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One of the main attributes that highlight the final quality of a gourmet cup of coffee is its aroma. Aromas vary according to a variety of plant and environmental variables, among others. This study aimed to characterize volatile and semivolatile compounds according to the Coffee arabica "Limani" berries ripening stages (healthy and brocaded). The study used different extraction methodologies to capture the broad spectrum of volatile, semivolatile organic compounds in coffee berries and berry borer (CBB). The methodologies used in the study included: enfleurage, headspace SPME (solid-phase microextraction), absorbent trap, and direct immersion SPME. Our study generated a Profile for coffee berries and CBB w with 228 compounds. Esters, cyclic, and benzyl compounds represent 65.6% of the total. The first three types of compounds that most attract our sense of smell constitute 40.5% of the compounds found; 1.3% aldehydes, 2.6% alcohols, and 36.6% benzyl. Overripe berries have high volatile emissions and show a composition dominated mainly by esters followed by alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes. The lowest-level compounds were monoterpenes. The number of compounds found in CBB varied according to sex. In summary, the CBB damage harms coffee berries' quality and aroma. The complete profile compounds generated will help better understand insect-plant relationships and potentially develop effective bait traps.more » « less
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Pervasive epizootic events have had a significant impact on marine invertebrates throughout the Caribbean, leading to severe population declines and consequential ecological implications. One such event was the regional collapse of herbivory, partly caused by theDiadema antillarummortality event in 1983–84, resulting in a trophic cascade and altering the structure of reef communities. Consequently, there was a notable decrease in coral recruitment and an increase in the coverage of macroalgae. Nearly four decades later, in early 2022, the Caribbean basin experienced another widespread mass mortality event, further reducing the populations ofD. antillarum. To assess the effects of this recent mortality event on the current demographics ofD. antillarum, we surveyed eight populations along the eastern, northeastern, northern, and northwestern coast of Puerto Rico from May to July 2022, estimating their population density, size distribution, and disease prevalence. Additionally, the study compared these population parameters with data from four sites previously surveyed in 2012 and 2017 to understand the impact of the recent mortality event. The survey conducted in 2022 showed varying population densities at the surveyed reefs. Some populations exhibited mean densities of nearly one individual per square meter, while others had extremely low or no living individuals per square meter. The four populations with the highest density showed no evidence of disease, whereas the four populations with the lowestD. antillarumdensities exhibited moderate to high disease prevalence. However, when considering all sites, the estimated disease prevalence remained below 5%. Nevertheless, the comparison with data from 2012 and 2017 indicated that the recent mortality event had a negative impact onD. antillarumdemographics at multiple sites, as the densities in 2022 were reduced by 60.19% compared to those from the previous years. However, it is still too early to determine the severity of this new mortality event compared to the 1983–84 mortality event. Therefore, it is imperative to continue monitoring these populations.more » « less
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Worsening environmental conditions due to climate change have profoundly affected the health of coral reefs worldwide. Thus, understanding how corals respond to fluctuating and/or extreme levels of temperature and solar irradiation will guide future protection and restoration efforts of this valuable ecosystem. Herein, we present a study of the immune responses of the endangered coralAcropora cervicornisto seasonal fluctuations in water temperature (WT), light intensity (LI), and water depth. Immune responses were observed by measuring the concentration of green and cyan fluorescent proteins (GFP and CyFP) and the activity of phenoloxidase (PO), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the photoprotective protein melanin. To study these responses, visually healthyA. cervicornisfragments were placed at 8, and 12 m depth, and GFP, CyPF, and PO activity were measured at three-month intervals over a 12-month period. Seawater temperature and light intensity were also measured at each depth during this period. A general linear mixed model was used to determine the effects of seasonal variations of WT, LI, and water depth on the immune proteins. GFP, CyFP, and PO activity varied significantly across time – all higher in late summer/early fall and lower in late winter/early spring. Likewise, WT and LI significantly affected GFP, CyFP, and PO activity. On the other hand, water depth only had a significant effect on fluorescent protein concentrations but not PO activity. Our study demonstrates that corals can modulate these key immune-related proteins throughout natural seasonal fluctuations. That is, increasing in months of higher thermal and light conditions while decreasing in months with mild thermal and light conditions. The phenotypic plasticity ofA. cervicornisin adapting to a changing environment underscores the importance that in future studies time of the year should be a meaningful consideration when evaluating the responses ofA. cervicornisto the environment.more » « less
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