Caribbean Research Articles

Growth and Productivity of Coffea arabica var. Esperanza L4A5 in Different Agroforestry Systems in the Caribbean Region of Costa Rica

This study focused on evaluating the growth and productivity of Coffea arabica var. Esperanza L4A5 in different agroforestry systems in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, a non-traditional area for coffee cultivation due to its low altitude and challenging climatic conditions. Three tree coverages were investigated, in combination with two types of differentiated fertilization (physical and chemical), comparing the results with full sun coffee plots as a control: (1) Albizia saman, (2) Hymenaea courbaril + Erythrina poeppigiana, and (3) Anacardium excelsum + Erythrina poeppigiana. The results showed that tree associations significantly reduced the mortality of coffee plants and increased both the height and mature cherry production compared to full sun treatments. In particular, the tree coverages associated with chemical and physical fertilization achieved the highest growth and production rates, with A. excelsum + E. poeppigiana and H. courbaril + E. poeppigiana standing out with maximum mature cherry productions of 3.35 t/ha and 3.28 t/ha, respectively. Growth analysis revealed that rapid initial growth, especially under chemical fertilization, is crucial for maximizing productivity, although a rapid slowdown in growth was also observed after reaching the peak. These findings underscore the importance of combining tree coverages with appropriate fertilization strategies to optimize coffee production in agroforestry systems, particularly in low-altitude areas like the Costa Rican Caribbean. This study concludes that agroforestry systems not only improve the resilience of coffee crops to adverse environmental conditions but can also be a viable strategy for increasing productivity in non-conventional regions. This suggests the need for further research to assess the long-term impacts on soil health, biodiversity, and the economic viability of these systems.

A CONTEXTUALIZED ARCHAEOLOGICAL PENDANT TO NEPHRITIC JADE IN THE AMAZON: A POSSIBLE LINK TO CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

“Green stone” ornaments from archaeological sites, also known as Muiraquitã, typically a frog-shaped pendant, found throughout Amazonia and the Caribbean, have been known since the 19th century; and were believed to have been carved in jade, an Amazonia exotic raw material supposed to have come from East Asia. The knowledge of the provenience and production of these artifacts is crucial for testing and improving explanatory models on the movement of people and artifacts, as well as on the complexity and entanglement of social networks’ interactions. It was only in the 2000s that Lima da Costa and colleagues were able to show that muiraquitã artifacts were composed by different minerals and the ones closest to jade were tremolite and/or tremolite-actinolite, that are found in the Amazon region. Despite advances in physical/chemistry characterizations of the “Green stone” ornaments, the vast majority have been on artifacts without any archaeological context. We present here the analysis of a pendant excavated from Monte Dourado 1 archaeological site, located in northwest of Pará state, northern Amazonia, near the border with French Guiana and Suriname. The pendant, found within a funerary context, associated with Koriabo ceramics and anthropogenic dark earth, is constituted by nephritic jade or tremolite-type jade; raw material that do occur in the Amazon region. The lack of other lithic artifacts usually associated with the chaîne opératoire for the manufacture of pedants might be an indication that these ornaments were being produced potentially in the Caribbean region. The detailed physical/chemistry characterization of archaeologically contextualized “Green stone” ornaments is crucial for creating a benchmark for these types of artifacts in order to better understand and improve our knowledge about the historical paths taken by pre-colonial societies in the Amazon e Caribbean regions.

Phylogeny of the Neotropical Hypoctonine Whip-Scorpions (Thelyphonida, Thelyphonidae), with Descriptions of Two New Genera and Species.

