Search Results (275)

The polyvalent nature of water is one often explored in fiction by Caribbean writers, and this paper will consider the ways that the representations of mermaids act as an extension of this exploration. Mermaids are central to a number of folk traditions across the Caribbean region and its diaspora. On islands, including Trinidad, Martinique, Carriacou, and Haiti, with names such as Fairymaid, Mama Glo, and La Siren, mermaids are often regarded as mothers and protectresses of both the sea and the creatures within it. This paper will analyse the representation of the mermaid in Monique Roffey’s The Mermaid of Black Conch (2020) and consider how the novel utilises the mermaid and an aquatic poetics to explore Kamau Brathwaite’s conceptualisation of a submarine unity for the Caribbean. Full article

Extreme climate events are becoming more intense, and how coastal mangroves respond to the alternating intense cyclones and severe droughts is less understood, which challenges the sustainability of the ecosystem services they provide to coastal communities. To address this, we analyzed spatiotemporal dynamics of coastal mangroves in a Caribbean island in response to major hurricanes in 2017, which followed a severe multi-year drought in 2014–2015, using multiple indices derived from multispectral optical images. We further explored the roles of hurricane forces, local hydro-geomorphic environment, and rainfall dynamics in the damage and the following recovery. In addition to the hurricane forces, such as gusty wind and rainfall, the local hydro-geomorphic environment largely determines the spatial variations of damage. Lower-lying, flatter, and wetter mangrove areas sustained more damage, possibly due to prolonged inundation susceptibility and tall canopy configurations. Recovery is mainly limited by the severity of damage. However, sufficient rainfall gradually becomes important to facilitate the recovery. While the pre-hurricane severe drought (2014–2015) largely degraded the mangroves at dry sites, the drought after the hurricanes exacerbated the hurricane damage and retarded the recovery. We also found that the spectral distance and the mangrove vegetation index revealed slower and more spatiotemporally heterogenous mangrove recovery than indices of greenness, implying they are better measures for monitoring mangroves’ response to disturbance. Six years after the disturbance, the greenness of mangroves near the hurricane landfall reached 84% of the pre-hurricane values. However, the mangrove vegetation index showed that healthy mangrove coverage was only 10%, in comparison to 76% before the disturbance. The sluggish recovery at this site with the severest damage may be associated with the loss of pre-established seedlings and the difficulty to have new ones established, thus human efforts are in need to restore the system. Full article

Objectives: Evaluate the genetic diversity and productive traits of crossbred cattle in the Caribbean region of Colombia, through analyses derived from the assessment of the genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Methods: A total of 590 individuals and 66,098 SNPs were analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA) and detection of runs of homozygosity (ROH). The population was composed of 531 heifers marked as crossbreed and a group of 59 heifers marked as purebred Gyr. Additionally, allele frequencies were calculated for commercially important traits (CSN2, CSN3, LGB, DGAT1, GH1, CAPN1_316, CAPN1_350, CAPN1_4751, CAST_282, CAST_2870, and CAST_2959). Results: Global differences in PCA were 7.35%, and principal components explained 1.94% and 5.41% of the variation. Five ROH islands were identified in crossbred animals on chromosomes 2, 5, 7, 8, and 12. The majority of observed ROH classes were shorter than 2 Mb, 54% in crossbreed cattle and 47% in Gyr cattle. Individual inbreeding was 5.2% in crossbreed and 12% in Gyr cattle. Both groups had similar allelic and genotypic frequencies for most of the evaluated commercial traits. Only a wide variation was observed in the genes related to growth hormone (GH1) and Calpastatin (CAST_2870 and CAST_22959). Crossbreed heifers had desired allele frequencies for better milk production and quality in the genes CSN2, LGB, DGAT1, and GH1, as well as in the genes CAST_2870 and CAST_2959. Conclusions: Crossbreed cattle in the Colombian Caribbean region possess high genetic diversity and desirable allele frequencies to implement breeding and intense selection programs aimed at improving production yields. Full article

Background: Brown algae from the order Dictyotales are known to produce specialized metabolites with a wide array of biological activities. Studying these compounds is important for understanding their ecological roles, exploring biomedical potential and developing biotechnological applications. Methods: To evaluate the metabolic diversity of brown algae from the shallow habitats of the northern region of San Andrés Island (Colombia, SW Caribbean), a metabolic profiling approach was employed, based on ¹H-NMR spectra taken from organic extracts. Four sampling expeditions were conducted to collect the most abundant species, taking into account the taxonomic identity, growth substrate and collection date. Results: Five species were found and identified as Canistrocarpus crispatus, Stypopodium zonale, Dictyopteris delicatula, Padina gymnospora and Dictyota spp. Multivariate analyses applied to these spectra revealed that S. zonale and C. crispatus differentiated from the other samples mainly due to the signals for meroditerpenes and diterpenes, respectively. S. zonale had differential metabolic production observed when comparing algae collected in rocky bottoms with thalli growing on dead coral. This difference was attributed to changes in concentrations of the meroditerpene atomaric acid (1). Meanwhile, the major metabolite found in C. crispatus samples was dictyol B acetate (2). Conclusions: NMR metabolomics of San Andrés brown algae differentiated species based on lipid content and metabolic complexity. Notably, prenylated-guaiane diterpenes characterized C. crispatus, and meroditerpenoid concentrations varied in S. zonale. Temporal lipid variations were observed in P. gymnospora, while juvenile Dictyota spp. presented a less complex metabolic signature. Full article

