A revision of the Puerto Rican species of lepanthes (Orchidaceae)

Six species of the orchid speciesLepanthes are described as new. A seventh species,L. sanguined, previously known only from Jamaica, is reported from Puerto Rico. The current misspelling ofL. selenitepala, the only species of the genus previously reported from Puerto Rico, is corrected. A key to the eight Puerto Rican species ofLepanthes is presented, and the value of several interesting taxonomic characters is discussed. The possibility of apogamy in this genus is raised, and detailed biosystematic investigations are indicated as necessary for a complete understanding of the group.     

A Winter Distribution Model for Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), a Conservation Tool for a Threatened Migratory Songbird

Conservation planning and implementation require identifying pertinent habitats and locations where protection and management may improve viability of targeted species. The winter range of Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), a threatened Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbird, is restricted to the Greater Antilles. We analyzed winter records from the mid-1970s to 2009 to quantitatively evaluate winter distribution and habitat selection. Additionally, we conducted targeted surveys in Jamaica (n = 433), Cuba (n = 363), Dominican Republic (n = 1,000), Haiti (n = 131) and Puerto Rico (n = 242) yielding 179 sites with thrush presence. We modeled Bicknell’s Thrush winter habitat selection and distribution in the Greater Antilles in Maxent version 3.3.1. using environmental predictors represented in 30 arc second study area rasters. These included nine landform, land cover and climatic variables that were thought a priori to have potentially high predictive power. We used the average training gain from ten model runs to select the best subset of predictors. Total winter precipitation, aspect and land cover, particularly broadleaf forests, emerged as important variables. A five-variable model that contained land cover, winter precipitation, aspect, slope, and elevation was the most parsimonious and not significantly different than the models with more variables. We used the best fitting model to depict potential winter habitat. Using the 10 percentile threshold (>0.25), we estimated winter habitat to cover 33,170 km², nearly 10% of the study area. The Dominican Republic contained half of all potential habitat (51%), followed by Cuba (15.1%), Jamaica (13.5%), Haiti (10.6%), and Puerto Rico (9.9%). Nearly one-third of the range was found to be in protected areas. By providing the first detailed predictive map of Bicknell’s Thrush winter distribution, our study provides a useful tool to prioritize and direct conservation planning for this and other wet, broadleaf forest specialists in the Greater Antilles.     

New species and records of West Indian Alleculidae (Coleoptera)

Lobopoda wittmeri n. sp. is described from the Dominican Republic; the male of L. notapuncta Campbell is described for the first time. Lobopoda haitensis, L. notapuncta, and Hymenorus haitius previously known only from Haiti are reported from the Dominican Republic; Allecula ramosi previously known from Puerto Rico is also reported from the Dominican Republic. Hymenorus convexus and H. jamaicensis known previously from the Bahama Islands and Cuba and from Jamaica respectively are reported for the first time from the Cayman Islands.

A key is presented to aid in identification of the Alleculidae of the Cayman Islands and Hispaniola.     

Regeneration filters in post-agricultural fields of Puerto Rico and Ecuador

To better understand how rainforest regenerates after agriculture I sampled the seed rain and seed bank, and set out seeds and seedlings, on microsites defined by distance to the forest in fields both in Puerto Rico and Ecuador. I found that (1) total seeds, species richness and life-form richness were twice as great in the Ecuador seed rain compared to Puerto Rico but Puerto Rico seeds were more evenly distributed among species and (2) total seedlings from the seed bank were similar between Puerto Rico and Ecuador, (3) the majority of seeds were lost to predation among all species and study sites, (4) seed disease was absent in P. aduncum and Miconia prasina, and no seeds germinated for Gonzalagunia spicata and P. riparia, (5) in Ecuador pathogenic disease claimed more seeds than germinated for all species, and Solanum ovalifolium was the only species that had seeds germinate but did not lose seeds to disease, (6) also in Ecuador, insect predation was significantly lower in the forest border for P. aduncum, and seed disease was significantly greater at the 10 m micro site for S. ovalifolium, (7) distance has a significant effect on seedling height and basal diameter, (8) losses of leaf area due to herbivory and pathogens were always low and (9) biomass and leaf specific mass were significantly reduced in the border and forest microsites. I conclude that Ecuador fields had more seeds, species, and life-forms than Puerto Rico fields, predation was the most severe post-dispersal seed filter in all fields, seeds that survived predation on Puerto Rico were lost either to disease or germination but to both mechanisms in Ecuador, all three seed mechanisms in Ecuador fields showed distance effects of seedling growth but not survivorship.     

