French Lesser Antilles Research Articles

Current Use of Local Folk Medicine (Rimèd Razyé) in the French Lesser Antilles: Diversity Patterns and Links Between Food and Health

Current Use of Local Folk Medicine (Rimèd Razyé) in the French Lesser Antilles: Diversity Patterns and Links Between Food and Health

A New Versatile Method for the Reconstruction of Scintillator-Based Muon Telescope Events

This paper presents a new method to process the data recorded with muon telescopes. We have developed this processing method for the plastic scintillator-based hodoscopes located around the volcano La Soufri\`ere de Guadeloupe, in the French Lesser Antilles, in order to perform muon radiographies of the lava dome region, strongly impacted by the volcanic hydrothermal activity. Our method relies on particle trajectory reconstruction, performing a fit of the recorded hits in the impacted scintillator bars using a Random Sample Consensus algorithm. This algorithm is specifically built to discriminate outlier points, usually due to noise hits, in the data. Thus, it is expected to significantly improve the signal/noise separation in muon track hits and to obtain higher quality estimates of the particles' incident trajectories in our detectors. The first analysis of the RANSAC-reconstructed events offers promising results in terms of average density maps. To illustrate the performances of this algorithm, we provide angular resolution and reconstruction efficiency estimates using a GEANT4 simulation of a telescope equipped with four detection matrices. In addition, we also show preliminary results from open-sky data recorded with such telescope at La Soufri\`ere de Guadeloupe volcano.

Epidemiology of scorpionism in France: nationwide scorpion exposure

Introduction In France, 57 species of scorpions are described with a limited number of clinical studies. In this article, we report the epidemiology of scorpion sting events in mainland France and its overseas territories based on cases reported to the French poison-control centres (FPCC). Material and method This retrospective multicentre study was conducted with data from FPCC’s files about scorpion stings between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2020. Result Among 975 recorded files, 624 patients were included because they were stung by scorpions native to French territories. Most stings occurred along the Mediterranean coast in summer and indoors (in persons’ homes) during the daytime. The scorpions were identified in 50% of cases. According to signs of envenoming, patients were divided into class III (2 cases; 1%), class II (51 cases; 8%), class I (444 cases; 71%) and asymptomatic stings (127 cases; 20%). Twelve pregnant women were stung and two of them had contractions, which triggered childbirth in one woman. Ten patients had local infections in the first week after the sting. One patient had venous thrombosis 2 days after the sting. Life-threatening scorpions, i.e., Tityus obscurus, Tityus sylvestris and Centruroides pococki, in French territories are limited to French Guiana and Lesser Antilles. Class II envenoming cases are recorded for Buthus occitanus, Euscorpius spp. in mainland France, and Isometrus maculatus in French Guiana, the Lesser Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique) and territories in the Indian Ocean (Mayotte and Réunion Island) and Pacific Ocean (French Polynesia). Only cases of local manifestation was reported for Belisarius xambeui in mainland France. Conclusion Scorpion stings in French territories are frequently on the Mediterranean coast and French Guiana. Life-threatening cases are limited to T. obscurus, T. sylvestris and Centruroides pococki stings in French Guiana and Lesser Antilles.

Bitumen residue on a Late Ceramic Age three-pointer from Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe: Chemical characterization and ligature evidence

Among the most recognizable and enigmatic artefacts found in pre-Columbian archaeological contexts of the Ceramic Age in the Greater and Lesser Antilles is the three-pointer, a triangular shaped object made of various mineral and organic materials. Despite a few ethno-historic mentions and abundant academic speculations, little is known about the social and spiritual dimensions these once animate objects had in the Amerindian Antillean communities. Furthermore, very little can be empirically verified. The wide array of known specimens shows many variations, including the presence/absence of usually poorly preserved traces of black residue, often described as plant tars, resins or gums, or as inorganic bitumen. Well preserved residues of this type have been observed on a three-pointer specimen recently discovered in a Late Ceramic Age context (Troumassoid series, 10th–11th century AD) of the Tourlourous site on the island of Marie-Galante (Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles). They have been physico-chemically characterized as bitumen, and they preserve evidence of a specific tying system. These data raise considerations on two points: the necessity to better document these sometimes tenuous clues of tying and adhesion systems implying bitumen (and other glues), and the need to consider that three-pointers (and other artefacts), while actively used in the mediation between social and spiritual dimensions, also have a practical side which should be addressed in technological terms in order to better understand all their dimensions.

