Guadeloupe Island Research Articles

Fate of chlordecone in soil food webs in a banana agroecosystem in Martinique

Large quantities of chlordecone-based insecticides were produced and used throughout the world. One of its most important uses was to control the damage caused by Cosmopolites sordidus in banana-growing regions. In the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, 18,000 ha of farmland are potentially contaminated. Despite the key role played by soil macrofauna in agroecosystems, there are currently no data on their contamination. The aim of this study was to explore the fate of chlordecone (CLD) and its transfer to different organisms of the soil food web.Seven species of invertebrates representing different taxonomic groups and trophic levels of the soil communities of Martinique were targeted and collected in six experimental banana fields, with a level of contamination within a range of values classically observed. Soil samples and macrofauna from the study sites were analysed for CLD and chlordecol (CLDOH) its main transformation product. The contamination of the soil fauna were related to δ15N (trophic level), proportion of soil ingestion (diet) and types of epidermis (mucus or exoskeleton) in order to study the different mechanisms of macrofauna contamination.Presence of CLD and CLDOH could be quantified in all the soil organisms from contaminated fields. Results showed a significant relationship between the CLD contamination of detritivorous and the ash content of their faeces, suggesting that soil ingestion was the main contamination pathway. In contrast, the exoskeleton-bearing diplopod Trigoniulus coralinus and the soft-bodied earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae, both detritivores with a comparable diet, had similar contamination levels, suggesting that the type of tegument has little influence on bioaccumulation. At the scale of the entire trophic network, a significant relationship was uncovered between δ15N values and CLD contamination of the fauna, therefore providing some in situ evidence for a bioamplification process along the soil food chain.

Endometrial cancer survival in populations of African descent.

To examine whether the endometrial cancer (EC) survival disadvantage among Black populations is US-specific, a comparison between African-descent populations from different countries with a high development index is warranted. We analyzed 28 213 EC cases from cancer registries in Florida (2005-2018) and the French Caribbean islands of Martinique (2005-2018) and Guadeloupe (2008-2018) combined. Kaplan-Meier and all-cause Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare survival. Models were stratified by EC histology type and the main predictor examined was race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White [NHW] and no-Hispanic Black [NHB] women in the United States versus Black women residing in the Caribbean). For endometrioid and nonendometrioid EC, after adjusting for age, histology, stage at diagnosis, receipt of surgery, period of diagnosis, and poverty level, US NHB women and Caribbean Black women had a higher risk of death relative to US NHW women. There was no difference between US NHB and Caribbean Black women (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.07; 95% CI, 0.88-1.30) with endometrioid EC. However, Caribbean Black women with nonendometrioid carcinomas had a 40% higher risk of death (HR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.13-1.74) than US NHB women. The low EC survival among US Black women extends to foreign populations of African descent. For the aggressive nonendometrioid ECs, survival among Caribbean Black women outside of the United States is considerably worse. This article is part of a Special Collection on Gynecological Cancers.

Abraeus dufaui Desbordes, 1914, est-il un Acritus, un Aeletes ou un Bacanius ? Résolution d’une énigme centenaire et mise à jour du catalogue des Histérides de Guadeloupe (Coleoptera, Histeridae)

Is Abraeus dufaui Desbordes, 1914, an Acritus, an Aeletes or a Bacanius? Solving a century-old riddle and an update of the catalogue of the Histeridae of Guadeloupe Island (Coleoptera, Histeridae). The syntypes of Abraeus dufaui Desbordes, 1914, are re-examined more than 100 years after the species was described. The seven specimens found are identified as follows: one Acritus (s. str.) ignobilis (Lewis, 1888), one Acritus (s. str.) analis Le Conte, 1853, two Acritus (s. str.) exiguus (Erichson, 1834), two Aeletes (s. str.) simpliculus (Marseul, 1856) and one Bacanius (Gomyister) ferrugineus Bickhardt, 1918. A lectotype is designated for Bacanius ferrugineus. Acritus exiguus being the oldest species among the syntypes of Abraeus dufaui, one of the two specimens of this species is designated as the lectotype of Acritus dufaui (Desbordes, 1914), a new combination which therefore becomes synonymous with Acritus exiguus. The list of Histeridae beetles of Guadeloupe Island is updated and includes currently 19 species; Acritus (s. str.) analis Le Conte, 1853, Acritus (s. str.) exiguus (Erichson, 1834), Acritus (s. str.) ignobilis (Lewis, 1888), Aeletes (s. str.) simpliculus (Marseul, 1856) and Bacanius (s. str.) scalptus Lewis, 1888, are newly recorded from this island. The aedeagus of Aeletes gulliver (Marseul, 1856), collected from Saint Martin Island, is illustrated for the first time.

