A new species of Rhynchospora section Tenues Kükenthal (Cyperaceae) from Puerto Rico

Rhynchospora depressirostris M. Strong, an overlooked species ofRhynchospora sect.Tenues Kükenthal, previously treated in the literature asR. tenuis Link, is described from Puerto Rico. An illustration and SEM images of the achene (fruit) are provided, and its relationship to closely allied and morphologically similar species is discussed.     

A new species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae) from Puerto Rico

A new species,Lepanthes caritensis, is described and illustrated. There are now nine species ofLepanthes known to occur in Puerto Rico. Plant habitat and floral morphology ofL. caritensis is most similar to that ofL. sanguinea. A survey of the area where the new species is located suggests that it is rare and should be protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Una especic nueva,Lepanthes caritensis, es descrita e ilustrada para Puerto Rico. Con ésta hay ahora nueve especies deLepanthes en Puerto Rico. El hábito de la planta y la morfología de la flor deL. caritensis es más similar aL. sanguinea. Un muestreo del área donde se encuentra la nueva especie sugiere que ésta es rara y que debería ser protegida por el Federal Endangered Species Act.     

West Indian novelties I: a new species of Marsdenia (Asclepiadaceae) from Puerto Rico and a new name for a Jamaican species of Calyptranthes (Myrtaceae)

The new speciesMarsdenia woodburyana from southwestern Puerto Rico is described, illustrated, and contrasted to its putatively closest relative. The new nameCalyptranthes proctorii is provided for the later homonymCalyptranthes uniflora Proctor.

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Resumen  En el presente artículo, la nueva especieMarsdenia woodburyana es descrita, ilustrada y comparada con su pariente mas cercano. Adicionalmente, se provee el nuevo nombreCalyptranthes proctorii (Myrtaceae) para reemplazarCalyptranthes uniflora Proctor, un homónimo posterior.

     

New genus and species of flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) from Puerto Rico, with comments on flea beetle diversity in the West Indies and a key to the West Indian Monoplatini genera

A new genus (Borinken) and five new species (Borinken elyunque, Distigmoptera chamorrae, Kiskeya elyunque, Ulrica eltoro, and Ulrica iviei) from Puerto Rico are described and illustrated. A keyto all West Indian Monoplatini genera is provided, as are keys to all speciesof Kiskeya and to the speciesof Ulrica from Puerto Rico. A list of the flea beetle genera, along with the number of species and some of the faunal features is presented and discussed for the West Indies.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tabebuia karsoana</Emphasis> (Bignoniaceae), a new species from the northern karst of Puerto Rico

Summary   Tabebuia karsoana is a shrub or small tree species from the northern karst of Puerto Rico, where it is confined to ridges and hilltops. Its habit and general flower appearance are similar to those of T. haemantha (Bertero ex Spreng.) A. DC. However, T. karsoana is distinguished by leaflets densely covered with white peltate scales on both sides, the corolla fuchsia with a white microscopically papillose throat, the stamens with arcuate filaments, and the anthers divaricate and connivent, among other features. In addition, the two species’ distributions do not overlap and their habitats are contrasting. According to IUCN criteria, the new species can be defined as “endangered” and consequently needs legal protection.

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Resumen   Tabebuia karsoana es una especie de arbusto o árbol peque?o del karso norte?o de Puerto Rico, donde crece sobre riscos y cimas. Es similar a Tabebuia haemantha (Bertero ex Spreng.) A. DC., en la forma de crecimiento y en la apariencia general de las flores. Sin embargo, T. karsoana es distinguible por sus hojuelas densamente cubiertas de escamas blancas y peltadas, sus corolas fucsia con la garganta blanca y microscópicamente papilosa, sus estambres con filamentos arqueados, y sus anteras divaricadas y coniventes, entre otras características. Además, las áreas de distribución de las dos especies no se traslapan y sus hábitats son contrastantes. Con base en los criterios de la UICN, la nueva especie puede definirse como “en peligro”, y consecuentemente amerita protección legal.