Thelyphonida Blanchard, 1852, also known as vinegaroons or whip-scorpions, is a small arachnid order with 140 described species contained in a single family, Thelyphonidae Lucas, 1835. Despite being conspicuous and widely distributed across the tropics and subtropics on four continents, knowledge of the order has been slow to advance. Hypoctoninae Pocock, 1899, one of four subfamilies currently recognized and one of two represented in the New World, comprises five genera. Since its inception, Thelyphonellus Pocock, 1894 has remained the only hypoctonine genus occurring in South America, with only four species described prior to the present contribution. The first detailed morphological study and phylogenetic analysis of Thelyphonellus is presented herein. The morphological phylogenetic analysis-the first for Thelyphonida-includes all except one of the previously described species of Thelyphonellus in addition to two new species described herein; the species of Ravilops Víquez and Armas, 2005 (from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola); and the monotypic Old World genus Etienneus Heurtault, 1984 (from West Africa) scored for 45 morphological characters. A single, most parsimonious phylogenetic hypothesis revealed that Thelyphonellus is paraphyletic with respect to Ravilops. The New World Hypoctoninae comprises four clades with disjunct distributions and well supported by a combination of morphological characteristics, on the basis of which four genera, two of which are new, are recognized: Ravilops, with two species, endemic to Hispaniola; Thelyphonellus, herein restricted to Thelyphonellus amazonicus (Butler, 1872) and Thelyphonellus ruschii Weygoldt, 1979, occurring in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil; Wounaan, gen. n., containing Wounaan vanegasae (Giupponi and Vasconcelos, 2008), comb. n. and Wounaan yarigui, sp. n. from Colombia; and Yekuana, gen. n., containing Yekuana venezolensis (Haupt, 2009), comb. n. and Yekuana wanadi, sp. n. from Venezuela. The two new species are described and illustrated. A key to the identification of the Neotropical genera of Hypoctoninae and a map plotting the known distribution of its species are also presented.

Wars of Words: Early Modern Piracy in the Caribbean

War requires the collision of two or more forces. It implies the ideological invention of an “enemy.” The changing faces of that enemy are fueled by entrenched or emergent powers bent upon spreading their hegemonic supremacy and legitimate order over material and conceptual spaces. In this dynamic, the “pirate” enters the stage as the classical hostis humani generis (“enemy of humankind”). However, the classification and identity of the pirate are both fluid and contingent, informing discourses of warfare and challenging the limits of categories related to order and legitimacy. The following three-part essay traces the correlation between war and the making and remaking of “the pirate” and how the figure of the pirate was fundamental to the establishment of specific hegemonies while examining the relationship between the varying discourses of the enemy and the concept of legitimate wars in the early modern period. The first part studies the legal and political debates around the concepts of “just war,” “just enemy,” and “sovereignty” in the context of the Anglo-Spanish War (c1586-1604). The second section explores the aftermath of said war that contributed to the development of a new nomenclature of piracy in the Caribbean region and the establishment of sedentary and commercial societies living at the margins of European wars. Moving to the 17th and 18th centuries, the third part introduces the figure of Miguel Enríquez, a Caribbean-born black corsair, a character located at the intersection of war and commerce, away from previous paradigms of “just war” and “just enemy.”

Miryam de Flores: The Woman of the Port. The Legacy of a Female TV Auteur From the Colombian Caribbean Region

This article highlights the contribution made by writer/director Miryam de Flores (1938–2008) to the emerging television industry in the Colombian Caribbean Region and analyses her vision as a female auteur in this economic, social and cultural context. Miryam de Flores was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and from a young age she worked in the media industry. In 1984, the Colombian government authorised the creation of regional television channels throughout the country. In this context, Telecaribe was founded in 1986, a television channel that covers the seven territorial entities of the Colombian Caribbean Region. In Telecaribe’s early years, Miryam de Flores played a leading role writing/directing two sitcoms, a children’s news programme, a telenovela, and a cultural magazine, among other productions. Particularly, as will be analyzed in this article, her telenovela “La Mujer del Puerto” (1990–1992) (The Woman of the Port) became a narrative with a female gaze and an approach connected to the cultural identity of the Colombian Caribbean region. Miryam de Flores played a key role in setting the pillars of Telecaribe and providing a female gaze to the productions developed in this emerging television channel.

Skink systematics inside out: Comparative cranial osteology of the New World Mabuyinae.

