Pleistocene aridification underlies the evolutionary history of the Caribbean endemic, insular, giant Consolea (Opuntioideae).

Premise: The Caribbean islands are in the top five biodiversity hotspots on the planet; however, the biogeographic history of the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) there is poorly studied. Consolea consists of nine species of dioecious, hummingbird-pollinated tree cacti endemic to the West Indies, which form a conspicuous element of the SDTF. Several species are threatened by anthropogenic disturbance, disease, sea-level rise, and invasive species and are of conservation concern.

Species identification of Crassostrea and Ostrea oysters by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the 5S rRNA gene.

A specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the identification of Crassostrea angulata, C. gigas, Ostrea edulis, and O. stentina oyster species.