–48). The Bahamian species differ from each other mainly in head squamation, palatine dentition, number of finrays and pigmentation of the three elongated gill-rakers. Lucifuga lucayana is geographically separated from L. spelaeotes by the deep waters of the Northeast and Northwest Providence Channels.

Microbial hotspots in anchialine blue holes: initial discoveries from the Bahamas

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 677 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett C. Gonzalez ◽  
Thomas M. Iliffe ◽  
Jennifer L. Macalady ◽  
Irene Schaperdoth ◽  
Brian Kakuk
Keyword(s):  
The Bahamas ◽  
Microbial Hotspots ◽  
Blue Holes

scholarly journals Ostracoda (Myodocopa) from Anchialine Caves and Ocean Blue Holes

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1565 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOUIS S. KORNICKER ◽  
THOMAS M. ILIFFE ◽  
ELIZABETH HARRISON-NELSON
Keyword(s):  
Family Status ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Blue Hole ◽  
Deep Waters ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Terrestrial Inputs ◽  
Juvenile Specimen ◽  
Anchialine Caves ◽  
First Time ◽  
Blue Holes

Eleven stygobitic myodocopid ostracodes (two new–Danielopolina palmeri and Spelaeoecia hox) in the Order Halocyprida are reported from anchialine waters in 11 inland blue holes in Bahamas. One stygobitic halocyprid ostracode is reported from two localities in Bermuda, and one from a cave in Mexico. A new subfamily, Spelaeoeciinae, is proposed to contain the genus Spelaeoecia, and the subfamily Deeveyinae is elevated to family status. Two new species of cladocopid ostracode (Pseudopolycope helix and Pontopolycope storthynx), are described from a cave in Mexico and an oceanic blue hole in the Bahamas. Nine species of myodocopid ostracodes (four new—Rutiderma flex, Eusarsiella syrinx, Eusarsiella fax, and Synasterope matrix) in the Suborder Myodocopina and one species in the Suborder Halocypridina are reported from ocean blue holes in the Bahamas. This is the first report of a halocyprid living in both an inland and ocean blue hole in the Bahamas. The sarsiellid genus Dantya Kornicker & Cohen 1978 is reported for the first time in the Bahamas, but the single juvenile specimen is left in open nomenclature as Dantya sp. A. The development of Deeveya bransoni and Eusarsiella syrinx is described in detail. With the exception of one species of Danielopolina from deep waters of the South Atlantic, all other species of Danielopolina, Spelaeoecia and Deeveya have been previously found only in inland, anchialine caves. The discovery of Deeveya inhabiting deeper, hydrologically-isolated waters in ocean blue holes, which are otherwise comparable to classical anchialine environments, has raised questions concerning the geographic limits to the anchialine habitat and its supposed reliance on terrestrial inputs.

scholarly journals Novel microbiome dominated by Arcobacter during anoxic excurrent flow from an ocean blue hole in Andros Island, The Bahamas

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256305
Author(s):  
Deborah D. Iwanowicz ◽  
Robert B. Jonas ◽  
William B. Schill ◽  
Kay Marano-Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Deep Penetration ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Turbid Water ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Tidal Forces ◽  
Andros Island ◽  
Blue Holes

Andros Island, The Bahamas, composed of porous carbonate rock, has about 175 inland blue holes and over 50 known submerged ocean caves along its eastern barrier reef. These ocean blue holes can have both vertical and horizontal zones that penetrate under the island. Tidal forces drive water flow in and out of these caves. King Kong Cavern has a vertical collapse zone and a deep penetration under Andros Island that emits sulfidic, anoxic water and masses of thin, mucoid filaments ranging to meters in length and off-white turbid water during ebb flow. Our objective was to determine the microbial composition of this mucoid material and the unconsolidated water column turbidity based on the concept that they represent unique lithoautotrophic microbial material swept from the cave into the surrounding ocean. Bacterial DNA extracted from these filaments and surrounding turbid water was characterized using PCR that targeted a portion of the 16S rRNA gene. The genus Arcobacter dominated both the filaments and the water column above the cave entrance. Arcobacter nitrofigilis and Arcobacter sp. UDC415 in the mucoid filaments accounted for as much as 80% of mapped DNA reads. In the water column Arcobacter comprised from 65% to over 85% of the reads in the depth region from about 18 m to 34 m. Bacterial species diversity was much higher in surface water and in water deeper than 36 m than in the intermediate zone. Community composition indicates that ebb flow from the cavern influences the entire water column at least to within 6 m of the surface and perhaps the near surface as well.

scholarly journals Inland blue holes of The Bahamas – chemistry and biology in a unique aquatic environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-106
Author(s):  
Caroline Björnerås ◽  
Martin Škerlep ◽  
Raphael Gollnisch ◽  
Simon David Herzog ◽  
Gustaf Ekelund Ugge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Saline Groundwater ◽  
Reducing Conditions ◽  
Andros Island ◽  
Gobiomorus Dormitor ◽  
Lake Systems ◽  
Replicated Systems ◽  
Blue Holes

While lake systems in temperate regions have been extensively studied, tropical and subtropical systems have received less attention. Here, we describe the water chemistry and biota of ten inland blue holes on Andros Island, The Bahamas, representative of the morphological, abiotic, and biotic variation among Androsian inland blue holes. The majority of the studied blue holes were vertically stratified with oxic freshwater overlying anoxic saline groundwater of marine origin. Water chemistry (e.g.total phosphorus and nitrogen) in shallow waters was similar among blue holes, while turbidity and water color varied. Presence of hydrogen sulfide and reduced iron in and below the halocline indicate reducing conditions in all stratified blue holes. The biota above the halocline was also similar among blue holes with a few taxa dominating the phytoplankton community, and the zooplankton community consisting of copepods and rotifers. The Bahamas mosquitofish (Gambusia hubbsi) was present in all investigated blue holes, often accompanied by other small planktivorous fish, while the piscivorous bigmouth sleeper (Gobiomorus dormitor) was only present in some of the blue holes. Our field study reinforces that inland blue holes are highly interesting for biogeochemical research, and provide naturally replicated systems for evolu- tionary studies.

An Exploratory Study on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Classroom Integration Training for Special Educators Who Work With Children With Complex Communication Needs in the Bahamas

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 991-1016
Author(s):  
Shameka Stanford ◽  
Ovetta Harris
Keyword(s):  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Complex Communication Needs ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Communication Needs ◽  
Classroom Integration ◽  
And Training

Purpose In 2011, the United Nations estimated there were between 180 and 220 million youth with disabilities living around the world, and 80% of them resided in developing countries. Over the last 6 years, this number has increased significantly, and now, over 1 million people live in the Caribbean with some form of disability such as communication disorders resulting in complex communication needs (CCN). Method This publication discusses the benefits of an exploratory, descriptive, nonexperimental study on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) classroom integration training for 8 special educators in the Bahamas who work with children with CCN. Results The results of this study revealed that 100% of the participants reported the study to be effective in increasing their knowledge and skill in the area of implementing AAC into their classrooms, enhancing their ability to team teach and incorporate AAC opportunities for all students with CCN within their classrooms, and increasing their knowledge and skill overall in the areas of AAC and CCN. Conclusion The findings highlight an important area of potential professional development and training that can be replicated in other English-speaking Caribbean territories focused on AAC classroom integration training program for special educators who teach students with CCN.

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