The Mabuyinae subfamily exhibits remarkable diversity, encompassing 26 genera and 236 currently recognized species. Traditionally, the entire range of the group was attributed to the single genus Mabuya, which had a wide distribution along tropical regions of the Planet. In recent studies, phylogenetic hypotheses based on molecular data have identified four major groups, which have been further divided into geographically distinct clades. At least two phylogenetically distinct lineages of Mabuyinae are distributed in the Neotropical Region: Trachylepis atlantica and the remaining 16 genera within the Mabuyinae clade from the mainland and the Caribbean islands. Our understanding of Mabuyinae osteology is still quite limited, particularly concerning interspecific variation. This lack of information hinders our ability to make strong contributions to the phylogenetic relationships within this group or even to confirm the existence of certain new taxa considering their relatively conserved external morphology. This work provides a comprehensive anatomical reference for the adult skull of Neotropical Mabuyinae lizards, highlighting osteological features that might be useful for delimiting each genus. This descriptive guide includes illustrations and employs multiple techniques, such as dry preparation, clearing and staining, and high-resolution computerized microtomography. Our results provide additional diagnostic characteristics that include specific cranial bone arrangements, dental patterns, and cranial adaptations, such as dorsoventral head flattening, and their functional implications for bite force and cranial biomechanics. This study reinforces the importance of cranial morphology in understanding the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trajectories of New World Mabuyinae lizards, advocating for broader morphological sampling to enrich our understanding of these diverse reptiles.

An Overview of Caribbean and African Literary Theories

As it is believed, Africa is the cradle of humankind, where humans also left for other parts of the world during the slave trade and also during World War I and II. At the abolition of the slave trade, many African descendants settled where they could call home, like in the Caribbean islands and other parts of the world, as a result of the ancestral and cultural attachment between Africa and the places where the descendants of the slaves where we could see some similarities in their ways of life. We can see these facts also translate into the African and Caribbean writers' literary works, among other spheres of life. The analyses show that while both literatures share common concerns related to colonial legacy and the quest for identity, they are distinguished by unique historical and socio-political contexts that influence their narrative perspectives. For example, African literature tends to focus more on the effects of colonization and decolonization on the African continent, while Caribbean literature often emphasizes the dynamics of the diaspora and the multiple facets of Caribbean identity. In addition, this study examines the use of language and literary techniques specific to each region, as well as the contributions of major literary figures such as aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor, Monique Ilboudo, Werewe Liking, Wole Soyinka, Maryse Condé and many others. Finally, this comparison offers a deeper understanding of the richness and diversity of postcolonial literature while highlighting the unique voices and shared experiences of African and Caribbean writers.

Maneuvering Colonial and Postcolonial Resistances with Poetry: A Comparative Study of Nazrul and Walcott

This article aims to place poems by Kazi Nazrul Islam of Bangla literature in a comparative study with those by the Caribbean poet Derek Walcott. Nazrul wrote when his country India was under British colonial rule and Walcott wrote when his Caribbean region was under British colonialism and in postcolonial period. The study becomes inevitable against a backdrop where comparative studies of Nazrul have been conducted with American and European authors who lack similar colonial backgrounds. Additionally, when Nazrul is compared with non-American and non-European authors, his Islamic identity, which transforms into his all-embracing humanity, is often omitted or sidelined. Thus, when poems by Nazrul and those by Walcott are in a comparative study, the two poets from two different marginalized nations exhibit conspicuous affinities in their poetic resistances. This is how this paper looks forward to doing a comparative study of the poems by Nazrul and those by Walcott by adopting the methods of Traditional Literary Criticism and a new comparative study as shaped by Zepetnek. The results which the study yields are that the poets maneuver identical poetic resistances by addressing the nation’s unity, revival of history, composition of unique literature, concern for the working-class people, and anti-colonial struggle. The results of the research may contribute to raising cultural awareness among marginalized nations about resisting aggression.

Foreign Policy and the Performance of Collective State Recognition Amidst Genocide

This article examines the recent wave of recognition of Palestine by two distinct groups of states: Caribbean nations (Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago) and Western European countries (Ireland, Norway, and Spain). It makes theoretical and empirical contributions, highlighting the role of performance and presentation in state recognition politics. It emphasizes the creative aspect of recognition by examining how the manner of performing, narrating and presenting recognition to the world influences other states, encouraging them to adopt similar recognition policies. The analysis reveals a predominant focus on political, security and geopolitical considerations, underscoring the inherently political nature of state recognition. The article highlights the significance of the performance and presentation of recognition to the broader public, generating added value to induce other states to follow suit. The article emphasizes the crucial role of contextual factors in informing the decision-making process of recognizing new states. It identifies two interconnected aspects driving the justification for recognizing Palestine: the foreign policy ambitions of the recognizing states and the imperative of maintaining consistency in their diplomatic stances. Recognition remains a symbolic act whose power and effect are deeply contingent and uncertain in the absence of the recognized entity’s facts of sovereignty.

