Abstract This study examines the impact of environmental conservation activities on the awareness of residents of a small rural community in Jamaica. Millbank lies in the buffer zone of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and is partially surrounded by a Forest Reserve. The community is considered a model for community conservation, however, there has never been a comprehensive study of the community's knowledge and awareness of biodiversity and conservation, important components for sustainable management of the natural resources on which the community largely depends. The general trend in conservation awareness is positive for Millbank due to the varied efforts of stakeholders from sectors including academia, community based organizations, government and nongovernment organizations. While public awareness efforts and strategies have yielded increased knowledge including the heightened awareness of protected species and pesticide poisoning of the river systems, reports of insufficiencies in public awareness strategies, limited funding and ineffective enforcement threaten the potential for successful conservation. Overcoming these limitations require greater consistency and sustained efforts in community engagement. The legacy of projects resonates in signs that display images of biodiversity and positive conservation messages. However, greater effort is needed to improve their effectiveness which has diminished over time as many signs fade and the messages become illegible. Stakeholders should utilise a wide range of communication methods and devices while recognizing the benefits of using layman terms in public education for greater understanding of conservation concepts. This will strengthen the stakeholder-community relationship and foster greater cooperation for long term conservation.
{"title":"Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation Awareness in a Bufferzone Community: An Assessment of Public Engagement Strategies and Tools","authors":"Dionne Newell, E. Garraway","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a27","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a27","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study examines the impact of environmental conservation activities on the awareness of residents of a small rural community in Jamaica. Millbank lies in the buffer zone of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and is partially surrounded by a Forest Reserve. The community is considered a model for community conservation, however, there has never been a comprehensive study of the community's knowledge and awareness of biodiversity and conservation, important components for sustainable management of the natural resources on which the community largely depends. The general trend in conservation awareness is positive for Millbank due to the varied efforts of stakeholders from sectors including academia, community based organizations, government and nongovernment organizations. While public awareness efforts and strategies have yielded increased knowledge including the heightened awareness of protected species and pesticide poisoning of the river systems, reports of insufficiencies in public awareness strategies, limited funding and ineffective enforcement threaten the potential for successful conservation. Overcoming these limitations require greater consistency and sustained efforts in community engagement. The legacy of projects resonates in signs that display images of biodiversity and positive conservation messages. However, greater effort is needed to improve their effectiveness which has diminished over time as many signs fade and the messages become illegible. Stakeholders should utilise a wide range of communication methods and devices while recognizing the benefits of using layman terms in public education for greater understanding of conservation concepts. This will strengthen the stakeholder-community relationship and foster greater cooperation for long term conservation.","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"61 11","pages":"455 - 462"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138951661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mitchell Gilliland, Andrew M. Durso, Matthew F. Metcalf, Oscar Johnson, Sean P. Kelly, E. Everham, Nicole F. Angeli
Abstract Giant constrictor populations in Florida and the Caribbean have top-down impacts on prey that are still poorly understood. We report opportunistically documented predation events by introduced Boa imperator (Central American Boa Constrictor) on four species of native birds on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, compare these to more detailed dietary studies from Aruba, and encourage detailed studies of Boa imperator diet on St. Croix to better understand population and community-level impacts of predation by this invasive snake.
{"title":"Birds in the Diet of Invasive Boa imperator on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands","authors":"Mitchell Gilliland, Andrew M. Durso, Matthew F. Metcalf, Oscar Johnson, Sean P. Kelly, E. Everham, Nicole F. Angeli","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a24","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Giant constrictor populations in Florida and the Caribbean have top-down impacts on prey that are still poorly understood. We report opportunistically documented predation events by introduced Boa imperator (Central American Boa Constrictor) on four species of native birds on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, compare these to more detailed dietary studies from Aruba, and encourage detailed studies of Boa imperator diet on St. Croix to better understand population and community-level impacts of predation by this invasive snake.","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"58 19","pages":"437 - 444"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138949882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Culebrones cave is well known among Puerto Rican herpetologists as a bat hunting ground used by the Puerto Rican boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). As such, their foraging ecology has been previously studied. However, multiple strong hurricanes have impacted the island reducing the number of natural vines around the cave directly affecting the population of snakes foraging at the cave entrance. We compared the foraging ecology between snakes using natural hunting structures and those using artificial perches provided in Culebrones cave. During March to July of 2021, we performed 30 visits to observe successful hunts and the prey handling time of every individual snake. Observations were repeated during the same period of the following year after the addition of artificial vines. The addition of artificial vines to the entrance of Culebrones cave had a positive effect on the snakes that visited the cave to hunt, observing an increase of three snakes on average per night. Prey handling time was longer when snakes hunted on rock walls when compared to those on vines, suggesting an advantage of vines over rocks as hunting perches. Continued monitoring of the foraging ecology in Culebrones cave should be conducted to determine if the addition of more artificial vines can be beneficial to the snake population at this location.
