Caribbean Journal of Science

Fort-de-France Bay in Martinique, French West Indies, is renowned for its exceptional natural beauty. Overflights of the bay have revealed rays (Batoidea) visible in the shallows. This is the first study of these species in Martinique. Three non-invasive methods were employed to identify the species using this area: aerial monitoring, underwater monitoring, and environmental DNA analysis. These m…

This study investigates the photoluminescence response of various gastropod species under ultraviolet (UV) light, focusing on their flesh, mucus, and shells. Biofluorescence was observed in 18 out of 33 species tested, with responses ranging from subtle to intense, primarily under long-wave UV radiation (365 nm). No bioluminescence was detected. Species such as Gaeotis nigrolineata, Veronicella c…

Los bosques secos tropicales albergan una alta biodiversidad, pero están amenazados a nivel global. Los bosques secos de Nicaragua cubren la región del Pacífico, incorporando una serie de localidades volcánicas. A pesar de la importancia de los bosques secos, han habido pocos estudios cuantitativos sobre la fauna de estos. Aquí presentamos una evaluación de la abundancia de mariposas de una diver…

We assessed the knowledge and perception of ecosystem services provided by the Lapa River among nearby residents in Puerto Rico. The study aimed to (1) characterize the socioeconomic profile of residents living near the Lapa River; (2) to describe how nearby communities interact with and use the river; and (3) to assess associations between residents' sociodemographic and economic characteristics…

Zinc (Zn) is an essential microelement of biological processes in plants, such as hormone and protein synthesis, enzyme activation, and carbohydrate metabolism. However, this heavy metal is toxic when soil concentrations exceed 100 mg kg-1. Zn toxicity causes leaf chlorosis, inhibition of root elongation, and reduced metabolic activity. Plants in high Zn-concentration environments have developed …

To investigate invertebrate abundance, richness, and diversity in treehole microhabitats of northern Belize, detritus samples were collected from 15 treeholes each in rural and urban areas of the Corozal District during 2023 and 2024. Bristle millipedes (Order Polyxenida) were recorded in both urban and rural treeholes. This study represents the first documented record of Polyxenida in Belize, ex…

The genus Anisopteromalus Ruschka, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) is important for its role as a parasitoid on coleopteran larvae that are pests of stored food products. To survey the stored product pests in rural and urban retail stores of northern Belize, beans, dog food, flour, pasta, and rice were collected from five stores each in the rural and urban areas of Co…

Se describe una nueva especie de insecto palo basada en varios especímenes adultos colectados en dos localidades del occidente de Cuba: Soroa (localidad tipo) y Loma el Taburete (provincia Artemisa). Malacomorpha waehrensi sp. nov. es la cuarta especie descrita de Malacomorpha para la isla y la 15 para el género. La nueva especie es descrita e ilustrada en detalle, incluyendo fotografías del habi…

La depredación intragremial entre rapaces, aunque rara vez observada, tiene importantes consecuencias ecológicas para la estructura de las comunidades y la dinámica depredador-presa. Aquí documentamos un evento novedoso de depredación de un búho penachudo (Lophostrix cristata) por una aguililla penachuda (Spizaetus ornatus) en el Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica. El 3 de agosto de 2025 obser…

El cleptoparasitismo es una estrategia de alimentación en la que un animal toma alimento que ha sido recolectado o preparado por otro, a menudo mediante el robo o un comportamiento oportunista. Este comportamiento ha sido ampliamente documentado en diversos taxones, especialmente entre aves marinas, pero también se ha observado en otros grupos de aves, incluidos los buitres. Aquí, reportamos un c…

Las aberraciones cromáticas, como el leucismo, son cada vez más documentadas en aves, aunque sus causas e implicaciones siguen siendo poco comprendidas. En Costa Rica, estudios recientes han reportado múltiples casos de anomalías pigmentarias, incluidas leucismo, encanecimiento progresivo y otras mutaciones, lo que resalta los desafíos en su diagnóstico y clasificación precisa. Aquí documentamos …

A survey to locate prehistoric sites on the island of St. Vincent found 25 new sites and three previously unrecorded cultural components. The goal was to analyze settlement patterns. The survey data was plotted on maps along with all other new information and previously reported sites. Six variables were considered: location by quadrant, coastal versus inland distance to reefs, windward versus le…