Palm groves are abundant in southeastern Mexico and have significant economic and socio-cultural relevance. Studies on the production and management of palm groves are abundant in the area. However, an ecological approach is scarce but necessary for conserving these overexploited species. Palm groves are abundant on the island of Cozumel and develop on contrasting substrates: rocky and sandy ones. Thus, we aimed to explore how soil types affected community structure and composition. We sampled a total of 2900 m² (29 plots of 10 × 10 m) of palm grove, 13 growing in sandy soil and 16 in rocky soil. We registered the species present in each plot, plant density, cover, height, and DBH. A hierarchical cluster analysis re-grouped the sampled plots based on their floristic affinities, and thus, we had 17 plots for the sandy substrate and 12 from the rocky substrate, which were used for later analyses. The dominant species in both palm groves was Thrinax radiata, and species richness was the same in both soil types (33 species). Contrasting substrates resulted in different community composition and structure. The palm groves from the sandy substrate had more vines but fewer shrubs and higher plant density, height, and DBH. The above suggests that the low availability of soil in the rocky substrate does not allow the same state of vegetation development that occurs in the sandy substrate. Full article

Many Caribbean low-latitude small island states lack wind maps tailored to capture their wind features at high resolutions. However, high-resolution mesoscale modeling is computationally expensive. This study proposes a statistical–dynamical downscaling (SDD) method that integrates an atmospheric-circulation-type (CT) approach with a high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) model to map the wind resources of a case study, Trinidad and Tobago. The SDD method uses a novel wind class generation technique derived directly from reanalysis wind field patterns. For the Caribbean, 82 wind classes were defined from an atmospheric circulation catalog of seven types derived from 850 hPa daily wind fields from the NCEP-DOE reanalysis over 32 years. Each wind class was downscaled using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and weighted by frequency to produce 1 km × 1 km climatological wind maps. The 10 m wind maps, validated using measured wind data at Piarco and Crown Point, exhibit a small positive average bias (+0.5 m/s in wind speed and +11 W m⁻² in wind power density (WPD)) and capture the shape of the wind speed distributions and a significant proportion of the interannual variability. The 80 m wind map indicates from good to moderate wind resources, suitable for determining priority areas for a detailed wind measurement program in Trinidad and Tobago. The proposed SDD methodology is applicable to other regions worldwide beyond low-latitude tropical islands. Full article

(1) Background: This study was conducted in the small island developing state of Barbados, which has dubiously earned the title of “amputation capital of the world”, to understand perspectives of persons living with diabetic foot ulceration. (2) Methods: An exploratory multi-lens approach was used (focus groups; dyads; and triads) to gather indigenous Afro-Caribbean perspectives of living with diabetic foot ulceration that may be obscured by using a single method. (3) Results: Findings in this group highlighted the necessity of creating culturally sensitive education tools, as well as understanding how mistrust of local health systems may play a role in decisions to delay seeking health services despite ease of access with no cost at point of care. Problematic historical relationships with health systems among Afro-Caribbean people, for whom oral traditions motivate preference for traditional medicines instead of Western/colonial treatments from North America or Europe, may be deeply entrenched in this population and contribute to health beliefs and behaviors. (4) Conclusions: This paper addresses the gap in the literature regarding the use of qualitative methodologies to explore the beliefs of Afro-Caribbean people within their native context to inform design of culturally responsive self-education programs. Full article

The larger benthic foraminifera is a group of marine protists harbouring symbiotic algae, that are geographically confined to shallow tropical and subtropical waters, often associated with coral reefs. The resulting controls on availability of habitat and rates of dispersion make these foraminifers, particularly the genus Amphistegina, useful proxies in the study of invasive marine biota, transported through hull fouling and ballast water contamination in modern commercial shipping. However, there is limited information on the importance of these dispersal mechanisms for foraminifers in the Pre-Industrial Era (pre-1850) for the Atlantic and Caribbean region. This paper examines possible constraints and vectors controlling the invasion of warm-water taxa from the Indo-Pacific region to the Atlantic and Caribbean region. Heterostegina depressa, first described from St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic, provides a test case. The paper postulates that invasions through natural range expansion or ocean currents were unlikely along the possible available routes and hypothesises that anthropogenic vectors, particularly sailing ships, were the most likely means of transport. It concludes that the invasion of the Atlantic by H. depressa was accomplished within the Little Ice Age (1350–1850 C.E.), during the period between the start of Portuguese marine trade with east Africa in 1497 and the first description of H. depressa in 1826. This hypothesis is likely applicable to other foraminifers and other biota currently resident in the Atlantic and Caribbean region. The model presented provides well-defined parameters that can be tested using methods such as isotopic dating of foraminiferal assemblages in cores and genetic indices of similarity of geographic populations. Full article

