TH E CAYMA N ISLANDS

MONOGRAPHIAE BIOLOGICAE

VOLUM E 71

Series Editors

HJ. Dumont and MJ.A. Werger

The Cayman Islands Natural History and Biogeography

Edited by

M.A . BRUNT

and

J.E. DAVIE S

Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V.

Librar y of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The Cayman I s l and s : na tu ra l h i s t o r y and biogeograph y / e d i t e d b y M.A.

Brunt and J.E . Dav ies .

p. cm. — (Monographia e b i o l o g i c a e ; v . 71 )

Inc lude s b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l r e f e r e n c e s (p . ) and indexes .

1. Na tu ra l h i s t o r y — C a y m an I s l a n d s . 2 . Biogeography—Cayman

I s l a n d s . I . Brunt , M. A. I I . Dav ies , J . E . I I I . S e r i e s .

QP1.P37 v o l . 7 4

[QH109.C38]

574 s — d c 20

[508.7292'1 ] 93-27017

Printed on acid-free paper

A l l Rights Reserved

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 1994

Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1994 No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or

mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written

permission from the copyright owner.

ISBN 97-94-010-4391-5

ISBN 978-94-011-0904-8 (eBook)DOI 10.1007/978-94-010-4391-5ISBN 978-94-010-4391-5

I

Dr. Marco Enrico Clifton Giglioii, OBE BSc PhD DSc 1927-1984

Preface

In the course of the last 100 years a considerable amount of scientific work has been carried out in the Cayman Islands. The results of this (outlined in Chapter 1) are widely distributed in unpub-lished reports, university theses, various scientific publications and books, many of these sources being difficult to find and some now unobtain-able. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to bring all this scattered information together and to present a coherent account of the biogeogra-phy and ecology of the Islands, as an easily avail-able reference source and as a foundation on which future work can be based.

The book is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Marco Enrico Clifton Giglioli, OBE, the founding director of the Cayman Island Govern-ment's Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU - founded 1965). Dr. Giglioli gained national and international recognition for his great achievements in controlling the enormous mosquito problems that existed in the Cayman Islands but his interests were far wider than mos-quito control. He encouraged scientists of all per-suasions to come to work in the Cayman Islands and provided them with considerable assistance. He also made an extensive collection of books and papers on the Cayman Islands which enabled him to establish a reference library at the MRCU. He was associated with the work on geology, hydrology and botany, started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which established a sound foun-dation for later studies, and he was one of the first to recognize that irreversible ecological damage could be caused by uncontrolled development of the Islands. His efforts in this direction led in 1974 to the establishment of the Natural Resources

vii

Laboratory, of which he was co-director, in order to carry out research in relation to development.

Later he was a major force in helping to plan and organize the 1975 Little Cayman Expedition which was led by D.R. Stoddart. Earlier man-grove surveys by Brunt and botanical work by Proctor led to the publication of maps of man-grove distribution in 1981 and to the Flora of the Cayman Islands in 1984. The swamp maps were revised by the then Land Resources Department of the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute, London, and combined with Robert's and Logan's maps of shallow water habitats to accompany the present volume.

The original idea for the present book came from Professor Stoddart (Head of Geography at the University of California at Berkeley) on a visit to Grand Cayman in 1984. He felt that the results of the Little Cayman Expedition should be combined with the greater volume of research results from the other two Islands, and published in book form as a major scientific reference work for the Cayman Islands as a whole. He secured the support of the Cayman Islands Government and that of the numerous chapter authors as well as the backing of the present publisher and thus played a vital part in making this important ven-ture possible.

The Cayman Islands Government also made a substantial contribution to the production of this volume, including sponsoring a number of special studies to fill in gaps in the knowledge of Cay-manian biogeography and funding the revision of the maps and the provision of colour plates.

Finally, as this volume is dedicated to Dr. Marco Giglioli, it is perhaps fitting to conclude

Vlll

with the note on his life and achievements pub-lished by the Times on 24 April 1984.

DR. MARCO GIGLIOLI

Dr. Marco Enrico Clifton Giglioli, OBE, who died on March 3 at the age of 56, was Director of the Mosquito Research & Control Unit, Cayman Islands, West Indies. He was an outstanding trop-ical entomologist, with an international repu-tation, who successfully combined considerable practical skills and a broad scientific outlook in his research work, and in the control of mosquitoes.

Marco Giglioli was born at McKenzie, British Guyana, on April 211927, the son of Dr. George Giglioli the malariologist. He attended schools in Italy and Guyana, and after graduating from McGill University, Canada, in 1950, entered the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medi-cine. He gained his PhD in 1953 and some 20 years later a DSc.

In 1954 Giglioli returned to Canada to work on the ecology of black flies. From 1954-57 he worked as an entomologist with the World Health Organisation's Malaria and Yaws Control Unit in Liberia. Joining the Medical Research Council in 1958 as entomologist in charge of the Keneba Field Station in The Gambia, West Africa, where he worked on the ecology and epidemiology of rural malaria.