From colonial subjects to Black nations: racializing the Caribbean within global Blackness

ABSTRACT This article traces how Caribbean nations become Black by virtue of their relationship to colonialism, capitalism and their linkages with race. First, it outlines how colonization linked race, labour and Blackness, and draws connections to the racialization of Caribbean nations under neoliberalism. Second, it argues for how those processes in turn generate racial tropes that mark certain nations as Black. Using Haiti and Jamaica in comparison, this article suggests that Caribbean nations and their migrants become racialized as Black in ways that both insert them within the U.S. racial hierarchy and situates them within a larger context of global Blackness.

Abstract C178: Uptake of prostate cancer screening services in men living with HIV in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract Background: Compared to other groups, Black men have a higher incidence and mortality of prostate cancer (PCa). Worldwide, the Caribbean region has one of the highest age-standardized PCa incidences with 76 cases per 100,000 population per year. PCa incidence in predominantly Afro-Caribbean countries ranges from 160 in Barbados to 304 men diagnosed per 100,000 in Jamaica. In Tobago, 10% of adult men over 40yrs were found to be diagnosed with PCa. Additionally, men living with HIV (MLWH) are more susceptible and vulnerable to cancer due to their immune-compromised status. Thus, in the Caribbean, there is a pressing need for clinic-based PCa screening in MLWH. Objective: A preliminary quality improvement evaluation of a prostate cancer screening (PSA test) program targeting MLWH in Trinidad and Tobago from January 2019 to May 2024. Methodology: The electronic health information system from a large clinic was used to abstract prostate cancer screening (PSA) delivery. No personal identifiers were collected from the system to protect the privacy of individuals and abide by Trinidad and Tobago’s data protection law. According to NCCN guidelines, since most of our patients were Afro-Caribbean or Mixed, this study treated all MLWH aged < 75yrs as men with high risk and used 3 ng/mL as the threshold; the threshold was 4 ng/mL for MLWH >75yrs. Evaluation of quality improvement of interventions approach was applied. Descriptive analyses were conducted using SPSS. Results: Between January 2019 and May 2024, a total of 2,442 MLWH were eligible to participate in the PSA screening clinic. The average age was 54.0 (age range: 40- 90). 62.9% were Afro-Caribbean, 17.6% were Mixed, 7.4% were East Indian/Indian, and 0.6% were Caucasian. 45.6% of MLWH completed at least secondary education. 26.2% reported having steady partners and 82.5% reported their sexual orientation was heterosexual. Among all MLWH who attended the clinic, 2,127 (87.1%) were referred for PSA tests and 1,640 (77%) MLWH received their PSA tests. For PSA results collected from participants aged 40-75, 86.6% were ≤ 3 ng/mL and 13.4% were > 3 ng/mL. Additionally, among PSA results of participants aged over 75, 51.9% were < 4 ng/mL and 48.1% were ≥ 4 ng/mL. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in the Caribbean region. Among MLWH, PSA screening rate was relatively high at 77%. Not too surprising, the PSA results showed 13% of men under 75 and almost 50% of men over 75 had elevated PSAs requiring confirmatory screening and follow-up. Hence, we conclude that a whole-person care approach that includes cancer prevention with prostate cancer screening can be effective. We thus recommend an implementation and dissemination science approach to create strategies for adopting, implementing, sustaining, and disseminating clinic-based prostate cancer-related prevention to reduce related morbidity and mortality among MLWH within the Caribbean and the Americas. Citation Format: Jonathan Edwards, Gaole Song, Gregory Boyce, Selena Todd, Sharon Soyer, Tessa Galindo, Kimlin Ashing, Jeffrey Edwards. Uptake of prostate cancer screening services in men living with HIV in Trinidad and Tobago [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C178.

