The Atlantic tripletail ( Lobotes surinamensis ) supports valuable recreational fisheries in coastal waters of the US Gulf of America (GOA) and US South Atlantic Ocean (ATL). Recent increases in tripletail landings from these regions prompted the need for additional information on population dynamics in support of management. We used data collected from 25 years (1996 to 2020) of angler-based tagging of tripletail in the GOA and ATL to (1) obtain growth estimates using multiple nonlinear length-at-age models, (2) describe seasonal movement and distribution, and (3) derive annual estimates of survival. A total of 9656 tripletail (76 to 889 mm TL) were tagged during the study, resulting in 1057 recaptures. The best fit nonlinear growth model (time-varying L ∞ Fabens model) predicted an asymptotic length ( L ∞ ) ranging from 542 to 648 mm TL and an annual growth coefficient ( k ) of 1.31 yr −1 (95% CI: 0.91 to 2.06). Model-averaged age-at-entry into the fishery was estimated at 0.99 yr at the 431.8-mm (17 in) limit and 1.12 yr at the 457.2-mm (18 in) limit. The best supported mark-recovery model estimated time-independent survivorship ( S , 0.21; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.25) and time-varying recovery rates ( f , 0.04; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.06) resulting in an estimated instantaneous mortality rate ( Z ) of 1.55 yr −1 (95% CI: 1.36 to 1.74), which corresponds to an annual total mortality rate ( A ) of 79%. Movements inferred from recapture data indicated minimal mixing between the GOA and ATL, but we found statistically significant seasonal distributions in the GOA. Population metrics and movement dynamics derived in this study add to the growing scientific knowledge of Atlantic tripletail, underscoring the utility of this angler-based tagging program.
Reproductive processes in mesophotic and deepsea scleractinian corals remain poorly documented, and most available knowledge derives from histological analyses rather than direct behavioral observations. Dendrophyllia ramea is a scleractinian, gonochoric, azooxanthellate coral distributed in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, for which external fertilization has been inferred but never directly confirmed in situ. Here we report the first in situ documentation of synchronous broadcast spawning in a shallow mesophotic population (30–48 m depth) from the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean). On 3 October, 2024, during the new moon phase, 17 male colonies released sperm simultaneously with at least three female colonies releasing mature oocytes. Spawning was continuously observed for approximately 50 minutes using closed-circuit rebreather diving. Collected gametes were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy; oocytes exhibited high lipid content, surface microvilli, mucous coatings, and laminar scale-like structures, while spermatozoa displayed a triangular head morphology consistent with external fertilization. The spawning event coincided with a rapid subsurface temperature decrease associated with seasonal water-column reorganization. These observations provide the first direct behavioral confirmation of broadcast spawning in D. ramea and establish a baseline for future studies on reproductive ecology and connectivity in mesophotic deepsea coral populations.
Biological invasions rank among the most severe threats to vulnerable ecosystems because invasive species often outcompete native organisms, frequently resulting in local extinctions. This is especially concerning for Caribbean reef ecosystems, which have been declining under continuous and emerging pressures, and where reports of allochthonous octocoral species have been increasing. Octocoral colonies with unusual morphology were detected in September 2022 and October 2023 in two coastal areas east of Havana, Cuba, and tentatively identified as invasive Unomia stolonifera , an Indo-Pacific octocoral first reported in the Caribbean off Venezuela in the early 2000s. We applied molecular barcoding (16S/ND2, mtMutS, COI, 28S) to verify the taxonomic identification of the octocorals. These analyses unequivocally identified it as Xenia umbellata , an octocoral native to the Red Sea. Xenia umbellata was first detected in Puerto Rico in October 2023 and has since been found on reefs along its southern coast. Both invasive octocorals pose serious environmental concerns due to their stress tolerance, totipotentiality, propagation capacity, and negative interactions with native benthic fauna. Attempts to eradicate the octocoral colonies from Cuban waters have had apparent success, helping to control further expansion. The introduction of X. umbellata to Cuba is likely linked to the aquarium trade, biofouling through hull fouling and floating debris, or ballast water. The presence of either invasive species in the Caribbean is a serious environmental concern, underscoring the need for continued surveillance and rapid response to prevent further spread across the region.