Morphometric Relationships between Length and Weight of 109 Fish Species in the Caribbean Sea (French West Indies).

In total, 109 fish species (24,996 individuals) were sampled around Guadeloupe and Martinique Islands from October 2021 to September 2022 to estimate the morphometric relationships between total length and weight (Length Weight Relationship: LWR) of each fish species according to potential spatial, temporal and sex differences. Of these species, this is the first time that the LWR was estimated in the Atlantic Ocean for 16 species. There is a significant relationship between length and weight for all tested species. For 83 tested species, the sex effect on the LWR showed significant sexual dimorphism for 24 species. Additionally, a link between the temporal effect and the reproduction period was tested for 68 species, of which 35 presented significant differences relative to the annual quarter of sampling. Finally, the geographical effect (i.e., the difference between samples from around Guadeloupe Island and those from Martinique Island) was significant for 60 species. This island effect was significant for 25 species.

Self-interest and high command rivalries in combined operations on Martinique and Guadeloupe, 1808–1811

In 1808 the French Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe represented the last threat to British colonial interests in the West Indies. Strategic concerns were not, however, the driving force behind British combined naval–military operations to capture them. Professional and financial gain were the primary motives for the officers in charge, Rear Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and General Sir George Beckwith, as they debated fleet and troop dispositions for attacks on the islands. The chance to seize prizes, booty, and valuable appointments to colonial offices on captured territory played a large part in the formulation of plans, although changes to both the strategic situation in the region and the metropolitan–colonial relationship threatened their prospects. This article examines Cochrane and Beckwith's efforts to maintain autonomy in the face of stricter government oversight, sufficient to achieve their personal ambitions.

Spatio-temporal distribution of juvenile fish species in Guadeloupean reefs (Lesser Antilles)

In the life cycle of coral reef fishes, recruitment is a key process which permit the renewal and the replenishment of adult fish populations. Numerous biotic and abiotic factors can influence recruitment, such as the quality of habitat, fish density and fish predation, and reef fish larvae can disperse over long distances. As a result, the distribution of fish juveniles among different habitats can significantly vary spatially and temporally. Here, we described spatio-temporal variation in juvenile fish distribution at the scale of Guadeloupe Island (Caribbean). Visual surveys of fish juveniles were conducted monthly for one year, on six sites representing three types of reef present in Guadeloupe (barrier reef, fringing reef, and patch reef). Significant differences were found in the abundance and species richness of juvenile reef fish depending on the geographical location, and reef type of the studied site. Significant differences were found in abundance between months of the year, and in species richness between the two seasons of the Caribbean region. Species composition differed between sites function of the month of observation, and it was established that the most abundant species at each site were responsible for the spatio-temporal variation observed in the juvenile fish assemblage. Overall, the distribution of juvenile reef fish in Guadeloupe varies both spatially (depending on geographical position and reef type) and temporally (depending on the season). These variations certainly have a strong influence on the stock of adult fish found all around the island of Guadeloupe.

Bird communities from the Guadeloupe islands over the last 30,000 yrs

Bird communities from the Guadeloupe islands over the last 30,000 yrs

Endemic parkinsonism: clusters, biology and clinical features.