Abstract B113: Cervical cancer stigma in the Caribbean: Implications for prevention

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is still a major threat in the Caribbean region. Stigma may be a contributor to low screening and HPV vaccination practices, but it has been understudied in the region. The study aims to assess stigma among a Caribbean non- patient population in Jamaica, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 1207 participants was conducted using a trans-created Cancer Stigma Scale for the Caribbean context and additional measures on cervical cancer and HPV vaccine knowledge and beliefs were added. Cancer stigma was assessed across six sub-domains Severity, Personal Responsibility, Awkwardness, Avoidance, Policy Opposition and Financial Discrimination. The data were collected online between October 2022 and March 2023. Descriptive statistics for characteristics of socio- demographic and variables associated with cancer stigma were run. ANOVA tests compared factor scores with multi categorised variables using SPSS. Results: Levels of cancer stigma were low but varied across the six domains with the severity domain showing high scores (40.1%-77.4%). The majority of the participants disagreed with banks refusing to give loans to people with cancer (85.1%). Under policy opposition (93.0%) agreed that more government funding should be spent on cancer care and treatment. Social rejection was significantly higher in Grenada when compared to both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. More than a third of the participants (35.6%) agreed that the fear of family reaction and rejection may discourage women from getting a further diagnosis after an abnormal Pap smear. Younger participants showed less stigma than older participants. Those aged 18-25 also differed from those aged 26-35 and 56-65 for the factors of Policy Opposition and Severity respectively. In all cases the older age group had higher mean scores. Social impact factors of shame and social rejection are predictors of cancer stigma with p < 0.001 and p = 0.050 respectively. Married/cohabiting individuals had more negative responses than divorced persons across all three factors of Shame, Social Rejection and Social Isolation. The majority of our participants were female 81.4% and fell between the ages of 18-35 years (56.8%). Discussion: Cancer stigma is understudied in the Americas. Our results show that cancer stigma varies by several important factors including stigma domain, and participant demographics e.g. age and gender. The findings indicate that interventions and educational efforts targeting cancer stigma ought to be included in cancer prevention and control efforts. Targeted evidenced-based strategies for reducing stigma include featuring cancer survivors especially prominent survivors like celebrities, and employing mass media public health campaigns. A reduction in cancer stigma may lead to increased prevention, screening, and treatment of cervical cancer. Citation Format: Diadrey-Anne Sealy, Kamilah Thomas- Purcell, Althea Bailey, Gaole Song, Kimlin Ashing. Cervical cancer stigma in the Caribbean: Implications for prevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B113.

Addressing the climate adaptation tracking gap: an assessment method and its application to the Caribbean region

This article addresses the climate adaptation tracking gap. Indeed, we still ignore the intensity, nature, spatial distribution, effectiveness, and recent evolution of adaptation efforts at the national, regional, and global scales. We propose a web-based replicable assessment method using key variables to document adaptation efforts: country/territory, location, goal, implementation date, type of action, holder, funding source. Applying it to the Caribbean region, we analyzed 100 coastal adaptation actions. This studies the method while also highlighting the difficulties faced to track adaptation. We found that coastal adaptation efforts are substantial and increasing in the Caribbean, revealing the use of diversified adaptation actions; prevalence of hard protection (51%); increase use of Nature-based Solutions (22%); limited use of retreat (6%); and accommodation (2%). Combined actions (17%) increased over time, due to the failure of single actions and need to find tradeoffs between human asset protection encouraging hard protection and the maintenance of attractive tourist beaches encouraging beach nourishment. Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago fall under the engineering-based “one-size-fits-all” adaptation model, whereas Jamaica and Barbados experiment diversified options and combinations of options. Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados are particularly active in taking adaptation action, while most dependent islands and sub-national island jurisdictions have no adaptation action reported. Considering the advantages and limitations of a web-based method compared to a field-based approach, we recommend the combined use of these two complementary approaches to support adaptation tracking and help structuring communities of practice to the benefits of decision-makers and practitioners and scholars.

HTLV-1/2 infection in Italy: a narrative review of epidemiological studies.