{"title":"Foraging Behavior of Chilabothrus inornatus Using Natural and Artificial Vines at Culebrones Cave in Arecibo, Puerto Rico","authors":"Fabián A. Feliciano-Rivera, A. Puente-Rolón","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a26","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Culebrones cave is well known among Puerto Rican herpetologists as a bat hunting ground used by the Puerto Rican boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). As such, their foraging ecology has been previously studied. However, multiple strong hurricanes have impacted the island reducing the number of natural vines around the cave directly affecting the population of snakes foraging at the cave entrance. We compared the foraging ecology between snakes using natural hunting structures and those using artificial perches provided in Culebrones cave. During March to July of 2021, we performed 30 visits to observe successful hunts and the prey handling time of every individual snake. Observations were repeated during the same period of the following year after the addition of artificial vines. The addition of artificial vines to the entrance of Culebrones cave had a positive effect on the snakes that visited the cave to hunt, observing an increase of three snakes on average per night. Prey handling time was longer when snakes hunted on rock walls when compared to those on vines, suggesting an advantage of vines over rocks as hunting perches. Continued monitoring of the foraging ecology in Culebrones cave should be conducted to determine if the addition of more artificial vines can be beneficial to the snake population at this location.","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"23 25","pages":"450 - 454"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138950255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The occurrence of Eurema daira daira (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on Cuba is documented for the first time. This is based on adult specimens, eggs, and pupa observed and collected in Varadero, Hicacos Peninsula, Matanzas, during November 2023. The implications of this discovery are discussed.
{"title":"First Documented Record of Eurema daira daira (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Coliadinae) from Cuba","authors":"Yosiel Álvarez","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a25","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The occurrence of Eurema daira daira (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on Cuba is documented for the first time. This is based on adult specimens, eggs, and pupa observed and collected in Varadero, Hicacos Peninsula, Matanzas, during November 2023. The implications of this discovery are discussed.","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"50 7","pages":"445 - 449"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138949610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract A systematic survey was conducted in 2013 to identify the plant species composition of the sand flats of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. A total of eight species were enumerated on the sand flat: broadleaf panicum (Brachiaria adspersa (Trin.) Parodi), Indian bluegrass (Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A.Camus), thin paspalum (Paspalum setaceum Michx.), goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.), common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), southern sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus L.), crowfootgrass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Beauv.), and tropical fimbry (Fimbristylis cymosa R.Br.). The greatest Species Relative Density (RD) was observed for Bothriochloa pertusa (76%) and Fimbristylis cymosa (10%), while the RD of all remaining species was ≤ 5%. The Shannon Diversity Index of the sand flat was 0.93, while the Shannon Equitability Index was 0.45, indicating moderate species diversity present within the sand flat. Although all eight species identified were previously reported on the island, characterization of their presence on the sand flat may provide further insights into their conservation significance, potential invasiveness, impacts on the ecosystem, and possible need for management/control. Continued monitoring of Cenchrus echinatus may be highly warranted due to previous documentation as an invasive species capable of displacing native vegetation in tropical regions.