Four New Ladybug Species Belonging to Decadiomus Chapin (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from Puerto Rico

While searching for native natural enemies attacking invasive insect pests in Puerto Rico, we found four undescribed ladybug species belonging to the Caribbean ladybug genus Decadiomus Chapin. In this article, we describe the following species from Puerto Rico: Decadiomus seini n. sp., Decadiomus ramosi n. sp., Decadiomus hayuyai n. sp., and Decadiomus martorelli n. sp. Illustrations of the dorsal habitus, shape of prosternal carinae, and drawings of male and female genitalia are presented. We also present a key for Diomini of Puerto Rico and discuss their importance as potential biocontrol agents.     

New microsatellite markers for the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius sensu stricto reveal the genetic structure of US and Puerto Rican populations

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius has been introduced to many areas around the world as a source of inoculum for pine plantations. However, little is known about the genetic structure of fungal populations in their introduced habitats. To study the genetics of exotic P. tinctorius populations, we developed and employed seven new microsatellite markers and compared samples from Puerto Rico (exotic range) and the eastern United States (native range). Bayesian cluster analysis, neighbor joining analysis and F_ST values all strongly separated Puerto Rican populations from North American populations. Consistent with a founder effect, populations from Puerto Rico had reduced allelic richness when compared to samples from the United States. The genetic structure of P. tinctorius populations in Puerto Rico is weak to modest and is not correlated with geographic distance reflecting anthropogenic movement of inoculum with forestry practices.     

A new species of Litarachna (Acari,Hydrachnidia, Pontarachnidae) from a Caribbean mesophotic coral ecosystem

New records of pontarachnid mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico are presented. Litarachna lopezae sp. n., from substrata collected from Bajo de Sico, a mesophotic coral reef ecosystem in Mona Passage off Puerto Rico, is described as new to science. The new species was collected from nearly 70 m depth, the greatest depth from which pontarachnid mites have been found until now. In addition, a Litarachna sp. was also found in association with the tube of the polychaete Sabellastarte magnifica (Shaw, 1800) at the shallow waters of north Puerto Rico.     

Effects of invasive Green Iguanas (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Iguana iguana</Emphasis>) on seed germination and seed dispersal potential in southeastern Puerto Rico

Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) are invasive in Puerto Rico due to a variety of negative economic effects, yet we know very little about their ecological impacts. Because they are herbivorous, defecate intact seeds, move through the forest, and have long gut-passage times, Green Iguanas may affect seed germination and seed dispersal. In summer 2013, a total of 258 Green Iguana scat samples were collected at the Humacao Natural Reserve in southeastern Puerto Rico. Seeds extracted from scat and collected from fruit were planted under common garden conditions using experimental treatments designed to tease apart the effects of feces, fruit, and ingestion on seed germination. Green Iguanas decreased the time for seeds to germinate in Ficus spp. by removing fruit pulp, but had no effect on germination of native Annona glabra seeds. For non-native P. pterocarpus and Pterocarpus spp., Green Iguanas produced conflicting results, decreasing the percentage of seeds germinating, but at the same time, reducing the time for seeds to germinate. Green Iguanas likely disperse most seeds beyond the canopies of parental tree at our site. Government and economic resources are being used to eradicate Green Iguana populations in Puerto Rico, but the lack of consistent effects of Green Iguanas on seed germination for the plant species consumed at our site complicates generalizing about their ecological effects and developing management plans that minimize negative effects for native plant communities. We recommend additional studies that target both species of particular concern, such as threatened native or invasive species, as well as studies of sensitive habitats in Puerto Rico.     

