Geochemistry, mineralogy, and geochronology of the U.S. Virgin Islands

Ciguatera poisoning (CP) poses a significant threat to ecosystem services and fishery resources in coastal communities. The CP-causative ciguatoxins (CTXs) are produced by benthic dinoflagellates including Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa spp., and enter reef food webs via grazing on macroalgal substrates. In this study, we report on a 3-year monthly time series in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands where Gambierdiscus spp. abundance and Caribbean-CTX toxicity in benthic samples were compared to key environmental factors, including temperature, salinity, nutrients, benthic cover, and physical data. We found that peak Gambierdiscus abundance occurred in summer while CTX-specific toxicity peaked in cooler months (Feb–May) when the mean water temperatures were approximately 26–28 °C. These trends were most evident at deeper offshore sites where macroalgal cover was highest year-round. Other environmental parameters were not correlated with the CTX variability observed over time. The asynchrony between Gambierdiscus spp. abundance and toxicity reflects potential differences in toxin cell quotas among Gambierdiscus species with concomitant variability in their abundances throughout the year. These results have significant implications for monitoring and management of benthic harmful algal blooms and highlights potential seasonal and highly-localized pulses in reef toxin loads that may be transferred to higher trophic levels.

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Chlorophyll composition under controlled light conditions as related to the distribution of seagrasses in Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Aquatic Botany ◽

10.1016/0304-3770(79)90060-3 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 171-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

John R. Wiginton ◽

Calvin McMillan

Keyword(s):

Virgin Islands ◽

Light Conditions ◽

The U.S

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Predictions of Tropical Forest Biomass and Biomass Growth Based on Stand Height or Canopy Area Are Improved by Landsat-Scale Phenology across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs9020123 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 123 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

David Gwenzi ◽

Eileen Helmer ◽

Xiaolin Zhu ◽

Michael Lefsky ◽

Humfredo Marcano-Vega

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Forest Biomass ◽

Virgin Islands ◽

Biomass Growth ◽

Canopy Area ◽

Stand Height ◽

The U.S

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Fungus Diseases of Papaya in the U.S. Virgin Islands

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v50i3.3456 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 186-200

Author(s):

Julio Bird ◽

Arnold Krochmal ◽

George Zenimyer ◽

José Adsuar

Keyword(s):

Carica Papaya ◽

Virgin Islands ◽

Corynespora Cassiicola ◽

Decline Disease ◽

Stem Necrosis ◽

The U.S

Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. & Curt.) Wei, and a, species of Botryodiplodia were consistently isolated from various tissues of Carica papaya plants affected by the papaya decline disease. Young papaya plants of the 'Solo' variety were successfully inoculated with the aforementioned fungi. Most of the symptoms of the decline disease developed on papaya plants after inoculation with Corynespora. Severe stem necrosis of papaya plants resulted from inoculation with Botryodiplodia. C. cassiicola loses its virulence after series transfers through artificial media.

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