Lunar Periodicity and Bioluminescence of Swarming Odontosyllis luminosa (Polychaeta: Syllidae) in Belize

Few benthic polychaetes have the notoriety of the bioluminescent “glowworm”, Odontosyllis luminosa San Martin, 1990, that inhabits soft-sediment habitats of the Caribbean. A few nights after a full moon, apparently during most months of the year, a most unusual phenomenon occurs. Female glowworms leave the sediments, swim toward the water surface, and release a bioluminescent egg mass, causing a bright green glow near the water’s surface. The female’s luminescence attracts the males, which also glow briefly. The tiny worm has a bright glow, and viewing it is a favorite pasttime in the Caribbean. Over 50 years ago investigators linked the bioluminescence of Odontosyllis with the mysterious lights described by Christopher Columbus in November 1492. Reproduction of O. luminosa peaks during summer, when the water’s surface is brilliantly lit with females for 10–15 min on the first few evenings following a full moon. Spent females apparently survive to spawn again. They return to the sediments to build new tubes after spawning

Behavioral Ecology of Two Teal Species (Blue-Winged Teal, Anas discors, and Green-Winged Teal, Anas crecca) Overwintering in Marshes of Coastal Louisiana, USA

Feeding and other dominant activities of Blue-winged Teal (BWT, Anas discors) and Green-winged Teal (GWT, Anas crecca) were compared from October 1987 to March 1988 in southwestern Louisiana, USA. Three observation towers were constructed near similar intermediate marsh habitats in areas where BWT and GWT concentrated for feeding. These observation towers allowed activities of the two species to be compared throughout the nonbreeding season. Although BWT and GWT often fed together, time spent in various activities differed. Feeding was the most frequent activity of both BWT(64.5%) and GWT (55.3%), but BWT spent more time feeding (P \u3c 0.01) and alert (P \u3c 0.05), but spent less (P \u3c 0.01) time resting than GWT. Within each species there were differences in activity budgets among daily time blocks and among months, but few differences among the three habitats studied. Temperature and light intensity were correlated with resting (+), feeding (-), locomotion (-), and preening (+). Daily and monthly activity budgets of BWT and GWT were similar, as were ingested foods, suggesting that these two species used the study areas primarily for foraging, and left the areas for other activities. Predation and diminished resources during late winter may have affected activities of BWT and GWT as well

Aricidea (Allia) bryani, a New Species of Polychaete (Polychaeta: Paraonidae) from the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Aricidea bryani, a new species of polychaete (Polychaeta: Paraonidae) belonging to the subgenus Allia Strelzov 1973, is described from shallow subtidal sediments along the northern shore of Mississippi Sound, an estuary of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The new species is distinguished from other members of the subgenus by the presence of tuberculate neuropodial lobes in the anterior 15-20 setigers, a cirriform median antenna that extends posteriorly to setiger three, and by modified neuropodial setae that are abruptly tapered at mid-length, but lack terminal aristae

Behavioral Ecology of Two Teal Species (Blue-Winged Teal, Anas discors, and Green-Winged Teal, Anas crecca) Overwintering in Marshes of Coastal Louisiana, USA

Feeding and other dominant activities of Blue-winged Teal (BWT, Anas discors) and Green-winged Teal (GWT, Anas crecca) were compared from October 1987 to March 1988 in southwestern Louisiana, USA. Three observation towers were constructed near similar intermediate marsh habitats in areas where BWT and GWT concentrated for feeding. These observation towers allowed activities of the two species to be compared throughout the nonbreeding season. Although BWT and GWT often fed together, time spent in various activities differed. Feeding was the most frequent activity of both BWT(64.5%) and GWT (55.3%), but BWT spent more time feeding (P \u3c 0.01) and alert (P \u3c 0.05), but spent less (P \u3c 0.01) time resting than GWT. Within each species there were differences in activity budgets among daily time blocks and among months, but few differences among the three habitats studied. Temperature and light intensity were correlated with resting (+), feeding (-), locomotion (-), and preening (+). Daily and monthly activity budgets of BWT and GWT were similar, as were ingested foods, suggesting that these two species used the study areas primarily for foraging, and left the areas for other activities. Predation and diminished resources during late winter may have affected activities of BWT and GWT as well

Nesting Success and Mortality of Nestlings in a Coastal Alabama Heron - Egret Colony, 1976

A heronry at Cat Island, Alabama was surveyed throughout the 1976 breeding season to determine colony structure and survivability of young Ardeidae during varying weather conditions. A total of 155 nests were tagged and the clutch of each monitored until the nestlings abandoned the nests. Offspring of herons nesting during unfavorable weather conditions of late Spring suffered significantly higher mortality than birds nesting in mid-summer. Species nesting on Cat Island include the Louisiana Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, and Glossy Ibis