The term 'endemic parkinsonism' refers to diseases that manifest with a dominant parkinsonian syndrome, which can be typical or atypical, and are present only in a particular geographically defined location or population. Ten phenotypes of endemic parkinsonism are currently known: three in the Western Pacific region; two in the Asian-Oceanic region; one in the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique; and four in Europe. Some of these disease entities seem to be disappearing over time and therefore are probably triggered by unique environmental factors. By contrast, other types persist because they are exclusively genetically determined. Given the geographical clustering and potential overlap in biological and clinical features of these exceptionally interesting diseases, this Review provides a historical reference text and offers current perspectives on each of the 10 phenotypes of endemic parkinsonism. Knowledge obtained from the study of these disease entities supports the hypothesis that bothgenetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, not only in endemic parkinsonism but also in general. At the same time, this understanding suggests useful directions for further research in this area.

Two New Muricid Gastropods from the Tropical Americas

Two new large muricids gastropods are named from the American tropics; onefromthe Lucasian Infraprovince of the Magdalenan Subprovince, Panamic Molluscan Province of theEastern Pacific and the other from the Martiniquean Infraprovince of the Grenadian Subprovince, Caribbean Molluscan Province of the Caribbean Sea. The new Panamic species, Neorapanaiwamasai Petuch, Berschauer, and Powell n. sp., is found on a very small stretch of coastline alongBaja California Sur, Mexico. The other species, Phyllonotus bellettii Petuch, Berschauer, andPowell n. sp., is endemic to the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, and adjacent smaller islands, in the French West Indies.

The genetic basis of conspicuous coloration in the Guadeloupean anole: Evolution by sexual and ecological selection

AbstractUnderstanding how natural selection acts on the genome and contributes to the process of speciation is a primary aim of the study of evolution. Here we used natural variation in two subspecies of the Guadeloupean anole (Anolis marmoratus ssp.), from the island of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles, to explore the genomic basis of adaptation and speciation in Anolis lizards. These subspecies inhabit distinct ecological environments and display marked differences in adult male color and pattern. We sequenced the complete genomes of 20 anoles, 10 from each subspecies, at 1.4× coverage. We used genome‐wide scans of population differentiation, allele frequency spectrum, and linkage disequilibrium to characterize the genomic architecture within and between the subspecies. While most of the genome was undifferentiated, we observed five large divergent regions. Within these regions we identified blocks, 5 kb pairs in length, enriched for fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms. These blocks encompass 97 genes, two of which are candidate pigmentation genes. One is melanophilin (mlph), which helps transport melanosomes within melanocytes. The other is a cluster of differentiation 36 (cd36), which regulates carotenoid pigment sequestration. We used high‐pressure liquid chromatography to confirm that carotenoid pigments are significantly more abundant in the conspicuous orange‐pigmented skin of male A. m. marmoratus suggesting that cd36 may be regulating pigment deposition in this tissue. We identified for the first time a carotenoid gene that is a potential target of divergent sexual selection and may be contributing to the early stages of speciation in Anolis lizards.

The goby fish Sicydium spp. as valuable sentinel species towards the chemical stress in freshwater bodies of West Indies

Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive in tropical areas such as the French West Indies (FWI) requires to select relevant aquatic sentinel species for investigating the ecological status of surface waters. The present work aimed to study the biological response of the widespread fish Sicydium spp. towards river chemical quality in Guadeloupe island through a set of proper biomarkers. During a 2-year survey, the hepatic EROD activity, the micronucleus formation and the level of primary DNA strand breaks in erythrocytes were measured respectively as an enzymatic biomarker of exposure and genotoxicity endpoints in fish living upstream and downstream of two chemically-contrasted rivers. Hepatic EROD activity was shown to be variable along the time but always significantly higher in fish from the most contaminated river (Rivière aux Herbes) compared to the low contaminated one (Grande Rivière de Vieux-Habitants). Fish size did not influence EROD activity. Female fish exhibited a lower EROD activity compared to males depending on the catching period. We observed significant temporal variation in micronucleus frequency and primary DNA damage level measured in fish erythrocytes that did not depend on the fish size. Micronucleus frequency and to a lesser extent DNA damage were significantly higher in fish from the Rivière aux Herbes compared to the Grande Rivière de Vieux-Habitants. Our results argue for the interest of using Sicydium spp. as sentinel species to assess river quality and chemical pressures in FWI.

