scholarly journals Space partitioning among damselfishes in the Caribbean coast of Panama: the role of habitat preferences

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laís de Carvalho Teixeira Chaves ◽  
Carlos Gustavo A Ormond ◽  
Elizabeth S. McGinty ◽  
Beatrice Padovani Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Wave Exposure ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Space Partitioning ◽  
Distributional Patterns ◽  
The Caribbean

This study aimed to assess abundance and habitat use by juvenile and adult damselfishes, as much as the benthic cover of different reefs on Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Panama. Reefs were selected considering different levels of wave exposure and depths. Damselfish and benthic communities were distinct between reefs. The most abundant species in the sheltered deeper reef was Stegastes planifrons followed by S. leucostictus, and they were also recorded in the sheltered shallower reef. Low densities of S. partitus and S. variabilis were also observed in the sheltered deeper reef, as these species are apparently restricted to higher depths. Additionally, these reefs presented patches with high cover of live and dead massive coral. Shallow depths presented high abundances of S. adustus, indicating a preference of this species for shallow habitats and exhibiting a two-fold increase in abundance at higher wave surge. Also, Microspathodon chrysurus reached higher numbers in shallow depths. Furthermore, the exposed reef presented a high cover (%) of algae groups and the fire-coral Millepora alcicornis, acknowledged as a preferred habitat for M. chrysurus and other reef fish. In this study, distinct habitat uses were observed, with patterns regulated by depth and/or wave exposure levels and/or availability of specific benthic cover. For site-attached species as damselfish, habitat specialization, competition and/or non-random recruitment patterns have been found to rule distributional patterns. Similar results for damselfish relative abundances were found compared to studies conducted within Panama and other reefs throughout the Caribbean region over three decades ago, indicating strong habitat affinity for the most abundant species. However, severe reductions of habitat availability following coral mass-mortality events may have disrupted their distributional patterns.

Sipunculans associated with dead coral skeletons in the Santa Marta region of Colombia, south-western Caribbean

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
pp. 1785-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos E. Gómez ◽  
Néstor E. Ardila ◽  
Adolfo Sanjuan-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Discrete Component ◽  
Massive Coral ◽  
Coral Skeletons ◽  
Montastraea Annularis ◽  
Western Caribbean ◽  
The Caribbean

Sipunculans represent a discrete component of the coral reef ecosystem, since they live inside the calcareous structure. They are an important component in terms of biomass and number of organisms. The present study describes the diversity of sipunculans living inside massive coral skeletons. A total of 43 blocks of dead coral skeletons from Montastraea cavernosa, Montastraea annularis and Diploria strigosa were collected from nearby coral reef areas off Santa Marta, on the Colombian Caribbean coast. Using hammer and chisel, blocks of approximately 1 dm3 were broken into small pieces, from which the sipunculans were extracted. A total of 381 organisms were obtained from the coral blocks comprising four families and 10 species. All the species found have been widely reported in different studies from the Caribbean region. Aspidosiphon fischeri and Phascolosoma perlucens were the two most abundant species comprising more than 60% of the total organisms with a mean density of 18.52 ± 4.64 organisms dm−3. Dead coral substrate from M. cavernosa had the greatest abundance (N = 148), followed by D. strigosa (N = 121) and M. annularis (N = 112). There were no significant differences in the abundance, richness, and diversity of sipunculans between coral skeletons; and within samples there was high variability suggesting that the skeletal substrates analysed came from coral skeletons of different unknown ages of succession. These results describe the sipunculan community structure that live inside three important massive coral skeletons, and contributes to the knowledge of the cryptobiota diversity of the Santa Marta area of Colombia.

scholarly journals OCCURRENCE OF THE BRACHIOPOD TICHOSINA IN DEEP-SEA CORAL BOTTOMS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND ITS PALEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Rojas ◽  
Adriana Gracia ◽  
Ivan Hernández-Ávila ◽  
Pedro Patarroyo ◽  
Michał Kowalewski
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Macrobenthic Communities ◽  
Rock Record ◽  
Tentative Evidence ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Cenozoic Sediments

ABSTRACTDespite its importance as the larger component of the modern and Cenozoic brachiopod faunas in the Caribbean region, the ecology and habitat preferences of the terebratulid Tichosina remain poorly understood. We compiled field observations from multiple sites in the Caribbean of Colombia (i.e., San Bernado Bank, Bahia Honda-Guajira, Puerto Escondido, Joint Regime Area Jamaica-Colombia) and data from the R/V Pillsbury program, indicating that Tichosina may have close ecological ties with deep-water corals. In addition, we reviewed literature sources on Cenozoic sediments in the Dominican Republic and found tentative evidence that such ecological ties could have existed since at least the Pliocene. These observations are reminiscent of the Gryphus-anthozoan association observed in the modern Mediterranean continental margin. Understanding to what extent the brachiopod Tichosina is linked to deep-water habitats has implications for the recognition of deep-water macrobenthic communities in the Cenozoic rock record of the Caribbean.