Aricidea (Allia) bryani, a New Species of Polychaete (Polychaeta: Paraonidae) from the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Aricidea bryani, a new species of polychaete (Polychaeta: Paraonidae) belonging to the subgenus Allia Strelzov 1973, is described from shallow subtidal sediments along the northern shore of Mississippi Sound, an estuary of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The new species is distinguished from other members of the subgenus by the presence of tuberculate neuropodial lobes in the anterior 15-20 setigers, a cirriform median antenna that extends posteriorly to setiger three, and by modified neuropodial setae that are abruptly tapered at mid-length, but lack terminal aristae

Time-Activity Budgets of Stoplight Parrotfish (Scaridae: Sparisoma viride) in Belize: Cleaning Invitation and Diurnal Patterns

The primary objective of this study was to analyze diurnal behavior of Sparisoma viride in South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR), Belize. Time-activity budgets were used to characterize behavior (using swimming, feeding, hovering, sheltering, defecating, and cleaning categories) during the diel cycle, and to illustrate differences among the life phases of this species

Long-Term Study of Benthic Communities on the Continental Shelf Off Cameron, Louisiana: A Review of Brine Effects and Hypoxia

A long-term data set compiled from our studies and a variety of investigations was analyzed to determine the effects of nine years of discharged brine (concentrated salt water) on benthic organisms surrounding a brine diffuser off Cameron, Louisiana (USA). These investigations began three months before brine discharge was initiated in 1981. A preliminary summary by Giammona and Darnell (1990) relied on just three years of discharge data and gave misleading reports of brine impacts. Brine effects over the nine years of study were minimal, in part because the fine sediments of the study area were numerically dominated by opportunistic species. mostly estuarine taxa, that showed dramatic population fluctuations both spatially and temporally. These fluctuations in benthic densities were the most salient characteristic of the study area. They resulted from summer hypoxia and anoxia in bottom waters, not from brine. The hypoxia was related to Mississippi River discharge and subsequent salinity stratification. Hypoxia eliminated some taxa and severely reduced populations of most benthic species. The only significant differences between communities near the diffuser and those outside the influence of its discharged brine resulted from water-column mixing by the discharged brine, which oxygenated waters around the diffuser and stabilized the salinity of bottom water at the stations near the diffuser. This enhanced benthic diversity around the diffuser and resulted in greater populations during some seasons

Feeding Biology, Distribution, and Ecology of Two Species of Benthic Polychaetes: Paraonis fulgens and Paraonis pygoenigmatica (Polychaeta: Paraonidae)

Paraonis fulgens and Paraonis pygoenigmatica inhabit sandy littoral and sublittoral sediments of the northem Gulf of Mexico and U.S. East Coast, but seldom overlap in distribution. The purpose of this study was to compare the feeding ecology and distribution of these species. We analyzed distributions and gut contents of Gulf of Mexico specimens and found that P. fulgens inhabited substrates with slightly more silt and clay than those inhabited by P. pygoenigmatica. Although Paraonis fulgens ingested more diatoms than P. pygoenigmatica, this distinction likely resulted from habitat differences, not selective feeding. Previous studies suggested that P. fulgens fed selectively on diatoms only

Seagrass Loss in Belize: Studies of Turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) Habitat Using Remote Sensing and Ground-Truth Data

Spatial and temporal change in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) habitat of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR) in Belize were analyzed using satellite images backed up with ground-truth data. We had two pri-mary objectives. First, we wanted to determine areal expanse of seagrass across a large area (~12 km by 3 km) of the SWCMR, and address its change over time. We used paired satellite images taken during 2001 and 2005 to determine coverage by seagrass and measure temporal variables. These analyses recorded an overall seagrass loss of 1.8% (52.3 ha) during the 4 yr period. Secondly, we wanted to determine whether seagrass gains or losses were consistent across the study area. Replicate sampling was used as a statistical basis and confirmed a significant loss of seagrass across the region. It also helped identify two regions of significant seagrass loss; one 600 ha area lost 12.4% of its seagrass; another 240 ha area lost nearly 40%. These components helped us assess seagrass habitat in an area perceived as critical to Belize fisheries, and provided the scale and statistical rigor necessary to adequately assess a broad region of study. The salient results from our study were not the magnitude of seagrass loss per se, but the loss in seagrass habitat from an area that is thought to be relatively pristine. Seagrass-habitat loss in this region of the Caribbean Sea may be evidence that even near-pristine areas can be impacted by anthropogenic factors. Determining the causes of habitat loss may help prevent loss of productivity, habitat, and livelihood for the associated human and nonhuman communities