Green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) have been a “pest” species on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts for hundreds of years, and data on their abundance are crucial to inform effective management strategies. To estimate population size, we present the first use of radio telemetry tracking technology combined with home range estimation and habitat analysis. We use detailed tracking information collected from 10 monkeys from nine different troops in four different biotic areas. For each tracked animal, bootstrapped Brownian bridge home range estimates were calculated from GPS positional data (90% with replacement) to quantify space use by troops. The home range area estimates for the different biotic areas were used to estimate the total troop number across the whole island based on land use cover. We modelled an estimate of population size accounting for variation in space use by troops, variation in troop number by biotic area, and uncertainty around number of individuals in a troop. Our results, which we will continue to refine with additional data, show that the 174 km² island is home to between 690 and 929 monkey troops, or between 22,000 and 37,000 green monkeys.

The informal group of Basidiomycetes commonly known as Gasteromycetes, are now included in the sub-classes Agaricomycetidae and Phallomycetidae. These fungi are characterized mainly by distinctive enclosed fruiting bodies with a gleba that stores spores until maturity. For Puerto Rico, there is no official inventory of Gasteromycetes. To fulfill this need, a study was conducted within five different areas at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Mature specimens were collected during twenty-eight fieldtrips between January, 2016 and July, 2017 from areas under three different conservation strategies. Throughout the visits there was a pattern of occurrence of various genera consistent with the season. Bovista, Cyathus, Rhizopogon, Tulostoma, and two unknown species were collected exclusively during the rainy season. Calvatia and Disciseda occurred only during the dry season. The presence of saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal Gasteromycetes is indicative of the success of the different conservation/restauration strategies implemented at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge in Cabo Rojo.

Species distribution models have become increasingly important tools for species conservation. This modeling approach can help guide conservation practitioners and inform decisions. Distribution models are particularly relevant for rare species, whose habitat associations are often not well understood. Using species occurrence data, and a variety of predictor variables, we developed three individual distribution models and a weighted ensemble model for the Puerto Rican harlequin butterfly (Atlantea tulita). The ensemble model had the greatest accuracy (AUC = 0.92). Further, the ensemble model indicated 7.1% of the main island of Puerto Rico encompassed suitable habitat for the harlequin butterfly. However, only 0.5% was classified as including the greatest suitability. Using an ensemble modeling approach to delineate areas of the island with suitable environmental conditions may improve habitat conservation efforts for the species.

Patterns and body coloration have multiple functions in animals, including in social behavior. Bird coloration is affected by several factors which can result in several types of color aberrations, most being caused by genetic mutations. Although they have not been systematically quantified across multiple species and populations, chromatic disorders in birds are presumably rare. Brown is the most common heritable aberration, and Progressive Greying is the most common aberration in general, although most forms are not straight forward heritable. There is much confusion in the literature among types of aberrations, especially regarding white birds. The Broad-billed Motmot, Electron platyrhynchum, is found from Honduras to Western Ecuador, Central Bolivia, and Central Brazil, generally below 1,100 m. It inhabits mature wet forests and older secondary growth. As a result of a casual observation, a juvenile, white Broad-billed Motmot was detected on October 14, 2022 at the Anura Amphibian Conservation Farm in San Ramón, Costa Rica. The beak and feet of this bird were normal colored, which indicate that the white plumage is not the result of Leucism. Also, the motmot had normal colored eyes, so it is not an Albino. Here we report this case and discuss on key aspects of chromatic disorders in birds.

Los patrones y el color del cuerpo tienen múltiples funciones en los animales, incluido en el comportamiento social. La coloración de las aves se ve afectada por varios factores que pueden resultar en varios tipos de aberraciones cromáticas, la mayoría causada por mutaciones genéticas. Aunque no se han cuantificado sistemáticamente en múltiples especies y poblaciones, los trastornos cromáticos en las aves son presumiblemente raros. Brown es la aberración hereditaria más común y el encanecimiento progresivo es la aberración más común en general, aunque la mayoría de las formas no son directamente hereditarias. Hay mucha confusión en la literatura entre los tipos de aberraciones, especialmente con respecto a las aves anormalmente blancas. El momoto picoancho (Electron platyrhynchum) se distribuye desde Honduras hasta el occidente de Ecuador, Bolivia y Brasil, por lo general por debajo de 1,100 m. Habita el bosque húmedo maduro y crecimientos secundarios avanzados. Como resultado de una observación casual, el 14 de octubre de 2022 se detectó un momoto picoancho de color blanco en la Anura Amphibian Conservation Farm en San Ramón, Costa Rica. El pico y las patas de esta ave eran de color normal, por lo que el plumaje blanco no es resultado del leucismo. Además, el momoto tenía ojos de color normal, por lo que no es un albino. Aquí reportamos este caso y discutimos aspectos clave de los trastornos cromáticos en las aves.

This study presents the first scanning electron microscopy investigation of the antenna of adult Bahamiola orbitalis, a species of potential forensic relevance. The specimens used in the analysis were obtained from traps baited with decomposing chicken in Jamaica, and 16 males were used in the morphometric analysis of the species. The antennae of B. orbitalis exhibit the typical characteristics of cyclorrhaphan Diptera, with the scape, the pedicel, and the postpedicel that bears the arista. The distribution, number, and location of sensilla on the antennae are described. Five types of sensilla were observed. The scape and pedicel have only chaetic sensilla, the postpedicel bears trichoid, basiconic, coeloconic sensilla, and clavate sensilla. Basiconic sensilla were the most numerous sensilla found on the antennae. Coeloconic sensilla are short-pegged and located in sunken depressions. The ventral surface of the postpedicel bears one sensory pit. This study provides additional information about the structure of the antennae in Sarcophagidae. This can be used to compare evolutionary relationships and identify shared characteristics.

The ant fauna in natural and rural areas of Jamaica has received substantial interest in the past. However, no recent works have focused primarily on the ants of urban and suburban areas. In this study, we assessed the species richness and origin of ants in urban and suburban areas of St. Andrew, Jamaica. Ant specimens were hand-collected within a 30 m radius area during a 15 minute search conducted at 27 sample sites during 39 sampling events. A total of 31 ant species were collected, representing a mixture of 18 native (58.1%) and 13 introduced (41.9%) species. Among the 18 species native to the Caribbean region, three (9.7%) are endemic to Jamaica, namely Camponotus hannani, Camponotus fugax, and Cephalotes jamaicensis. Sixteen tramp species (species with a worldwide distribution) represented 51.6% of the ant community, including Brachymyrmex patagonicus, Nylanderia steinheili, Paratrechina longicornis, Tapinoma melanocephalum, and Trichomyrmex destructor. Brachymyrmex patagonicus, Solenopsis geminata, and P. longicornis were most prevalent, being respectively found at 92.6%, 85.2%, and 81.5% of the sampled sites. Brachymyrmex obscurior, Camponotus fugax, Camponotus sexguttatus, Crematogaster steinheili, and Pheidole subarmata were among the least prevalent, each found at only one site. This publication presents the first published records of Solenopsis globularia and Monomorium pharaonis in Jamaica, with short descriptions of their habitats. The urban and suburban ant community of St. Andrew presents a relatively high species richness.