The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) presents heterogeneous environments in a karstic landscape that has been formed from permeable sedimentary rocks dating from the Cretaceous period. Its aquifers now face significant pressure from tourism, agriculture, soil use changes and population growth. Aquifer delimitation typically relies on environmental and socioeconomic criteria, overlooking the subterranean fauna. Stygobiotic crustaceans are highly diverse in the YP’s subterranean karstic systems, expressing adaptations to extreme environments while often also displaying the primitive morphology of evolutionary relics. With distributions restricted to specific environments, they are potential markers of water reserves. A literature review recovered records of 75 species of crustaceans from 132 subterranean systems in the YP, together with geomorphological, hydrological, hydrogeochemical and historical precipitation data. Fourteen UPGMA clusters were informative for mapping species composition, whereby the “Ring of Cenotes”, “Caribbean Cave” and “Cozumel Island” regions were delineated as consolidated aquifers. These aquifers are distinguished by abiotic factors as well: freshwater species dominate the Ring of Cenotes, while marine-affinity species characterize the Caribbean Cave and Cozumel Island aquifers. Stygobiotic crustaceans, being linked to geologically ancient water reserves and having a restricted distribution, offer a complementary tool for aquifer delimitation. Their presence suggests long-term and stable water availability. The use of these unique organisms for integrative aquifer delimitation can provide a way to improve the monitoring networks of regional aquifers. Full article

Since 2011, countries across the tropical Atlantic have experienced severe influxes of the seaweed species Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans (henceforth, “sargassum”), with nearshore and onshore ecological, economic and social impacts locally and regionally. Not all affected countries have had the same response to this emergent environmental challenge. Here, we explore the first ten years of policies produced in response to sargassum influx risk across islands in the Wider Caribbean Region, considering the variation in form, content and aim of sargassum adaptation policies. This assessment of the variation in Caribbean adaptation policies allows lessons to be identified for rapid adaptation to emergent environmental challenges. We find that several countries have no national policy for sargassum adaptation, and many subnational island jurisdictions have no island-specific policies. Whilst there is increasing anecdotal evidence of private and local adaptations taking place to address sargassum influx events, there remains significant scope for government leadership and resource support in adapting to this emergent threat. The lesson is that private adaptations to emergent threats may be quicker to develop and execute than policy adaptation, but longer-term, larger-scale adaptations depend on evidence-based, widely supported government policies with clear avenues of funding. Full article

Atmospheric aerosols significantly impact air quality, human health, and regional climate, with regions like the Caribbean Basin affected by various aerosol types, including marine, anthropogenic, and desert dust particles. This study utilizes Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) to analyze more than a decade of Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data (2007–2023) from four Caribbean islands: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. We examined sixteen physical parameters, including Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), and Volume Particle Size Distribution (VPSD), to identify distinct aerosol regimes and groups of daily measurements displaying similar aerosol optical properties. The originality of this work lies in the significant number of parameters considered to achieve a classification free of arbitrary orientation. The clustering method identified specific periods and aerosol characteristics, revealing seasonal patterns of background marine aerosols and Saharan dust events. By referring to existing research and using analysis tools such as VPSD and AE versus AOD representation, we aimed to define value ranges of physical parameters attributable to marine, dust, and mixed aerosols in the Caribbean region. The results underscore the diversity of aerosol sources and their seasonal variations across the Caribbean, providing critical insights for improving regional air quality management. This classification approach integrates comprehensive aerosol properties and is reinforced by the analysis of atmospheric circulation using the HYSPLIT model. These findings not only advance the characterization of aerosol regimes but also contribute to sustainable air quality management practices by providing actionable data to mitigate the adverse health and environmental impacts of aerosols. Full article