Interacting Pre-Columbian Amerindian Societies and Environments: Insights from Five Millennia of Archaeological Invertebrate Record on the Saint-Martin Island (French Lesser Antilles)

ABSTRACT Archaeological research, conducted on the French part of Saint-Martin, in the Lesser Antilles, documents the history of Amerindian communities on this island from the 4th millennium BC to the 15th century AD. Eight sites, spanning almost completely this sequence, have yielded extensive assemblages of invertebrate remains. Analysis and comparison of these assemblages with contemporaneous settlements from nearby islands reveal trends in the ways Amerindian communities exploited these resources. These results, especially when contrasted with a palaeo-climatic frame recently produced for Saint-Martin, reflect the intricate ways in which anthropic and natural systems interact.

Heat flux-based strategies for the thermal monitoring of sub-fumarolic areas: Examples from Vulcano and La Soufrière de Guadeloupe

Although it is relatively easy to set-up, the monitoring of soil temperature in sub-fumarolic areas is quite rarely used to monitor the evolution of hydrothermal systems. Indeed, measurements are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, in particular daily and seasonal variations of atmospheric temperatures and rainfalls, which can be only partially filtered by the established statistical analysis. In this paper, we develop two innovative processing methods, both based on the computation of the heat flux in the soil. The upward heat flux method (UHF), designed for dry environments, consists in computing both the conductive and convective components of the heat flux between two thermocouples placed vertically. In the cases of wet environments, the excess of total heat method (ETH) allows the integration of rain gauges data in order to correct the heat balance from the superficial cooling effect of the precipitations. The performances of both processing techniques are faced to established methods (temperature gradient and coefficient of determination) on soil temperature time series from two test volcanoes. At La Fossa di Vulcano (Italy), the UHF method undoubtedly detects three thermal crises between 2009 and 2012, enabling to quantify not only the intensity but also the precise timing of the heat flux increase with respect to corresponding geochemical and seismic crises. At La Soufrière de Guadeloupe (French Lesser Antilles), despite large rainfalls dramatically influencing the thermal behavior of the soil, a constant geothermal heat flux is retrieved by the ETH method, confirming the absence of fumarolic crisis during the observation period (February–August 2010). Being quantitative, robust, and usable in almost any context of sub-fumarolic zones, our two heat flux-based methods increase the potential of soil temperature for the monitoring, but also the general interpretation of fumarolic crises together with geochemical and seismological observations. A spreadsheet allowing direct computation of UHF and ETH is provided as supplemental material.

First record of the invasive swimming crab Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne Edwards, 1867) (Crustacea, Portunidae) off Martinique, French Lesser Antilles

First record of the invasive swimming crab Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne Edwards, 1867) (Crustacea, Portunidae) off Martinique, French Lesser Antilles

Notes on some hydroids (Cnidaria) from Martinique, with descriptions of five new species

The present report supplements a series of earlier accounts on the hydrozoan fauna of the French Lesser Antilles, and discusses 16 species of hydroids from Martinique. Of these, five are new to science: Hydractinia promiscua, Halecium plicatum, Dynamena bimorpha, Antennella quaterna and Monostaechas bertoti. The medusoid gonophores of Ralpharia gorgoniaePetersen, 1990 are described in detail. The female gonothecae of Halecium labiatumBillard, 1933, recorded for the second time, are redescribed. Characters of the trophosome and the cnidome composition allowed a reliable identification of Halecium lightbourniCalder, 1991, a species whose previously unknown gonothecae are here described for the first time. A reexamination of the type of Dynamena tropicaStechow, 1926 proved that it is conspecific with D. crisioides Lamouroux, 1824. Sertularia notabilisFraser, 1947 is included in the synonymy of S. hattoriiLeloup, 1940, and arguments for doing so are provided. The so called variety pusillaRitchie, 1910, associated for a long time with Hincksella cylindrica (Bale, 1888), is raised to species, as H. pusilla (Ritchie, 1910), and their distinguishing characters are emphasized. Clytia edentula Gibbons & Ryland, 1991 is found for the second time, extending its known range of distribution.

High clonality in Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis populations of Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles

Since the 1980s, population densities of Acroporidae have dramatically declined in the Caribbean Sea. Quantitative censuses of Acroporidae provide information on the number of colonies (i.e. ramets), but not on the number of genetically distinct individuals (i.e. genets). In this context, the aim of our study was to provide an overview of the genetic status of Acropora populations in Guadeloupe by examining the genotypic richness of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis. Using 14 microsatellite loci, we found extremely low genotypic richness for both species from Caye-à-Dupont reef (i.e. 0.125 for A. palmata and nearly zero for A. cervicornis). Because genetic diversity contributes to the ability of organisms to evolve and adapt to new environmental conditions, our results are alarming in the context of ongoing global warming as long periods of clonal growth without sexual recruitment may lead to the extinction of these populations.

Contribution of multi-method geophysics to the understanding of a high-temperature geothermal province: The Bouillante area (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles)

The Bouillante high-temperature geothermal field (Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles) is located on the west coast of Basse-Terre Island, about 15km from the currently active Soufrière volcano. We have studied the shallow structure of the geothermal zone using a compilation of all available gravity, magnetic and resistivity data, both subaerial and marine, acquired during the last 30years. Geophysical models have been developed based on geological constraints and previous geophysical interpretations. The resistivity distribution from electromagnetic surveys is interpreted in terms of water saturation of rocks, hydrothermal alteration and presence of hydrated minerals. Gravity is used to distinguish and characterize the denser formations from the low density areas. Finally, we are able to differentiate structures which pre- and post-date various recent magnetic inversions using the polarity of the magnetic anomalies. By integrating these results the previous conceptual model for the geothermal province has been improved, with the layering of the geological formations as defined by geophysical parameters now being taken into account, in agreement with the classical scheme of geothermal reservoirs. The shallow resistive layer is explained in terms of recent massive formations. The conductive intermediate layer marks the low density, demagnetized clay cover of the altered geothermal system. The deep resistive layer is associated with dense formations increasing in age with depth, and corresponds to the deep geothermal reservoir. Based on our geophysical data, the geothermal activity could be more developed towards the east and north compared to the previously proposed area. A volcano-structural control seems to affect the internal structure of the province, and consequently the development of geothermal activity. This current work could be used as a basis for future surveys of the Bouillante province in order to improve constraints, and to increase our knowledge of the island's overall evolution.

Preparedness actions towards seismic risk mitigation for the general public in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles: a mid-term appraisal

Abstract. Martinique is a French island in the Lesser Antilles, with a high seismic hazard. In 2006, Martinican stakeholders involved in seismic safety formed the "Réplik" working group ("Aftershock" in French), the first of its kind in this region. This paper addresses a mid-term appraisal of the first seismic awareness campaign organised by Réplik from 2006 to 2011, and how it has modified, or not, local earthquake and tsunami preparedness. Despite efforts from Réplik to assess its efficiency through surveys, a growing gap is noted between the observed awareness and the actual preparedness of the public. As usual, gender, age, educational level, then boredom and saturation contribute to this discrepancy; strong cultural items may also influence the perception of actions. To remain efficient and respond to the public's expectations, Réplik must redirect its actions towards a cultural congruence of information: consideration of religion and local beliefs, comprehensive messages on TV and radio, use of the Creole language, participatory experiences and drills, and a little science. With this, the Réplik stakeholders can hope to increase Martinicans' involvement into the preparedness process, to cope quickly with a strong earthquake and this know-how can be shared with other seismically active islands in the Caribbean.

<p class="SP253977"><span class="SC1657">New additions to the shallow-water hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) </span>of the French Lesser Antilles: Martinique

The present report provides the first general account of the shallow-water hydroids (excluding Eudendriidae) of Martinique, French Lesser Antilles. Of a total of 92 species recorded, 10 athecates and 31 thecates are discussed here, with the remaining species having been the subject of earlier accounts. Six hydroids, namely Halecium discoidum, H. xanthellatum, Sertularella calderi, Antennellapeculiaris, A. similis, and A. tubitheca, are new. Previously unreported data on the nematocyst complement of Heterocoryne caribbensis Wedler & Larson, 1986, Ectopleura mayeri Petersen, 1990, Ralpharia gorgoniae Petersen, 1990, and seven hebellid species are provided.'The gonotheca and the gonophore of Hebellopsis communis Calder, 1991 are described for the first time, allowing a genus transfer to Anthohebella Boero et al., 1997. Thyroscyphus longicaulis Splettstbsser, 1929, a species whose gonosome remained unknown until now, is redescribed based on new, fertile material of both sexes. The occurrence of Antennella quadriaurita Ritchie, 1909 in the Caribbean is questioned upon comparison of its cnidome with that of specimens from Tristan da Cunha, the type locality of this species. An unexpectedly wide morphological variation is noted for Aglaophenia rhynchocarpa Allman, 1877. Specimens corresponding to the Caribbean Gymnangium longicaudum (Nutting, 1900), are shown to be indistinguishable morphologically from a taxon described earlier from Brazil, Gymnangium allmani (Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890), the latter having priority. Thorough descriptions are provided for the new, lesser known or unidentifiable species, while the common taxa are accompanied by brief remarks and/or distributional data. Illustrations are provided for each species discussed in order to justify their identification, and to facilitate identification by others. A checklist at the end of this work incorporates records of 101 species of hydroids reported from Martinique, both occurring in the present collection and cited in the literature.

Contribution of ambient vibration recordings (free-field and buildings) for post-seismic analysis: The case of the Mw 7.3 Martinique (French Lesser Antilles) earthquake, November 29, 2007

Following the Mw 7.3 Martinique earthquake, November 29th, 2007, a post-seismic survey was conducted by the Bureau Central Sismologique Français (BCSF) for macroseismic intensities assessment. In addition to the inventories, ambient vibration recordings were performed close to the particularly damaged zones in the free-field and the buildings. The objective of the paper is to show the relevancy of performing ambient vibration recordings for post-earthquake surveys. The analyses of the recordings aim at explaining the variability of the damages through site effects, structure vulnerability or resonance phenomena and to help the characterization of the post-seismic building integrity. In three sites prone to site effects, we suspect damage to be related to a concordance between soil fundamental frequency and building resonance frequency. Besides, the recordings of ambient vibrations at La Trinité hospital before and after the earthquake allow us to quantify the damage due to earthquake in terms of stiffness loss.

River classification as the basis for freshwater biological assessment in overseas Europe: Issues raised from Guadeloupe (French Lesser Antilles)

AbstractOver the past decade, Europe's Water Framework Directive (WFD) has prompted a large amount of ecological research aiming at establishing river typologies and ecological indicators in member States. Yet, the lack of robust bioindicators in Europe's overseas regions arguably reflects minimal knowledge of the distribution patterns of aquatic species in the Community's outermost areas. Specifically, there has been no published classification of rivers for any European overseas region. Fifty‐one sites were sampled for benthic invertebrates and environmental variables (land‐cover, physical habitat, and water chemistry) in Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles. Redundancy analysis and k‐means clustering were used to bring out spatial patterns in species composition in relation to environmental conditions. Our results highlighted the importance of land cover and geomorphology in delineating three ecological sub‐regions (clusters) for freshwater invertebrates. Deviation from predictable community structure only occurred when river sites were subjected to harsh water chemistry alterations (urban runoff, wastewaters). Changes in species richness did not detect environmental stress efficiently within a given sub‐region, probably because most sites are naturally species‐poor due to the insular context and/or because disturbance is often weak. However, differences existed between clusters in terms of species identity and numerical dominance. Our a posteriori typology of sites was compared to local a priori expert opinion of river health, in an attempt to better characterize the network of survey sites, and to target sites for reference conditions.

Invertebrate distribution patterns and river typology for the implementation of the water framework directive in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles

Over the past decade, Europe’s Water Framework Directive provided compelling reasons for developing tools for the biological assessment of freshwater ecosystem health in member States. Yet, the lack of published study for Europe’s overseas regions reflects minimal knowledge of the distribution patterns of aquatic species in Community’s outermost areas. Benthic invertebrates (84 taxa) and land-cover, physical habitat and water chemistry descriptors (26 variables) were recorded at fifty-one stations in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles. Canonical Correspondence Analysis and Ward’s algorithm were used to bring out patterns in community structure in relation to environmental conditions, and variation partitioning was used to specify the influence of geomorphology and anthropogenic disturbance on invertebrate communities. Species richness decreased from headwater to lowland streams, and species composition changed from northern to southern areas. The proportion of variation explained by geomorphological variables was globally higher than that explained by anthropogenic variables. Geomorphology and land cover played key roles in delineating ecological sub-regions for the freshwater biota. Despite this and the small surface area of Martinique (1080 km2), invertebrate communities showed a clear spatial turnover in composition and biological traits (e.g., insects, crustaceans and molluscs) in relation to natural conditions.

Pliocene to Pleistocene carbonate systems of the Guadeloupe archipelago, French Lesser Antilles: a land and sea study (the KaShallow project)

AbstractThis work presents a synthesis of the present-day knowledge on both emerged and submerged carbonate platforms of the Guadeloupe archipelago. Onshore and offshore data acquired during the KaShallow project are presented. Since the early Zanclean, some isolated platforms developed onto a Jurassic to Tortonian basement which displayed reliefs inherited from a major extensional tectonic episode dated from −8 to −5 Ma. Marie-Galante, Grande Terre and the southern shelf of Grande-Terre show strong similarities with Zanclean to Gelasian red-algal facies upward changing into early Calabrian coral facies. A major erosional unconformity (SB2) was recognized and allows to distinguish two early Calabrian formations (Calcaires à Agaricia Formation and Calcaires à Acropora Formation). The final emersion of these platforms is late Calabrian. The La Désirade platform displays Zanclean to early Piacenzian red-algal facies upward changing into coral facies. This platform emerged as soon as in the late Piacenzian. The island subsided again in relation with later extensional tectonic episode and early Calabrian reef platform then unconformably deposited. The Colombie bank deposits comprise Pliocene basinal deposits overlain by late Calabrian coral reefs. The Flandre bank might have emerged synchronously with La Désirade but was drowned only in the late Pleistocene-Holocene interval. Four extensional tectonic episodes have been identified in the late Miocene-Recent interval. Their effects depend on the location of the platforms within the fore-arc.

Sedimentology, palaeoenvironments and biostratigraphy of the Pliocene–Pleistocene carbonate platform of Grande‐Terre (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles forearc)

AbstractPliocene and Pleistocene deposits from Grande‐Terre (Guadeloupe archipelago, French Lesser Antilles) provide a remarkable example of an isolated carbonate system built in an active margin setting, with sedimentation controlled by both rapid sea‐level changes and tectonic movements. Based on new field, sedimentological and palaeontological analyses, these deposits have been organized into four sedimentary sequences (S1 to S4) separated by three subaerial erosion surfaces (SB0, SB1 and SB2). Sequences S1 and S2 (‘Calcaires inférieurs à rhodolithes’) deposited during the Late Zanclean to Early Gelasian (planktonic foraminiferal Zones PL2 to PL5) in low subsidence conditions, on a distally steepened ramp dipping eastward. Red algal‐rich deposits, which dominate the western part of Grande‐Terre, change to planktonic foraminifer‐rich deposits eastward. Vertical movements of tens of metres were responsible for the formation of SB0 and SB1. Sequence S3 (‘Formation volcano‐sédimentaire’, ‘Calcaires supérieurs à rhodolithes’ and ‘Calcaires à Agaricia’) was deposited during the Late Piacenzian to Early Calabrian (Zones PL5 to PT1a) on a distally steepened, red algal‐dominated ramp that changes upward into a homoclinal, coral‐dominated ramp. Deposition of Sequence S3 occurred during a eustatic cycle in quiet tectonic conditions. Its uppermost boundary, the major erosion surface SB2, is related to the Cala1 eustatic sea‐level fall. Finally, Sequence S4 (‘Calcaires à Acropora’) probably formed during the Calabrian, developing as a coral‐dominated platform during a eustatic cycle in quiet tectonic conditions. The final emergence of the island could then have occurred in Late Calabrian times.

Empirical model for rapid macroseismic intensities prediction in Guadeloupe and Martinique

We describe a simple model for prediction of macroseismic intensities adapted to Guadeloupe and Martinique (Lesser Antilles), based on a combination of peak ground acceleration (PGA) predictive equation and a forward relation between acceleration and intensity. The PGA predictive equation is built from a 3-parameter functional form constrained by measurements from permanent accelerometer stations, mostly associated with Les Saintes crustal earthquake (21/11/2004, M w = 6.3 ) and its many aftershocks. The forward intensity model is checked on a database of recent instrumental events of various origins with magnitudes 1.6 to 7.4, distances from 4 to 300 km, and observed intensities from I to VIII. Global sigma residual equals 0.8 in the MSK scale, suggesting a larger applicability range than the intermediate PGA predictive equation. The model is presently used by the French Lesser Antilles observatories to produce automatic reports for earthquakes potentially felt.

Discovery of Lower Cretaceous synmetamorphic thrust tectonics in French Lesser Antilles (La Désirade Island, Guadeloupe): Implications for Caribbean geodynamics

Located east of Guadeloupe, the island of La Désirade exhibits the oldest rocks of the Lesser Antilles arc and the eastern Caribbean plate. An old magmatic basement is composed of (1) late Jurassic ophiolitic complex with meta‐basaltic pillow lavas and interbedded radiolarites, (2) acid igneous complex comprising meta‐quartz‐diorite and meta‐rhyolitic lavas flows, and (3) meta‐diabasic/microdioritic dyke swarm complex. We present and discuss the discovery of synmetamorphic thrust tectonics in this island. Based on detailed structural analysis we evidenced two main compressive events. The first event (D1) is characterized by pervasive folding associated with thrust development. In the northeastern part of the island, a major thrust fault, the Grand Abaque Thrust, has been discovered which displaces for several kilometers the acid igneous complex onto the ophiolitic unit. The second deformation event (D2) is featured by a main pervasive cleavage S2 observed at the regional scale associated with upright folding (F2) and by the development of two sets of conjugated steeply dipping strike‐slip shear zones, dextral 130°N and sinistral 20°N striking, respectively. Microstructural observations indicate that Greenschist facies metamorphism is clearly contemporaneous with the development of D1 and D2 superimposed tectonic structures. Ar/Ar geochronology was performed on two bulk of adularia minerals sampled in the northeast volcanic complex within a deformed zone related to a D2 event. These analyses yield well‐defined and concordant plateau ages at 106.2 ± 1.7 Ma and 107.2 ± 1.8 Ma. Thus, shortening and thickening tectonics occurred during Lower Cretaceous (Albian). In the available framework of Caribbean geodynamics, the synmetamorphic thrust tectonics we discovered in the French Lesser Antilles is related to the collision between an Aptian‐Albian oceanic plateau and the Andean‐Cordilleran east‐dipping subduction zone. Our results support subduction polarity reversal during Lower Cretaceous.

A Natural Seismic Isolating System: The Buried Mangrove Effects

The Belleplaine test site, located in the island of Guadeloupe (French Lesser Antilles) includes a three-accelerometer vertical array, designed for liquefac- tion studies. The seismic response of the soil column at the test site is computed using three methods: the spectral ratio method using the vertical array data, a numerical method using the geotechnical properties of the soil column, and an operative fre- quency domain decomposition (FDD) modal analysis method. The Belleplaine test site is characterized by a mangrove layer overlaid by a stiff sandy deposit. This con- figuration is widely found at the border coast of the Caribbean region, which is exposed to high seismic hazard. We show that the buried mangrove layer plays the role of an isolation system equivalent to those usually employed in earthquake engineering aimed at reducing the seismic shear forces by reducing the internal stress within the structure. In our case, the flexibility of the mangrove layer reduces the distortion and the stress in the sandy upper layer, and consequently reduces the potential of liquefaction of the site.