Induced polarization of volcanic rocks – 6: relationships with other petrophysical properties

SUMMARY The petrophysical properties of 41 volcanic samples from La Soufrière volcanoe (Guadeloupe Island, Eastern Caribbean, France) are investigated. We first measure the complex conductivity spectra of these rock samples at 4 salinities (NaCl) at laboratory conditions (∼20 °C). For each rock sample, we determine the (intrinsic) formation factor, the surface conductivity and the Cole–Cole normalized chargeability. We also measure the compressional wave velocity (dry and saturated), the shear wave velocity in saturated conditions, the (dry and saturated) thermal conductivity, the dry specific heat capacity and the permeability of the rock samples as well as their cation exchange capacity (CEC) and connected porosity. The formation factor versus porosity obeys Archie's law with a cementation exponent of 2.16 ± 0.10. The surface conductivity and the normalized chargeability are proportional to each other and to the CEC divided by the tortuosity of the material (product of the formation factor by the connected porosity) as predicted by the dynamic Stern layer model. Permeability can be predicted from the normalized chargeability and the formation factor inside one order of magnitude. The thermal conductivity and the seismic properties can be evaluated from the connected porosity of the core samples formation factors. A non-linear relationship is established between the shear wave velocity and the compressional wave velocity for the present data set and other data from the literature. Finally, we show on a specific example, how to convert an induced polarization survey on a stratovolcano into a seismic velocity model (P- and S-waves velocity distributions). We perform a specific application to Papandayan Volcano, a stratovolcano located in Java Island (Indonesia). This work paves the way to the joint inversion problem of seismic and induced polarization surveys for volcanic unrest monitoring.

Seasonal and Episodic Runup Variability on a Caribbean Reef‐Lined Beach

AbstractMany low‐lying coastlines are exposed to overwash and marine flooding during large storm events, and the role of coastal ecosystems in reducing these hazards has been increasingly investigated and reported. This paper deals with the assessment of processes involved in coastal flooding over 2 years and 10 months at Anse Maurice, a reef‐fringed pocket beach located in Guadeloupe Island, in the Caribbean region. Daily maximum marine inundation was assessed using a fixed video system, and a hydrodynamic measurement campaign was organized to monitor local wave transformation through the reef system. The results show that daily highest runups (dHRs) are not linearly correlated with storm events since storm runup intensity is highly modulated by (a) the steric‐induced annual periodicity of sea level which showed minima in April and maxima in September and (b) the tidal level which influenced shortwave propagation on the reef flat (RF). These variables determined the reef submergence, an important parameter involved in wave transformation over reefs. Consequently, different runup responses existed for similar incident wave conditions, but generally wave attenuation ranged between 50% and 80%. Low‐frequency waves were found to dominate the hydrodynamics on the RF for the most intense wave conditions. The upper beach vegetation also reduces the maximum swash excursion at the beach between 1.7% and 42.8% for the observed storms, and thus reduces the potential for back beach flooding. This study demonstrates new comprehensive elements on runup behavior and nearshore processes, at different time scales, on reef‐lined beaches.

Population estimate and inter-island movement of sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, in the Eastern Caribbean Sea