To date, limited information is available on herpesviruses in bats from the Caribbean region. We report here high detection rates (24.24%, n = 66) of herpesviruses in oral samples from apparently healthy bats (Ardops nichollsi (75%, 9/12) and Molossus molossus (28%, 7/25)) on the Lesser Antillean Island of St. Kitts. Based on analysis of partial DNA polymerase (DPOL) sequences (~225 amino acid (aa) residues), we identified two distinct groups of herpesviruses (BO-I and -II) that were unique to A. nichollsi and M. molossus, respectively. Within the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae, the BO-I DPOL sequences shared low deduced aa identities (<70%) with other herpesviruses, and phylogenetically, they formed a distinct cluster, representing a putative novel betaherpesvirus. The BO-II DPOL sequences were closely related to a putative novel betaherpesvirus from a M. molossus in Lesser Antillean Island of Martinique, indicating possible transmission of herpesviruses by bat movement between the Caribbean Islands. Phylogenetically, the BO-I and -II betaherpesviruses exhibited species-specific (A. nichollsi and M. molossus, respectively) as well as family-specific (Phyllostomidae and Molossidae, respectively) clustering patterns, corroborating the hypothesis on host specificity of betaherpesviruses. Interestingly, a single M. molossus betaherpesvirus strain clustered with the A. nichollsi betaherpesviruses, indicating possible interspecies transmission of herpesviruses between Phyllostomidae and Molossidae. To our knowledge, this is the first report on detection of herpesviruses from Antillean tree bats (A. nichollsi), expanding the host range of betaherpesviruses. Taken together, the present study identified putative novel betaherpesviruses that might be unique to chiropteran species (A. nichollsi and M. molossus), indicating virus–host coevolution, and provided evidence for interspecies transmission of betaherpesviruses between chiropteran families. Full article

Since 2011, Caribbean territories have experienced massive and repeated sargassum seaweed inundations. Once on shore, sargassum degradation through anaerobic metabolism elicits the release of many noxious molecules, including hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and ammonia (NH₃). H₂S has been long recognized as a malodorous and highly toxic gas, while chronic exposure has not been extensively explored. Our objective was to assess whether pregnant women exposed to sargassum emissions would be more prone to developing hypertensive disorders compared to unexposed women. We conducted a retrospective study including 3020 pregnant women at the Obstetrics Department of the University Hospital of Martinique between 25 January 2016 and 31 July 2020. Exposure was defined as a distance of less than 2 km between the residence/workplace of the women and the sargassum strandings. Multivariate regression retained age, body mass index, sickle cell disease, primipaternity, gestational diabetes and sargassum emissions exposure as independent predictors of hypertensive events in pregnant women. Jointly with previous studies from our group, this study highlights the deleterious effects of sargassum emissions on human health in individuals chronically exposed to low to moderate H₂S concentrations. Full article

Tropical cyclones (TCs) significantly impact the Caribbean Lesser Antilles, often causing severe wind and water damage. Traditional flood hazard assessments simplify TC rainfall as single-peak, short-duration events tied to specific return periods, overlooking the spatial–temporal variability in rainfall that TCs introduce. To address this limitation, a new user-friendly tool incorporates spatial–temporal rainfall variability into TC-related flood hazard assessments. The tool utilizes satellite precipitation data to break down TC-associated rainfall into distinct pathways/scenarios, mapping them to ground locations and linking them to specific sections of the storm’s rainfall footprint. This approach demonstrates how different areas can be affected differently by the same TC. In this study, we apply the tool to evaluate rainfall patterns and flood hazards in St. George’s, Grenada, during Hurricane Beryl in 2024. The scenario representing the 75th quantile in Spatial Region 2 (S2-Q_0.75) closely matched the actual rainfall observed in the study area. By generating multiple hazard maps based on various rainfall scenarios, the tool provides decision-makers with valuable insights into the multifaced flood hazard risks posed by a single TC. Ultimately, island communities can enhance their early warning and mitigation strategies for TC impacts. Full article

When Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico in September, 2017, it devastated the island’s critical infrastructures, including the well-documented total loss of electric power systems. The strong interdependencies or associations among critical infrastructures in modern society meant that the failure of power systems propagated to and exacerbated the failure of other infrastructure systems. Moreover, these associations impact systems recovery just as they impact system failure. This study is a follow-up of previous research by the first author on Hurricane Maria. In this research authors extracted and quantified the recovery associations of Hurricane Fiona (September 2022) made landfall in Puerto Rico and inflicted considerable damage to its critical infrastructures. The recovery efforts following the disaster provided an opportunity to follow up on the previous research and examine the recovery associations. Significant money and efforts have gone into upgrading the infrastructures of Puerto Rico to make them more resilient to natural disasters such as hurricanes or tropical storms following Hurricane Maria. This paper explores the new recovery resiliency characteristics of Puerto Rico’s critical infrastructure systems (CISs) that the recovery efforts following Hurricane Fiona illustrate. This research shows that the power systems and other CISs of Puerto Rico are much more resilient when compared to their state of resiliency in 2017. Moreover, examining the recovery interdependencies reveals that some of the CISs are strongly dependent on power systems recovery. Outcomes of this study suggest that CIS relationships based on recovery data from Puerto Rico, are transferable to similar disaster-prone areas such as the Caribbean islands or other island nations, as they have similar characteristics and challenges. Full article