Genetic analysis of a novel invasion of Puerto Rico by an exotic constricting snake

The tropical island Puerto Rico is potentially vulnerable to invasion by some species of exotic snakes; however, until now no established populations had been reported. Here we report and genetically characterize the nascent invasion of Puerto Rico by an exotic constricting snake of the family Boidae (Boa constrictor) using mtDNA and microsatellite data. Over 150 individual B. constrictor have been removed from Mayagüez municipality since May 2011, and our results from the genetic analysis of 32 individuals suggest that this population was recently founded by individuals of one subspecies from a genetic lineage common to zoo and breeding collections, but that the potential propagule pool consists of two subspecies. We also suggest that anthropogenic long-distance dispersal within the island of Puerto Rico may be occurring from the established population, with implications for further establishment across the island. This study represents the first report of the naturalization of an invasive species of boid snake in Puerto Rico and will be important in determining mitigation strategies for this invasion as well as providing a basis for comparison to other on-going studies of invasive snakes.     

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.     

Effects of Pratylenchus coffeae and Scutellonema bradys Alone and in Combination on Guinea Yam (Dioscorea rotundata)

When Guinea yam, Dioscorea rotundata Poir, was inoculated with Pratylenchus coffeae and Scutellonema bradys together, there was a 53% suppression of top growth, but when plants were inoculated separately there was a 29% suppression with P. coffeae and a 21% suppression with S. bradys. The reproduction of S. bradys was greatly inhibited when both nematode species were together on the same plant in comparison with that on plants inoculated with S. bradys alone. Scutellonema bradys apparently did not affect the reproduction of P. coffeae. Storage-root quality was reduced 72% by P. coffeae but only 20% by S. bradys. The two species together resulted in a reduction in storage-root quality of 84%. Although the Guinea yam is a good host of P. coffeae and S. bradys, our results indicate that P. coffeae is responsible for most of the storage-root deterioration and dry rot of yam in Puerto Rico.     

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.     

Pilot study of mold populations inside and outside of Puerto Rican residences

Puerto Rico has the highest asthma prevalence in the US. In the states, mold exposures have been linked to the development and exacerbation of asthma. For a pilot study of mold populations in Puerto Rico, dust and air samples were collected in January 2013 inside and outside of residences (n = 10) in the north eastern quadrant of Puerto Rico. Inside and outside (protected from rain) settled dust was collected by wiping above floor or ground-level surfaces with a Swiffer? duster cloth. Air samples were collected in five of the residences inside and five matching outside onto Malt Extract Agar and also onto G25N Agar. The dust (5 mg) was analyzed using mold-specific quantitative PCR and mold contamination estimated using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) metric. Air sampled (150 l) plates were incubated and resulting mold colonies enumerated. The ERMI values were significantly (p = 0.03) greater inside the homes than outside, 20.37 versus 12.55, respectively. Aspergillus penicillioides, A. sydowii, Chaetomium globosum, the Eurotium group and Penicillium crustosum and A. ustus were found in significantly greater numbers inside than outside Puerto Rican residences based on the Wilcoxon rank sum test. However, after correction for multiple comparisons using the Holms–Bonferroni test, only the Eurotium group remained significantly greater. Air samples suggested higher culturable concentrations of molds outside but the differences were not significantly different. Although this is a small study, it suggests that some people in Puerto Rico are exposed to significantly higher mold concentrations indoors than outdoors.     

FINE STRUCTURE OF THE ASEXUAL STAGES OF PLASMODIUM ELONGATUM

Plasmodium elongatum, an avian malarial parasite, differs from other such parasites by infecting both the circulating red blood cells and the hematopoietic cells. The exoerythrocytic development of P. elongatum occurs mainly in these red cell precursors. The fine structure of the asexual stages of P. elongatum has been studied in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of canaries and compared with that of the asexual stages of other avian malarial parasites. With minor differences, the merozoites of P. elongatum possess the same organelles as those in the exoerythrocytic merozoites of P. fallax and the erythrocytic stages of P. cathemerium, P. lophurae, P. fallax, and P. gallinaceum. The developmental sequence is also essentially similar to that of other avian malarial parasites, in that upon entry into a new host cell, the dedifferentiation, growth, and redifferentiation phases take place. However, we have found some important differences in the feeding mechanism of P. elongatum. The cytostome is involved in the ingestion of host cell cytoplasm in both exoerythrocytic and erythrocytic stages, in contrast to P. fallax, in which the cytostome is inactive in the exoerythrocytic stages. In P. elongatum, host cell cytoplasm is ingested through the cytostome, and "boluses" are formed and incorporated into a large digestive vacuole. Subsequently, the digestion of the boluses takes place in this digestive vacuole. Thus, in regard to the function of the cytostome, the exoerythrocytic stages of P. elongatum appear to be closely related to the erythrocytic stage which has a feeding mechanism similar to that of the erythrocytic stage of other avian malarial parasites.     