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was first described in 1980. It is spread in highly endemic regions in the world, such as the Southwestern part of Japan, sub-Saharan Africa and South America, Caribbean, Middle East, and Australo-Melanesia regions. HTLV-1 causes adult T cell leukemia and is associated with many inflammatory conditions, most notably HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropic spastic paraparesis. HTLV-2, first isolated in 1982, was recognized as a common infection in intravenous drug users, but a clear association with disease remains elusive. The first estimate of HTLV-1-positive individuals worldwide, in 1993, was around 10-20 millions. Due to the lack of global population-based prevalence studies, this is considered an underestimate at the moment. Furthermore, HTLV-1 prevalence in Europe is impacted by changing migration flows. Particularly, no data on HTLV-1 prevalence in the general population in Italy are available. Here, we report a systematic literature review of studies conducted in Italy on HTLV-1/2 from 1980 to 2023. Based on the criteria we adopted a total of 426 publications were found (64 reviews, 99 epidemiological, and 263 translational studies). The contents of some representative publications are summarized and discussed. Moreover, an approximate estimation of about 26,000 HTLV-1 positive foreigners living in Italy was obtained from updated data of foreigners from each single country officially registered as resident in Italy and from data on HTLV-1 prevalence among the general population in the corresponding countries.

Enhanced seagull optimization for enhanced accuracy in CUDA-accelerated Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation neural networks for earthquake forecasting

Hyperparameter tuning is crucial for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of artificial neural networks (ANNs). This study presents an optimization of the Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation neural network (LM-BPNN) by integrating an improved seagull optimization algorithm (ISOA). The proposed ISOA-LM-BPNN model is designed to forecast earthquakes in the Caribbean region. The study further explores the impact of data and model parallelism, revealing that hybrid parallelism effectively mitigates the limitations of both. This leads to substantial gains in throughput and overall performance. To address computational demands, this model leverages the compute unified device architecture (CUDA) framework, enabling hybrid parallelism on graphics processing units (GPUs). This approach significantly enhances the model’s computational speed. The experimental results demonstrate that the ISOA-LM-BPNN model achieves a 20% improvement in accuracy compared to four baseline algorithms across three diverse datasets. The integration of ISOA with LM-BPNN refines the neural network’s hyperparameters, leading to more precise earthquake predictions. Additionally, the model’s computational efficiency is evidenced by a 56% speed increase when utilizing a single GPU, and an even greater acceleration with dual GPUs connected via NVLink compared to traditional CPU-based computations. The findings underscore the potential of ISOA-LM-BPNN as a robust tool for earthquake forecasting, combining high accuracy with enhanced computational speed, making it suitable for real-time applications in seismic monitoring and early warning systems.

Development of Meaningful Learning from Family-School Integration

The research shows the results of a study carried out on family-school integration as a foundation for meaningful learning in secondary basic education students, belonging to the official sector in the Colombian Caribbean region. The type of research was descriptive, with a deductive rationalist approach and a mixed or complementary paradigm. The sample was made up of sixty-four (64) students in their final year of high school and twenty-four (24) parents and/or guardians, to whom a survey was applied, eleven (11) teachers and one (1) director of the educational institution, consulted through an interview. Once the information was obtained, the triangulation technique was used to cross-reference the opinions, perceptions and beliefs of the actors involved in the comprehensive training of the students. As a result, it was possible to characterize the factors that favor family-school integration, including emotionality, participation, communication, attention and motivation of parents in accompanying their children's academic activities. For their part, schools must organize spaces that promote integration relationships, which represents an alternative to face the dilemmas of the educational context and promote the development of meaningful learning.

Reef fish biodiversity and occurrence of endangered sharks within a small marine protected area off Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean

AbstractMarine protected areas (MPAs) are common conservation tools supporting the protection of threatened marine fishes, such as sharks. However, the creation of shark MPAs has been less common in the Greater Caribbean region despite a growing need and opportunity. In this study, we evaluated the occurrence of shark and reef fish biodiversity off Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean, with a particular emphasis on endangered shark presence within the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area (MPA). We utilized baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs) to gather non-invasive data on the abundance and diversity of reef fish and shark species inside and outside the local MPA. Generalized linear models (GLMs) revealed no significant effect of protection status on the presence of the endangered Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi). However, we found a significant influence of depth on shark occurrence, as well as an effect of habitat type on shark and reef fish biodiversity, with reef habitats showing the greatest significance. These results suggest that the effect of small coastal MPAs on bolstering local endangered species conservation in the Dutch Caribbean is likely to vary according to habitat features and how those species utilize those habitats across various life stages. These findings have implications for adaptive MPA management, which should be informed by the ecology and habitat preferences of target species to achieve maximum benefits for biodiversity conservation.