When a population extends across international boundaries, management becomes more complex. This is especially true within a confined multinational area such as the Caribbean Sea. The population size of sperm whales in the Eastern Caribbean is estimated and the inter-island movements of individuals are quantified using a database of 1,394 photographic identifications taken between 1984 and 2006 by several research groups. A total of 194 individual sperm whales were identified off the leeward coasts of the islands of Dominica, Guadeloupe, Grenada, St. Lucia and Martinique. Population size was estimated using two-component finite mixture models. About 145 (95% CI=94- 219) sperm whales used Lesser Antillean waters in 1995 and this population appears to be growing slowly. There are differences amongst the individuals in their probability of identification. Of all individuals, 57 (29.4%) were identified during more than one year between 1995 and 2006. Long-term reidentification of associated females suggests that social units may be using the area for periods of at least 11 years. Twenty seven confirmed matches were made between islands, the majority (92.6%) of which were between Guadeloupe and Dominica, although there were two longer movements by single individuals between Dominica and the islands of St. Lucia and Grenada. High reidentification rates within the Lesser Antilles and no matches with identifications from nearby seas suggest the population in the Eastern Caribbean Sea is small and quite isolated. As such, we recommend that management actions be taken on a multi-island basis for the Eastern Caribbean, by encouraging the ratification of the SPAW protocols and that the current stock classification for the North Atlantic be reconsidered.

Dynamics of the Benthic Communities of Pigeon Islets (Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles) from 2012 to 2021 Monitored by a Photo-Quadrats Technique

Since 2012, the benthic communities of the Pigeon Islets (Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles) have been monitored biannually by the National Park of Guadeloupe using photo—quadrats. This monitoring was carried out at 12 coral reef stations distributed around the islets. The data collected from 2012 to 2021 highlight the significant events that disrupted the coral communities of Guadeloupe. Among these remarkable phenomena, an episode of coral bleaching occurred in 2019, followed by the appearance of a new coral disease, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), in 2020. As a result of these threats, a drop of 54% of coral cover was observed in the monitored sites, accompanied by a rise of 16% of the surface occupied by macroalgae. The protocol set up by the National Park of Guadeloupe was found to be efficient to follow the temporal dynamics of benthic reef communities.

Les Pentatomoidea des Antilles françaises (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

The Pentatomoidea of the French West Indies (Hemiptera, Heteroptera). The first inventory of Pentatomoidea observed on the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique is carried out. A total of 48 species are listed in the French West Indies, including 43 in Guadeloupe and 32 in Martinique. In Guadeloupe, 24 species out of 43 are mentioned for the first time, and in Martinique, 23 out of 32. The family Thyreocoridae is mentioned for the first time in the French West Indies as well as the following 25 species: Amnestus pusio, Cyrtomenus crassus, Melanaethus spinolae, Rhytidoporus indentatus, Podisus congrex, Euschistus crenator, Mitripus acutus, Oebalus pugnax, Oebalus ypsilongriseus, Proxys victor, Arocera placens, Vulsirea nigrorubra, Arvelius albopunctatus, Loxa nesiotes, Roferta marginalis, Rhyssocephala macdonaldi, Banasa dimidiata, Banasa lenticularis, Pharypia pulchella, Scotinophara sicula, Diolcus irroratus, Diolcus variegatus, Tetyra antillarum, Augocoris illustris and Galgupha guttiger. The species are illustrated and an identification key is provided. A comparative analysis of the specific composition is carried out with other West Indian inventories.

Biofuel Production from Seaweeds: A Comprehensive Review

Seaweeds represent a promising and sustainable feedstock for biofuel production which raises increasing research interests. Their high availability, easy fermentable composition, and good degradation potential make them a suitable candidate for alternating fossil fuels as an advantageous energy resource. This comprehensive review aims to summarize and discuss data from the literature on the biochemical composition of seaweeds and its potential for biomethane and biohydrogen production, as well as to investigate the effect of the common pretreatment methods. Satisfactory yields comparable to terrestrial biomass could be obtained through anaerobic digestion; concerning dark fermentation, the challenge remains to better define the operating conditions allowing a stable production of biohydrogen. Finally, we propose a potential energy production scheme with the seaweed found by the Caribbean Islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, as well as current techno-economic challenges and future prospects. An annual energy potential of 66 GWh could be attained via a two-stage biohythane production process, this tends to be promising in terms of energetic valorization and coastal management.