{"title":"Population Dynamics and Conservation Significance of Native and Non-native Grass and Sedge Species on the Sand Flats of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands","authors":"Gerald Henry, Chase Straw","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a28","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A systematic survey was conducted in 2013 to identify the plant species composition of the sand flats of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. A total of eight species were enumerated on the sand flat: broadleaf panicum (Brachiaria adspersa (Trin.) Parodi), Indian bluegrass (Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A.Camus), thin paspalum (Paspalum setaceum Michx.), goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.), common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), southern sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus L.), crowfootgrass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Beauv.), and tropical fimbry (Fimbristylis cymosa R.Br.). The greatest Species Relative Density (RD) was observed for Bothriochloa pertusa (76%) and Fimbristylis cymosa (10%), while the RD of all remaining species was ≤ 5%. The Shannon Diversity Index of the sand flat was 0.93, while the Shannon Equitability Index was 0.45, indicating moderate species diversity present within the sand flat. Although all eight species identified were previously reported on the island, characterization of their presence on the sand flat may provide further insights into their conservation significance, potential invasiveness, impacts on the ecosystem, and possible need for management/control. Continued monitoring of Cenchrus echinatus may be highly warranted due to previous documentation as an invasive species capable of displacing native vegetation in tropical regions.","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"17 7","pages":"463 - 470"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138948373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Forensic entomology is a growing field within the Caribbean, but lacks practical application. There remains room for further growth inclusive of primary baseline information, such as determining the identity of flies of forensic importance on the various Caribbean islands. Descriptions of morphology and biology of immature stages of some flies are also lacking, especially for the family Sarcophagidae. Described here is the morphology of the third larval stage of two species of Sarcophagidae of forensic importance, Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) and Blaesoxipha (Gigantotheca) plinthopyga (Wiedemann, 1830). The two species were found to colonise and breed in decomposing pig meat. Specimens collected were reared and dissected using light microscopy. Key larval features are illustrated for use in identification, as an alternative or addition to adult morphology. Structures described include the anterior and posterior spiracle, anal segment, and cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Both species are considered to be of forensic importance and have been shown to colonise human corpses in a review of the literature.
{"title":"Morphology of Third Instar Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) and Blaesoxipha plinthopyga (Wiedemann, 1830) (Sarcophagidae); Species of Forensic Importance","authors":"Rochelle Daley, Latoya Foote-Gordon, E. Garraway","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a23","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Forensic entomology is a growing field within the Caribbean, but lacks practical application. There remains room for further growth inclusive of primary baseline information, such as determining the identity of flies of forensic importance on the various Caribbean islands. Descriptions of morphology and biology of immature stages of some flies are also lacking, especially for the family Sarcophagidae. Described here is the morphology of the third larval stage of two species of Sarcophagidae of forensic importance, Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) and Blaesoxipha (Gigantotheca) plinthopyga (Wiedemann, 1830). The two species were found to colonise and breed in decomposing pig meat. Specimens collected were reared and dissected using light microscopy. Key larval features are illustrated for use in identification, as an alternative or addition to adult morphology. Structures described include the anterior and posterior spiracle, anal segment, and cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Both species are considered to be of forensic importance and have been shown to colonise human corpses in a review of the literature.","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"48 5","pages":"431 - 436"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138948957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ultrastructure Morphology of the Antennae of Oxysarcodexia corolla and Oxysarcodexia peltata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)","authors":"Latoya Foote-Gordon, Eric Garraway","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a19","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a19","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"57 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138596517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predation of a Dry Forest Toad, Incilius coccifer, by a Blue-Diademed Motmot, Momotus lessonii, in Western Central Valley, Costa Rica","authors":"José Manuel Mora, Miguel A. Rodríguez","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a20","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"10 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138595708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Keislamari Cintron-Berrios, T. Santiago-Rodriguez, Paola G. Figueroa-Pratts, Sarah Latimer-Fantauzzi, Miranda Guerra-Montenegro, G. Toranzos
{"title":"A First Look at Possible Diet-Induced Variations in the Fecal Microbiota of the Agricultural Pest Diaprepes abbreviatus","authors":"Keislamari Cintron-Berrios, T. Santiago-Rodriguez, Paola G. Figueroa-Pratts, Sarah Latimer-Fantauzzi, Miranda Guerra-Montenegro, G. Toranzos","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a22","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"29 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138597860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Morphometrics, Diet, Reproductive Biology, and Ecological Interactions of the Introduced Redclaw Crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda: Parastacidae), in Jamaica, West Indies","authors":"S. R. Todd, Eric J. Hyslop","doi":"10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v53i2.a21","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55274,"journal":{"name":"Caribbean Journal of Science","volume":"39 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138597018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：