Estimated Deaths Averted in Adults by COVID-19 Vaccination in Select Latin American and Caribbean Countries.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on global health, with millions of lives lost worldwide. Vaccination has emerged as a crucial strategy in mitigating the impact of the disease. This study aims to estimate the number of deaths averted through vaccination in Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) during the first year and a half of vaccination rollout (January 2021-May 2022). Publicly available data on COVID-19 deaths and vaccination rates were used to estimate the total number of deaths averted via vaccination in LAC. Using estimates for number of deaths, number of vaccinated, and vaccine effectiveness, a counterfactual estimated number of deaths observed without vaccination was calculated. Vaccine effectiveness estimates were obtained from published studies. The analysis focused on 17 countries in LAC and considered adults aged 18 years and older. After accounting for underreporting, the analysis estimated that >1.49 million deaths were caused by COVID-19 in the selected countries during the study period. Without vaccination, the model estimated that between 2.10 and 4.11 million COVID-19 deaths would have occurred. Consequently, vaccination efforts resulted in ∼610 000 to 2.61 million deaths averted. This study represents the first large-scale, multicenter estimate of population-level vaccine impact on COVID-19 mortality in LAC. The findings underscore the substantial impact of timely and widespread vaccination in averting COVID-19 deaths. These results provide crucial support for vaccination programs aimed at combating epidemic infectious diseases in the region and future pandemics.

Impact of climate change on the geographical distribution of ticks of public health significance in Colombia: Amblyomma ovale (Ixodida: Ixodidae), the Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) complex and the Amblyomma cajennense (Ixodida: Ixodidae) complex

Abstract Ticks of the Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodida Ixodidae) complex, the Amblyomma cajennense (Ixodida Ixodidae) complex and Amblyomma ovale (Ixodida Ixodidae) are known to transmit various Rickettsia species in Colombia, but their exact distribution is unknown. We built several models based on current climate and projected future climate changes using a maximum entropy approach. A total of 314 records of the A. cajennense complex (65.9%; n = 207), A. ovale (22.9%; n = 72), and the A. maculatum complex (11.1%; n = 35) were obtained. Amblyomma ovale has a current distribution in the Pacific, Caribbean and Andean regions and could be potentially found in the Amazon. Amblyomma maculatum has a current distribution in the Andean and could potentially be found in the Caribbean and Orinoco regions. Amblyomma mixtum can be found near the Caribbean Sea and in the Pacific region, and A. patinoi is likely to be found in the Andean region and the Caribbean. In 2070, it will be possible to find an expansion of A. ovale and A. maculatum and a decrease of A. mixtum and A. patinoi. The variables that best predict the distribution of these species are isothermality (small fluctuations in temperature) and annual precipitation. Amblyomma cajennense s.l and A. ovale, A. cajennese s.l and A. patinoi, as well as A. maculatum and A. patinoi, have an important environmental sympatry. Epidemiological and acarological surveillance is crucial to investigate rickettsiosis caused by R. parkeri in A. ovale regions, by R. rickettsii in A. patinoi and A. mixtum areas, and by R. parkeri s.s in A. maculatum regions.

ASYMMETRY IN <em>THECIDELLINA</em> (BRACHIOPODA) FROM THE PLIOCENE-PLEISTOCENE OF CURAÇAO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES: PHENOTYPIC NOT GENOTYPIC

Shape analysis of a large sample of the thecideid brachiopod Thecidellina from the Pliocene and Pleistocene rocks on the Caribbean island of Curaçao highlights asymmetry within the population. However, the 30 analysed specimens display a lack of a consistent asymmetry. The brachiopods were cemented to substrates by a cicatrix, accommodated by a change in shell structure. The plastic morphology of Thecidellina may have been due to overcrowding and competition for resources on limited substrates.