     

A new species of Paratanais Dana, 1852 (Crustacea,Peracarida, Tanaidacea,Paratanaidae) from Puerto Rico,northwestern Atlantic

Paratanais rosadi sp. n. described from Puerto Rican coastal waters represents the first species of the genus from the northwestern Atlantic. It is distinguished from the other Paratanais species by a combination of characters, including article-2 of the maxilliped palp with a geniculate, finely-serrulate seta on inner margin; chela with stiff, geniculate, seta arising from propodus between fixed finger and dactylus and with short, stout, finely serrulate, seta on inner distal face of propodus adjacent to base of dactylus; carpus of pereopods 4−6 having three, instead of four stout modified spiniform setae distally, uropodal exopod distinctly shorter than endopodal article-1; and uropodal endopod with articles of about of equal in length. A key for the separation of Paratanais species from the Atlantic Ocean is presented.     

A new species of armored scale, Mycetaspis ailynaomi (Hemiptera, Diaspididae, Aspidiotinae), associated with Mammea americana L. (Malpighiales, Calophyllaceae) from Puerto Rico

A new species of armored scale, Mycetaspis ailynaomi Dones and Evans is described and illustrated from specimens collected on mamey (Mammea americana) from Puerto Rico. A key to the species of Mycetaspis is provided.     

Isolation of saprophytic Cryptococcus neoformans from Puerto Rico: Distribution and variety

Until the present decade, no studies had been conducted in Puerto Rico on the saprophytic distribution and variety of Cryptococcus neoformans. Samples (522) of pigeon droppings from 14 western towns were tested for the presence of C. neoformans. The yeast was recovered from 24.7% (129 isolates) of the samples, representing 10 of the 14 towns studied. All environmental isolates were identified as C. neoformans var. neoformans using canavanine-glycine-bromthymol blue (CGB) agar. The yeast was isolated from 79.4% of the samples in one town, Isabela. The average number of yeast cells isolated from sites within this municipality was 5.1×10⁵ per gram of pigeon droppings. This was 2.6 times the average number of yeast cells of C. neoformans isolated from sites in other towns. In addition, the yeast was isolated from four patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), each of whom died of cryptococcal meningitis. Each of these poorly encapsulated isolates was identified as C. neoformans var. neoformans using CGB agar. The results of this investigation demonstrate that C. neoformans var. neoformans is prevalent in Puerto Rico.This paper was presented in part at the X^th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, Barcelona, Spain from June 27 to July 1, 1988.     

A review of the net-winged midges (Diptera: Blephariceridae) of the West Indies,with description of a new species from Puerto Rico

ABSTRACT

The Caribbean blepharicerid fauna comprises three described species: Paltostoma palominoi Hogue and Garces, 1990, found in eastern Cuba; P. agyrocincta Curran, 1927, widespread in Puerto Rico; and P. schineri Williston, 1896, which occupies most major islands of the Lesser Antilles. In this paper, we describe P. portoricensis Hogue and Courtney, sp. n., a second species from Puerto Rico. We also provide keys to adults, pupae, and larvae of known Caribbean species, re-describe P. argyrocincta and P. schineri, and present a brief discussion of the bionomics and phylogenetic affinities of the net-winged midge fauna.     

A new genus and species of 'giant hutia' (Tainotherium valei) from the Quaternary of Puerto Rico: an extinct arboreal quadruped?

A large incomplete rodent femur from a Quaternary cave deposit near Barahona, Puerto Rico, is established as the holotype of Tainotherium valei , a new extinct genus and species. Although biogeographic and body size similarities suggest that it may be related to the Puerto Rican giant hutia Elasmodontomys , the Antillean large-bodied rodent family Heptaxodontidae is now interpreted as invalid, and it is impossible to assign Tainotherium to a particular caviomorph family in the absence of associated craniodental material. Tainotherium differs from other West Indian species in possessing a large femoral head, a proximally angled femoral neck, a short greater trochanter and a medially positioned lesser trochanter unconnected by an intertrochanteric crest, and a transversely flattened, anteroposteriorly bowed shaft lacking well-defined ridges. These characters are all associated with arboreal life habits in other mammal groups. The Puerto Rican land mammal fauna was dominated by a rodent radiation occupying a wide variety of niches before human arrival in the West Indies, but although arboreality is correlated with increased likelihood of survival in Quaternary mammalian extinction events, all of this fauna is now extinct. It is unlikely that decreasing aridity and the reduction of Puerto Rican savanna-type environments at the end of the Pleistocene contributed to the extinction of the arboreal Tainotherium , and habitat destruction by pre-Columbian Amerindians may instead have been responsible.     

