Episodic Disturbance from Boat Anchoring Is a Major Contributor to, but Does Not Alter the Trajectory of, Long-Term Coral Reef Decline.

Isolating the relative effects of episodic disturbances and chronic stressors on long-term community change is challenging. We assessed the impact of an episodic disturbance associated with human visitation (boat anchoring) relative to other drivers of long-term change on coral reefs. A one-time anchoring event at Crab Cove, British Virgin Islands, in 2004 caused rapid losses of coral and reef structural complexity that were equal to the cumulative decline over 23 years observed at an adjacent site.

Variable hydrology and salinity of salt ponds in the British Virgin Islands.

Caribbean salt ponds are unique wetlands that have received little scientific attention. They are common features of dry Caribbean coastlines, but they are threatened by rapid coastal development. We compared hydrology and salinity of 17 salt ponds in the British Virgin Islands.

DNA systematics and evolution of the artiodactyl family Bovidae.

Nine additional sequences from representatives of different tribes of the family Bovidae were combined with six published artiodactyl sequences to provide orthologous mtDNA for investigation of bovid phylogeny and evolution. Each species was represented by a homologous 2.7-kilobase-pair stretch of mtDNA for the complete 12S and 16S rRNA genes and three adjacent tRNA genes.