A new species of Bathymyrus is described based on 32 specimens collected from the east coast of India, the Bay of Bengal. The presence of the fourth member in the genus Bathymyrus is illustrated here with evidence from an integrative taxonomic approach. This study includes the molecular information of the new species on the basis of the COX1 gene. The species is closer to the previously reported Indo-West Pacific species Bathymyrus simus but differs genetically with 3.4% to 4.9%. Additionally, the species delimitation analysis suggests the existence of a new species of Bathymyrus simus complex. Morphologically, the new species differs in having a smaller head and a smaller rostral spine height in comparison to B. simus . Among the other two species, B athymyrus echinorhynchus differs by having a smaller head, a smaller trunk, and a smaller pectoral-fin, and Bathymyrus smithi has distinctly more vertebrae and more lateral line pores.
Cuban coral reefs are globally important due to their predicted resilience to climate change and connectivity to other reef systems. Despite the long history of research on Cuban coral reefs, there is a lack of standardized studies that allow longer-term evaluations of their health, which is important given the rapid, unprecedented degradation of reefs worldwide. We undertook the first National Coral Reef Survey of Cuba, a multi-component, standardized assessment of coral reefs and adjacent waters at the national scale and performed an integrated multivariate analysis of the ecosystem components to understand relationships among the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the ecosystem. Results reveal the hierarchical processes shaping coral reef ecosystems across the Cuban archipelago. Oceanographic conditions and human pressures define the broad environmental context within which benthic communities develop, generating gradients that range from healthy, coral-dominated habitats to degraded reefs characterized by macroalgae dominance, disease, and coral mortality. Medium (40–60 cm fork length) and small-sized (<40 cm fork length), and herbivorous fishes show stronger associations with benthic habitat condition, whereas large-sized (>60 cm fork length) fishes are primarily influenced by fishing intensity and regulatory enforcement. The findings indicate that Cuban reef ecosystems are a mosaic of regionally differentiated systems aligned along a shared gradient of human use and coastal influence. Habitat conditions, fish community structure, oceanographic variability, climate stress, and coastal impacts interact to shape reef states across the archipelago. Needed are management strategies that simultaneously address fishing pressure, enforcement effectiveness, habitat condition, and climate vulnerability. RESUMEN.—Los arrecifes coralinos cubanos son importantes a nivel mundial por su resiliencia esperada frente al cambio climático y conectividad con otros sistemas arrecifales. A pesar de la larga historia de investigación sobre estos arrecifes, faltan estudios nacionales estandarizados de su salud, que permitan análisis comparativos a largo plazo, particularmente importante dado el rápido y sin precedente deterioro de los arrecifes mundiales. Para llenar ese vacío, llevamos a cabo la primera Evaluación Nacional de Arrecifes de Coral de Cuba, una evaluación completamente integrada, multicomponente y estandarizada de los arrecifes coralinos y las aguas adyacentes a escala nacional. Se realizó un análisis multivariado integrado de los componentes del ecosistema para entender las relaciones entre sus características físicas, químicas y biológicas. Los resultados resaltan los procesos jerárquicos que moldean los arrecifes coralinos a través del archipiélago cubano. Las condiciones oceanográficas y las presiones humanas definen el contexto ambiental amplio dentro del cual se desarrollan las comunidades bentónicas, generando gradientes que van desde hábitats dominados por corales hasta arrecifes degradados, caracterizados por el dominio de macroalgas, enfermedades y mortalidad de corales. Los peces de tamaño mediano (largo horquilla 40–60 cm), pequeño (largo horquilla <40 cm) y herbívoros muestran asociaciones más fuertes con la condición del hábitat bentónico, mientras que los peces grandes (largo horquilla >60 cm) están principalmente influenciados por factores antropogénicos, en particular la intensidad de la pesca y la aplicación de regulaciones. Los resultados indican que los ecosistemas coralinos cubanos son un mosaico de sistemas regionalmente diferenciados, donde las condiciones del hábitat, la estructura de la comunidad de peces, la variabilidad oceanográfica, el estrés climático y los impactos costeros interactúan para moldear la condición de los arrecifes en todo el archipiélago. Esta perspectiva integrada resalta la necesidad de estrategias de gestión que aborden simultáneamente la presión de pesca, la efectividad en la aplicación de regulaciones, la condición del hábitat y la vulnerabilidad climática.