Susceptibility of squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) to infection by mammalian schistosomes.

In a study of host-schistosome relationships, the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) was exposed to 500 cercariae of Schistosoma bovis (Kenya), S. intercalation (Cameroon), S. mattheei (South Africa), 2 strains of S. mansoni (Puerto Rico and South Africa), 2 strains of S. rodhaini (Uganda and Kenya), and Schistosomatium douthitti (North America). It is apparent that the squirrel monkey can be employed as an experimental host for a broad range of mammalian schistosomes. Based upon cercariae-adult worm ratios, it is a good host for S. intercalatum, S. mattheei, the Puerto Rico and South Africa strains of S. mansoni, and Schistosomatium, but only a fair host for S. bovis and the Uganda and Kenya strains of S. rodhaini. Individuality of host-parasite relationships is borne out by the great ranges recorded for egg deposits in different organs as well as by total body egg counts and eggs/worm pair.     

There goes the neighborhood: apparent competition between invasive and native orchids mediated by a specialist florivorous weevil

The exotic orchid, Spathoglottis plicata, has naturalized and spread rapidly over Puerto Rico where it is generally considered to be innocuous. It is abundant and occupies the same habitat as the native orchid, Bletia patula. The two are hosts to the same native weevil, Stethobaris polita, a specialist on orchid flowers. We ask whether the weevils mediate apparent competition between the two orchids. We monitored weevil populations, floral damage and fruit set in B. patula in the presence and absence of S. plicata. We also experimentally tested whether weevils preferred one species over the other. Finally, we modeled the distribution of both orchid species to predict the extent by which the two species may interact in Puerto Rico. We found a significantly lower number of weevils and a higher fruit set for B. patula where S. plicata is absent, indicative that apparent competition is occurring. The choice experiments show that weevils prefer flowers of S. plicata over those of B. patula, but B. patula still sustained considerable damage. The current distribution of the native B. patula is nearly limited to the northern karst region of Puerto Rico. The naturalized S. plicata has a broader range and the models predict that its distribution will strongly overlap with that of B. patula. We expect the S. plicata invasion to continue and affect native orchids through apparent competition as long as the presence of S. plicata maintains elevated weevil populations. Thus, even seemingly harmless invasive orchids can have subtle but significant negative consequences.     

Genetic Diversity Patterns and Functional Traits of Bradyrhizobium Strains Associated with Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. in Caribbean Islands and Amazonian Forest (French Guiana)

Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. is a legume tree native to the Caribbean islands and South America growing as a dominant species in swamp forests. To analyze (i) the genetic diversity and (ii) the symbiotic properties of its associated nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, root nodules were collected from P. officinalis distributed in 16 forest sites of the Caribbean islands and French Guiana. The sequencing of the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region (ITS) showed that all bacteria belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus. Bacteria isolated from insular zones showed very close sequence homologies with Bradyrhizobium genospecies V belonging to the Bradyrhizobium japonicum super-clade. By contrast, bacteria isolated from continental region displayed a larger genetic diversity and belonged to B. elkanii super-clade. Two strains from Puerto Rico and one from French Guiana were not related to any known sequence and could be defined as a new genospecies. Inoculation experiments did not show any host specificity of the Bradyrhizobium strains tested in terms of infectivity. However, homologous Bradyrhizobium sp. strain-P. officinalis provenance associations were more efficient in terms of nodule production, N acquisition, and growth than heterologous ones. The dominant status of P. officinalis in the islands may explain the lower bacterial diversity compared to that found in the continent where P. officinalis is associated with other leguminous tree species. The specificity in efficiency found between Bradyrhizobium strains and host tree provenances could be due to a coevolution process between both partners and needs to be taken in consideration in the framework of rehabilitation plantation programs.