A checklist of polyclad flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida) from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, South America

Zootaxa ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 633 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigmer Y. Quiroga ◽  
D. Marcela Bola os ◽  
Marian K. Litvaitis
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Taxonomic Identification ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Caribbean Coast ◽  
Polyclad Flatworms ◽  
The Caribbean

Although the Polycladida (Platyhelminthes) are prominent members of many reef communities, no comprehensive surveys exist for the Caribbean coast of Colombia. This study represents a first survey of the Colombian polyclad fauna. A total of 25 species were collected from the rocky littoral of the Tayrona National Park, Santa Marta, Colombia. Because color and color patterns represent major taxonomic characters in the classification of polyclads, photographic records were obtained from live specimens prior to fixation. Further taxonomic identification was based on major external features and serial longitudinal sections of the reproductive system. Numerically, Boninia divae Marcus and Marcus, 1968, followed by Styloplanocera fasciata (Schmarda, 1859) were the most abundant species. Not only do all recorded species constitute first records for the Colombian coast of the Caribbean, but Cestoplana rubrocincta (Grube, 1840), Armatoplana divae (Marcus, 1947), Phaenoplana longipenis (Hyman, 1953), Eurylepta aurantiaca Heath and McGregor, 1912, Thysanozoon cf. lagidum Marcus, 1949, and Prosthiostomum gilvum Marcus, 1950 represent first records for the entire Caribbean region. Furthermore, a new combination Phrikoceros mopsus nov. comb. is proposed, and a possible new species of Pleioplana Faubel, 1983 was found.Aunque los Polycladida (Platyhelminthes) son miembros prominentes de muchas comunidades arrecifales, no existe ning n estudio para la costa del Caribe Colombiano, convirti ndose este en el primero para la fauna de polycladidos de Colombia. Un total de 25 especies fueron encontradas en el litoral rocoso del Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Santa Marta, Colombia. Registros fotogr ficos fueron obtenidos de los espec menes vivos antes de ser fijados debido a que el color y patr n de coloraci n representan el pricipal caracter en la clasificaci n de los polycladidos. Adem s la identificaci n taxon mica fue basada en las principales caracter sticas externas y secciones longitudinales seriadas del sistema reproductivo. Num ricamente, Boninia divae Marcus and Marcus, 1968, seguido por Styloplanocera fasciata (Schmarda, 1859) fueron las especies m s abundantes. No solo todos los registros son los primeros para la costa Caribe Colombiana sino que Cestoplana rubrocincta (Grube, 1840), Armatoplana divae (Marcus, 1947), Phaenoplana longipenis (Hyman,

African Caribbean Residents of Edinburgh in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Williams
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
British Empire ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries

Scotland is gradually coming to terms with its involvement in slavery and colonialism as part of the British Empire. This article places the spotlight on the lives of African Caribbean people who were residents of Edinburgh during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. I discuss their varied experiences and contributions: from runaways and men fighting for their freedom in the Scottish courts to women working as servants in city households or marrying into Edinburgh high society. The nineteenth century saw activism among political radicals from abolitionists to anticolonialists; some of these figures studied and taught at Edinburgh University. Their stories reflect the Scottish capital’s many direct connections with the Caribbean region.

scholarly journals Mosquito Vector Production across Socio-Economic Divides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1420
Author(s):  
Rebeca de Jesús Crespo ◽  
Madison Harrison ◽  
Rachel Rogers ◽  
Randy Vaeth
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Baton Rouge ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Mosquito Larvae ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Low Income Groups ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

We investigated the role of socio-economic factors in the proliferation of mosquito vectors in two adjacent but socio-economically contrasting neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, LA, USA. We surveyed mosquito larvae habitat, mosquito larvae, and adult mosquitoes during the summer of 2020. We also evaluated the number of requests for mosquito abatement services in the years preceding the study for each area. While we did not find differences in terms of the most abundant species, Culex quinquefasicatus (F1,30 = 0.329, p = 0.57), we did find a higher abundance of mosquito habitats, particularly discarded tires, as well as larvae (z = 13.83, p < 0.001) and adults (F1,30 = 4.207, p = 0.049) of the species Aedes albopictus in the low-income neighborhood. In contrast, mosquito abatement requests were significantly higher in the high socio-economic neighborhood (z = −8.561, p < 0.001). This study shows how factors such as adjudicated properties, discarded tires and pest abatement requests can influence the abundance of mosquito vectors, disproportionately affecting low-income groups. This study also highlights how Aedes spp. may be better indicators than Culex spp. of socio-economic differences between nearby neighborhoods, due to their short flight range and habitat preferences, and this should be considered in future studies attempting to detect such disparities in the future.

Wind Power Assessment In The Caribbean Region Of Colombia, Using Ten-Minute Wind Observations And Era5 Data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Andrés Gil Ruiz ◽  
Julio Eduardo Cañón Barriga ◽  
J. Alejandro Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Wind Power ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
The Caribbean

Wider Caribbean Region—A Pivotal Time to Strengthen Regional Instruments For Biodiversity Conservation

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Lausche
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
International Policy ◽  
Global Environment Facility ◽  
Large Marine Ecosystem ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Specially Protected Areas

AbstractThe countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) are linked economically by their transboundary living marine resources. The region is facing a continued decline of these resources. Science is improving our understanding of the human contributions to this decline, but national policies and programmes have not kept pace with this understanding. The Caribbean Regional Seas Programme and its Cartagena Convention and Protocols provide the regional legal framework for protection and sustainable management of the WCR's living marine and coastal resources. This article focuses on the Cartagena Convention's Protocol for biodiversity conservation, the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW), arguing that governments and organizations need to significantly increase participation in this regional treaty regime to effectively address transboundary environmental challenges. A new initiative, the Global Environment Facility-supported Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem project, will help in this effort. International policy supports strengthened regional seas programmes. It is now imperative for all levels and sectors to assist governments in strengthening this important treaty regime for biodiversity conservation in the Wider Caribbean Region.

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