He completed this work at the London School in 1965. In that year he was appointed Director of the newly founded Cayman Islands Government Mosquito Research & Control Unit (MRCU) which he built up into a model of its kind, with a well-deserved international reputation.

Although Aedes taeniorhynchus, the black salt marsh mosquito, is not medically dangerous, this biting fly was present in the Cayman Islands in such large numbers in the early 1960s that it was a major constraint to development. Today it is no exaggeration to say that the prosperity enjoyed by

the islands is largely due to the work of Giglioli. Indeed, if the island's mosquitoes had not been controlled, it is inconceivable that today's tourist industry and offshore banking could have de-veloped.

Giglioli was able to achieve and maintain an ascendancy over the mosquitoes through a pro-gramme of physical flood control of breeding sites and by aerial application of insecticides backed up by rigorous monitoring and a programme of applied research.

He also encouraged the Cayman Islands Government with the collaboration of the Uni-versities of London, Reading and Cambridge to establish a studentship scheme whereby postgrad-uate students combined research with practical work in the MRCU. Many of these students are now making major contributions to tropical ento-mology.

In 1974 he was made Resident Director of the ODA-supported Cayman Islands Natural Re-sources Study, undertaken by a team drawn from the UK Marine Biological Association, the Uni-versity College of North Wales and the University of Southampton. In the following year he co-directed the joint Royal Society-Cayman Islands Government Expedition to Little Cayman.

As a result of these studies the scientific com-munity has benefitted enormously and the Cay-man Islands have become a focus of biological and marine research.

Giglioli's practical knowledge of mosquito ecology and controlled to a constant demand for his advice outside the Cayman Islands and the government of the latter were generous in releas-ing him for consultant work for the World Health Organisation, the Wor~d Bank and other govern-ments in the Caribbean, Central America and the Middle East. He was also regional director of the American Mosquito Control Association from 1976-78 and received their meritorious service award in 1979.

He was appointed OBE in 1971.

Strombus gigas, Queen Conch (photo: N. Sefton).

Cyphoma signatum, Fingerprint Cyphoma (photo: N. Sefton).

Cyphoma gibbosum, Flamingo Tongue (photo: N. Sefton).

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Tridachia crispata, Lettuce Slug (photo: N. Sefton).

Pteria Colymbus, Atlantic Wing Oyster (photo: N. Sefton). Lophafrons. Frons Oyster (photo: N. Sefton).

Xl

Lutjanus apodus, Schoolmasters (photo: D.B. Snyder).

Phaeoptyx conklini, Freckled Cardinalfish (photo: D.B. Snyder).

xii

Cephalopholis cruentata, Graysby (photo: D.B. Snyder).

Haemulonflavolineatum, French Grunt (photo: D.B. Snyder).

Schomburgkia thompsoniana var. thompsoniana, endemic Orchid, Grand Cayman (photo: A. McLaughlin).

Dendrophylax fawcettii, endemic Orchid, Grand Cayman (photo: A. McLaughlin).

Oncidium caymanense, endemic Orchid, Grand Cayman (photo: F. Roulstone III).

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Melopyrrllil nigra taylori, Cuban Bullfinch, endemic Grand Cayman subspecies (photo: Y.-J. Rey Millet).

Amazona leucocephala hesterna, endemic Cayman Brac Parrot, male & female (photo: Y.-J. Rey Millet).

Vireo magister caymanensis, Yucatan Vireo, endemic Grand Cayman subspecies (photo: Y.-J. Rey Millet).

Dendroica viteltina viteltina, Vitelline Warbler, endemic Grand Cayman subspecies (photo: Y.-J. Rey Millet).

SpluJerodactylus argivus lewisi, Ground Gecko, subspecies endemic to Grand Cayman (photo: A. Echtemacht & G. Gerber).

Anolis conspersus, Blue-throated Anole, male, eastern form (photo: A. Echternacht & G. Gerber).

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eye/ura nubila lewisi, rare Blue Iguana, male, subspecies endemic to Grand Cayman (photo: F. Burton).

Tropidophis caymanensis parkeri, 'Lazy Snake' Ground Boa, subspecies endemic to Little Cayman (photo: A. Echtemacht).