Efficient Output Photovoltaic Power Prediction Based on MPPT Fuzzy Logic Technique and Solar Spatio-Temporal Forecasting Approach in a Tropical Insular Region

Photovoltaic (PV) energy source generation is becoming more and more common with a higher penetration level in the smart grid because of PV energy’s falling production costs. PV energy is intermittent and uncertain due to its dependence on irradiance. To overcome these drawbacks, and to guarantee better smart grid energy management, we need to deal with PV power prediction. The work presented in this paper concerns the study of the performance of the fuzzy MPPT approach to extract a maximum of power from solar panels, associated with PV power estimation based on short time scale irradiance forecasting. It is particularly applied to a case study of a tropical insular region, considering extreme climatic variability. To validate our study with real solar data, measured and predicted irradiance profiles are used to feed the PV system, based on solar forecasting in a tropical insular context. For that, a spatio-temporal autoregressive model (STVAR) is applied. The measurements are collected at three sites located on Guadeloupe island. The high variability of the tropical irradiance profile allows us to test the robustness and stability of the used MPPT algorithms. Solar forecasting associated with the fuzzy MPPT technique allows us to estimate in advance the produced PV power, which is essential for optimal energy management in the case of smart energy production systems. Simulation of the proposed solution is validated under Matlab/Simulink software. The results clearly demonstrate that the proposed solution provides good PV power prediction and better optimization performance: a fast, dynamic response and stable static power output, even when irradiation is rapidly changing.

Atmospheric Deposition Over the Caribbean Region: Sea Salt and Saharan Dust Are Sources of Essential Elements on the Island of Guadeloupe

AbstractDust emitted from North Africa is transported over long distances and has a strong impact on large areas over the North Tropical Atlantic Ocean. Sea salt emitted by the sea surface is the second source of essential elements transported in the atmosphere and plays a major role in the cycles of alkaline‐earth metals in the ecosystems of tropical North Atlantic Islands. The total atmospheric deposition fluxes were continuously sampled on a weekly basis in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles, from March 2015 to August 2018 (41 months). Elemental deposition fluxes, including Al, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Na, P, S, and Zn, were measured for all samples to provide the first long time series of atmospheric elemental deposition fluxes over the Lesser Antilles region. It is shown that: (a) the three sources of atmospheric deposits in Guadeloupe for the presented elements are sea salt (for K, Ca, Mg, Na, and S), long‐range transported Saharan dust (for Al, Ca, K, and Fe), and biogenic particles (for P and Zn); (b) the average deposition mass fluxes of sea salt and Saharan dust are 17.4 and 11.2 g.m−2.year−1, respectively, without noticeable inter‐annual variations; (c) a pronounced seasonality is found for the Saharan dust deposition, for which maximum flux values are observed between June and July each year and 85% of the annual deposition flux occurs between April and September; (d) the deposition flux of sea salt is strongly correlated to local wind speed, without seasonality.

Evidence of new strains of Wolbachia symbiont colonising semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Gerroidea) in mangrove environment of the Lesser Antilles.

Wolbachia Hertig, 1936 is an intracellular bacterial symbiont colonizing many arthropods. Of the studies done on the bacteria present in the superfamily Gerroidea Leach, 1815, no report of Wolbachia infection had yet been made. Thus, we checked the presence of Wolbachia in six Gerroidea species which colonize tropical aquatic environments by PCR using wsp primer set before sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Insects were collected in the marine fringe of mangroves, in river estuaries, in swampy mangroves, and in ponds from Guadeloupe islands (Caribbean). Two new strains of Wolbachia were detected in these Gerroidea. They were named wLfran and wRmang. The wsp sequences suggest that the strains belong to the already described E supergroup or similar. wLfran is present in Limnogonus franciscanus Stål, 1859 and Rheumatobates trinitatis (China, 1943) while wRmang appears to be present exclusively in R. mangrovensis (China, 1943). Three other species were analysed, but did not appear to be infected: Brachymetra albinerva (Amyot & Serville, 1843), Halobates micans Eschscheltz, 1822, and Microvelia pulchella Westwood, 1834. The results presented here highlight for the first time the presence of new intracellular Wolbachia strains in Gerroidea colonising tropical aquatic environments like mangrove habitats from inlands to sea shore.