Metapeyssonnelia tangerina (Peyssonneliaceae,Rhodophyta), a new species associated with coral reef habitats in Puerto Rico,Caribbean Sea

A new Metapeyssonnelia species that comprises up to 7% bottom cover at shallow‐water reef habitats in southwest Puerto Rico is described herein. It forms conspicuous orange encrustations on hard substrata and does not grow on living coral as does its two Caribbean congeners. The new species possesses conspicuous, to 30 cm in extent, tightly adherent crusts up to 950 μm thick, only hypobasal calcification, hypothallial cells arranged in broad flabellules and superficial (raised) tetrasporangial and carposporangial nemathecia. Tetrasporangia are pedicellate, borne laterally from cup‐like cells that are derived from basal paraphysal cells. Tetrasporangia measure up to 120 μm long and individual carposporangia to 80 μm long. The new species differs from other Metapeyssonnelia species developmentally in that perithallial cells at mid thallus height will divide laterally to form a new hypothallium. Small subunit gene sequences relate the new species to the two Metapeyssonnelia species that are previously known from Puerto Rico.     

Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Puerto Rican crested anole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anolis cristatellus</Emphasis>) and their amplification in related Puerto Rican species

We isolate six highly polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) from a genomic library enriched for CA repeats. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 14 to 19, with levels of observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.60 to 0.73. Most of these loci were successfully cross-amplified in other members of the cristatellus species group (A. evermanni, A. gundlachi, A. krugi, A. stratulus), but levels of polymorphism were lower.     

Antibacterial properties of tropical plants from Puerto Rico

In an effort to document the antibacterial properties of plants commonly used by the people of Puerto Rico, we studied the effects of 172 plant species, utilizing the disc diffusion method, against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The methanolic extracts of 14 species showed antibacterial activities during this preliminary screen. These positive plant extracts were tested successively over 15 additional species. The results showed that extracts from Citrus aurantifolia (Rutaceae), Citrus aurantium (Rutaceae), Punica granatum (Punicaceae), Phyllanthus acidus (Euphorbiaceae) and Tamarindus indica (Caesalpiniaceae) possess strong in vitro antibacterial activity against the bacteria tested.     

Meloidogyne mayaguensis n. sp. (Meloidogynidae), a Root-knot Nematode from Puerto Rico

Meloidogyne mayaguensis n. sp. is described and illustrated from specimens obtained from galled roots of eggplant, Solanum melongena L., from Puerto Rico. The perineal pattern of females is round to ovoid with fine, widely spaced striae. It has occasional breaks of striation laterally and a circular tail tip area lacking striae. The stylet, 15.8 μm long, has reniform knobs that merge gradually with the stylet shaft. Males have a high, rectangular, smooth head region, not set off from the body contour. The labial disc is continuous with the medial lips which do not slope posteriorly. The styler, 22.9 μm long, has large rounded backward sloping knobs; the shaft is of uneven diameter. Mean body length of second-stage juveniles is 453.6 μm. The truncate head region is not annulated, and the rounded, slightly raised labial disc and the crescentic medial lips form dumbbell-shaped lip structures. The stylet, 11.6 μm long, has rounded, posteriorly sloping knobs. The slender tail, 54.4 μm long, gradually tapers to a bluntly pointed tip. Tomato, tobacco, pepper, and watermelon are good hosts; cotton and peanut are not hosts. M. mayaguensis n. sp. reproduces by mitotic parthenogenesis and has a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 44-45. The enzyme patterns are unique among Meloidogyne species.     