Table of contents

Preface

Colour plates

List of contributors

1. Scientific studies in the Cayman Islands by J .E. Davies and M.A. Brunt

2. Geology of the Cayman Islands by B. Jones

3. Climate and tides of the Cayman Islands by F.J. Burton

4. Ground water of the Cayman Islands by K-C. S. Ng and R.G.B. Beswick

5. Reefs and lagoons of Grand Cayman by H.H. Roberts

6. Reefs and lagoons of Cayman Brae and Little Cayman by A. Logan

7. Marine algae of the Cayman Islands: a preliminary account by I. Tittley

8. Common sponges of the Cayman Islands by J. Ghiold, G.A. Rountree and S.H. Smith

9. Marine molluscs of the Cayman Islands by D.F. Hess and R.T. Abbott with J. Hamann, K. Meyer, S. Millen T. Gosliner, N. Sefton and R. T. Hanlon

10. Echinoids of Grand Cayman by J. Ghiold and G.A. Rountree

11. Fishes of the Cayman Islands by G.H. Burgess, S.H. Smith and E.D. Lane

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Vll

IX

XIX

1

13

51

61

75

105

125

131

139

191

199

xviii

12. Sea turtles of the Cayman Islands by F.E. Wood and J.R. Wood

13. Phytogeography of the Cayman Islands by G.R Proctor

14. Vegetation of the Cayman Islands by M.A. Brunt

15. Mangrove swamps of the Cayman Islands by M.A. Brunt and F.J. Burton

16. Terrestrial invertebrates (other than insects) of the Cayman Islands by M.V. Hounsome

17. Insects of the Cayman Islands by RR Askew

18. Mosquitoes of the Cayman Islands by J.E. Davies

19. The avifauna of the Cayman Islands: an overview by P.E. Bradley

20. Amphibians and reptiles (exclusive of marine turtles) of the Cayman Islands by M.E. Seidel and R Franz

21. Mammals of the Cayman Islands by G.S. Morgan

22. Late Quaternary fossil vertebrates from the Cayman Islands by G.S. Morgan

23. The boom years in Grand Cayman; environmental deterioration and conservation by M.E.C. Giglioli, with update by J.E. Davies

24. Rare and endemic plants, animals and habitats in the Cayman Islands, and related legislation by J.E. Davies

25. Bibliography of the Cayman Islands by J.E. Davies

General index

Index of genera and species

Index of authors cited

Maps - Swamps and shallow marine substrates (1:25,000) Sheet 1. Grand Cayman West Sheet 2. Grand Cayman East Sheet 3. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

229

237

245

283

307

333

357

377

407

435

465

509

527

543

557

569

597

List of contributors

Dr. R.T. Abbott, American Malacologists Inc., P.O. Box 2255, Melbourne, Florida 32902-2255, U.S.A.

Dr. R.R. Askew, 5 Beeston Hall Mews, Beeston, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 9TZ, U.K.

Mr. R. Beswick, Cayman Islands Water Authority, P.O. Box 1104, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies.

Mrs P.E. Bradley, 25 Springfield, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire BA15 lBA, U.K.

Mr. M.A. Brunt, 71 Church Road, Richmond, Surrey TWlO 6LX, U.K.

Dr. G.H. Burgess, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, U.S.A.

Mr. F.l. Burton, National Trust for the Cayman Islands, P.O. Box 31116, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies.

Dr. J.E. Davies, Tribwthyn, Llantrisant, Usk, Gwent, NP5 1LQ U.K.

Dr. R. Franz, Department of Natural Sciences, Florida Museum of Natural History, University Of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, U.S.A.

Dr. J. Ghiold, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, U.S.A.

Dr. M.E.C. Giglioli, Deceased.

Dr. T. Gosliner, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

Mr. J. Hamann, Hamann Construction Company, EI Cajon, California 92020, U.S.A.

Dr. R. T. Hanlon, Marine Biomedical Institute, 200 University Boulevard, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550-2772, U.S.A.

Dr. D.F. Hess, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois 61455, U.S.A.

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Dr. M.V. Hounsome, Manchester Museum, The University, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.

Dr. B. Jones, Department of Geology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, TG6 2E3.

Dr. E.D. Lane, Aquaculture and Fisheries Department, Malaspina College 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, V9R 5S5.

Dr. A. Logan, Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 5050, Saint John, N.B. Canada, E2L 4L5.

Ms. K. Meyer, Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, 1720 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, U.S.A.

Ms. S. Millen, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Mr. G.S. Morgan, New Mexico Museum of Natural History, 1801 Mountain Road, NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, U.S.A.

Dr. K-C.S. Ng, Cayman Islands Water Authority, P.O. Box 1104, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies.

Dr. G.R. Proctor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 5887, Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00906, U.S.A.

Dr. H.H. Roberts l Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-7527, U.S.A.

Mr. G.A. Rountree, Rountree and Associates Inc., 106 Marina del Ray Boulevarde, Madisonville, Louisiana 70447, U.S.A.

Dr. M.E. Seidel, Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25701, U.S.A.

Mr. S.H. Smith, Environmental Technologies International Inc., 737 Bishop Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96842, U.S.A.

Dr. I. Tittley, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K.

Dr. F.E. Wood and Dr. J. Wood, Cayman Turtle Farm, P.O. Box 645, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies.