scholarly journals Sexual reproduction in the Caribbean coral genus Isophyllia (Scleractinia: Mussidae) in Puerto Rico

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Soto ◽  
Ernesto Weil
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Mode ◽  
Previous Description ◽  
Timing Of Reproduction ◽  
Coral Genus ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Sexual Pattern

The sexual pattern, reproductive mode, and timing of reproduction of Isophyllia sinuosa and Isophyllia rigida, two Caribbean Mussids, were assessed by histological analysis of specimens collected monthly during 2000-2001. Results indicate that both species are simultaneous hermaphroditic brooders, with a single annual gametogenetic cycle. Spermatocytes and oocytes of different stages were found within the same mesentery indicating sequential maturation for extended planulation. Oocytes begin development 7-8 months prior to spermaries; beginning in May in I. sinuosa and August in I. rigida. Gametes of both sexes matured simultaneously; May-June in I. rigida and March-April in I. sinuosa. Planulae were observed in I. sinuosa during April and in I. rigida from June through September. Significantly higher polyp and mesenterial fecundity were found in I. rigida compared to I. sinuosa. Significantly larger oocyte sizes were found in I. sinuosa than in I. rigida, however significantly larger planula sizes were I. rigida compared to I. sinuosa. Hermaphroditism is the exclusive sexual pattern within the Mussidae; brooding has also been documented within the related Mussid genera Mussa, Scolymia and Mycetophyllia. These results represent the first description of the sexual characteristics of I. rigida and refute the previous description for I. sinuosa.

scholarly journals Sexual reproduction in the Caribbean coral genus Isophyllia (Scleractinia: Mussidae) in Puerto Rico

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Soto ◽  
Ernesto Weil
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Mode ◽  
Previous Description ◽  
Timing Of Reproduction ◽  
Coral Genus ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Sexual Pattern

The sexual pattern, reproductive mode, and timing of reproduction of Isophyllia sinuosa and Isophyllia rigida, two Caribbean Mussids, were assessed by histological analysis of specimens collected monthly during 2000-2001. Results indicate that both species are simultaneous hermaphroditic brooders, with a single annual gametogenetic cycle. Spermatocytes and oocytes of different stages were found within the same mesentery indicating sequential maturation for extended planulation. Oocytes begin development 7-8 months prior to spermaries; beginning in May in I. sinuosa and August in I. rigida. Gametes of both sexes matured simultaneously; May-June in I. rigida and March-April in I. sinuosa. Planulae were observed in I. sinuosa during April and in I. rigida from June through September. Significantly higher polyp and mesenterial fecundity were found in I. rigida compared to I. sinuosa. Significantly larger oocyte sizes were found in I. sinuosa than in I. rigida, however significantly larger planula sizes were I. rigida compared to I. sinuosa. Hermaphroditism is the exclusive sexual pattern within the Mussidae; brooding has also been documented within the related Mussid genera Mussa, Scolymia and Mycetophyllia. These results represent the first description of the sexual characteristics of I. rigida and refute the previous description for I. sinuosa.

scholarly journals Sexual reproduction in the Caribbean coral genusIsophyllia(Scleractinia: Mussidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Soto ◽  
Ernesto Weil
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Mode ◽  
Timing Of Reproduction ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Sexual Pattern

The sexual pattern, reproductive mode, and timing of reproduction ofIsophyllia sinuosaandIsophyllia rigida, two Caribbean Mussids, were assessed by histological analysis of specimens collected monthly during 2000–2001. Both species are simultaneous hermaphroditic brooders characterized by a single annual gametogenetic cycle. Spermatocytes and oocytes of different stages were found to develop within the same mesentery indicating sequential maturation for extended planulation. Oogenesis took place during May through April inI. sinuosaand from August through June inI. rigida. Oocytes began development 7–8 months prior to spermaries but both sexes matured simultaneously. Zooxanthellate planulae were observed inI. sinuosaduring April and inI. rigidafrom June through September. Higher polyp and mesenterial fecundity were found inI. rigidacompared toI. sinuosa. Larger oocyte sizes were found inI. sinuosathan inI. rigida, however larger planula sizes were found inI. rigida. Hermaphroditism is the exclusive sexual pattern within the Mussidae while brooding has been documented within the related generaMussa,ScolymiaandMycetophyllia. This study represents the first description of the sexual characteristics ofI. rigidaand provides an updated description ofI. sinuosa.

scholarly journals Associated organisms inhabiting the calcareous spongeClathrina luteain La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaaziel E. García-Hernández ◽  
Nicholas M. Hammerman ◽  
Juan J. Cruz-Motta ◽  
Nikolaos V. Schizas
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Associated Fauna ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Natural Reserve ◽  
Caribbean Coral ◽  
Caribbean Coral Reefs ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
La Parguera

ABSTRACTSponges provide an array of ecological services and benefits for Caribbean coral reefs. They function as habitats for a bewildering variety of species, however limited attention has been paid in the systematics and distribution of sponge-associated fauna in the class Calcarea or for that matter of sponges in the Caribbean. The goal of this study was to characterize infaunal assemblages from a calcareous sponge,Clathrina lutea, across multiple reefs from the La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico. The associated fauna from 43C. luteaspecimens yielded a total of 2,249 associated infauna distributed in seven invertebrate phyla. Arthropoda was the most abundant phylum accounting for 62.5% of total abundance, followed by Annelida (21.0%) and Nematoda (5.5%). Limited patterns of temporal or spatial variability were surmised due to the opportunistic sampling effort afforded to this investigation from the cryptic nature of this species. A concordance between our data set and those for the class Demospongiae were observed, with the most abundant associated fauna being copepods and polychaetes. However, when compared to other Calcarea, the present study found considerably more associated fauna.

Geology and hydrogeology of the Caribbean islands aquifer system of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Renken ◽  
W. C. Ward ◽  
I.P. Gill ◽  
Fernando Gómez-Gómez ◽  
Jesús Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Aquifer System ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The U.S

Leishmania spp. and leishmaniasis on the Caribbean islands

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoqun Yao
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Sand Fly Vectors

Abstract The kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania spp. cause leishmaniasis, which clinically exhibit mainly as a cutaneous, mucocutanous or visceral form depending upon the parasite species in humans. The disease is widespread geographically, leading to 20 000 annual deaths. Here, leishmaniases in both humans and animals, reservoirs and sand fly vectors on the Caribbean islands are reviewed. Autochthonous human infections by Leishmania spp. were found in the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as Trinidad and Tobago; canine infections were found in St. Kitts and Grenada; and equine infections were found in Puerto Rico. Imported human cases have been reported in Cuba. The parasites included Leishmania amazonensis, Le. martiniquensis and Le. waltoni. Possible sand fly vectors included Lutzomyia christophei, Lu. atroclavatus, Lu. cayennensis and Lu. flaviscutellata as well as Phlebotomus guadeloupensis. Reservoirs included rats, rice rats and mouse opossum. An updated study is warranted for the control and elimination of leishmaniasis in the region because some of the data are four decades old.

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