Density and distribution of water boatmen and brine shrimp at a major shorebird wintering area in Puerto Rico

The Cabo Rojo salt flats are an important wintering area for migratory shorebirds. Their quality is intimately related to prey availability, as prey are needed to meet energetic requirements. Understanding prey dynamics is, therefore, a key element of shorebird conservation plans. To this end, we monitored the density and distribution of water-boatmen (Trichocorixa spp.) and brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) in relation to water salinity from September to November of 1994 and 1995. Salinity ranged from 4 to 292 ppt, and gradients were related to hydrological alterations (e.g., salt extraction) and connection to the ocean. Brine shrimp were restricted to areas of highest salinity ( 106 ppt), whereas water-boatmen to areas of lowest salinity (< 65 ppt). We used aquaria experiments to discern potential mechanisms influencing density and distribution of water boatmen. We focused on this species because its caloric value is similar to the brine shrimp's, but it occurs in areas of lower salinity where shorebirds are less prone to hyperosmotic stress. We hypothesized that areas devoid of water boatmen exceeded their tolerance limit, and that these limits could hamper survival as individuals move among areas. Experiments showed that an increase of 8.5 ± 2.1 ppt, when the base salinity was 40 ppt, induced a 50% mortality rate. From a base salinity of 55 ppt, median survival time decreased curvilinearly across salinity concentrations of 65 to 195 ppt. Median survival was lowest > 100 ppt. Lowering water salinity did not result in osmolal related mortality. Results underscored the sensitivity of water boatmen to high salinity, particularly when the difference in salinity between the source and destination localities widened. Water boatmen density increased in one lagoon as salinity decreased from 65 to 47 ppt. On the basis of our experiments, local adult survivorship improved and immigration and subsequent survival of adults, if any, was not hindered. The density of nymphs also suggested that hatching occurred concurrently. The foraging value of the salt flats can be enhanced by maintaining salinity at < 65 ppt in selected management units and minimizing differences in salinity concentrations among them.     

Teucrium scabrum (Lamiaceae), a new species from Thailand

Summary   Teucrium scabrum (Lamiaceae), a new species from the western part of Thailand, related to T. quadrifarium Buch.-Ham. and T. viscidum Blume is described and illustrated, and a distribution map is provided.     

Genista valsecchiae (Leguminosae), a new species from Sardinia

Genista valsecchiae from SW Sardinia is described and illustrated as a species new to science. It is very similar toG. ephedroides and can be distinguished by morphological differences of habit and inflorescence. It typically occurs in the garigue or maquis and is widespread in SW Sardinia.     

Halichrysis corallinarius sp. nov. (Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) from Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea

A new species, Halichrysis corallinarius sp. nov. is described from coral reef habitats in southwest Puerto Rico as well as from Grand Cayman Island. The new species produces strap‐shaped thalli supported above the substrata by abundant peg‐like stipes. The lobed branches are frequently anastomosed with colonies measuring to 4.0 cm broad with individual axes measuring to 7.0 mm across. Algae possess up to five layers of medullary cells with frequent open spaces in the medulla. Tetrasporangia, measure to 19 × 25 μm, and are borne in sori limited to ventral surfaces. Gametophytes are monoecious and hemispherical carposporophytes are produced dorsally, measuring to 900 μm in diameter and 600 μm high.     

Biology of the Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) in a Rain Forest of Puerto Rico1

Ecological aspects of the mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) were studied in the Luquillo Mountains, a rain forest region in eastern Puerto Rico. Information was obtained by removal trapping of mongoose from grids placed in tree plantations, colorado and tabonuco forests. Trapping efficiency was two mongoose per 100 trap-days, suggesting mongoose abundance is low in wet montane forests of Puerto Rico. Sex ratio was biased (2.6:1) in favor of males. Body masses of male mongoose inhabiting rain forests of the Luquillo Mountains were larger than those in dry forests at Guánica (P < 0.0001). Stomach contents from 18 mongoose were examined, animal matter comprised 75 percent of the total food items encountered. Of these, 33 percent were from vertebrates. The food items most frequently encountered were lizards (Anolis spp.), centipedes (Scolopendra spp.), and cockroaches (Blatellidae).     

Mallomonas alphaphora (Chrysophyceae), a new species from Western Australia

A new species ofMallomonas, M. alphaphora (Chrysophyceae), was found in freshwater ponds in the Perth region, Western Australia. It is distinguished from other species ofMallomonas by its very distinctive scale and bristle morphology and is placed in a new section,Alphaphorae, of the genusMallomonas. Dedicated to Prof. DrL. Geitler on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of his birthday.