BioNews
P-1
Bringing you the latest in research and monitoring
news from the Dutch Caribbean
ISSUE
JUN - JUL
2016
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
Safeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean
This Issue
Dutch Caribbean shark celebrations
What motivates people to protect nature?
Have you recently seen long-spined
sea urchin Diadema antillarum?
Encouraging results for controlling an
agricultural pest on St. Eustatius
Research Overview
Long term Projects overview
Monitoring overview
Reports and publications
Calendar
Welcome to BioNews
BioNews is a monthly
newsletter featuring recent
26
Photo credit: Hans Leijnse (DCNA/SHAPE)
1
4
6
8
9
10
12
14
15
biodiversity research and
monitoring on and around
the six islands of the Dutch
Caribbean. BioNews also
provides an overview of
recent publications, current
research and monitoring
activities, and upcoming
events.
For any questions or
feedback, or if you would
like to make a contribution,
please contact us at
[email protected]
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
Safeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean
Editor’s Notes
In June the Save Our Sharks Project organized the second Dutch
Caribbean Shark Week which was
celebrated throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Many
exciting shark-related activities
were organised to raise awareness about the importance of
sharks and shark conservation.
We are proud to share with you
the great work of our colleagues
who worked very hard to make
this a huge success!
In this issue, we are paying special
attention to research and monitoring projects where citizen science is an important component.
The engagement of non-professional scientists can be invaluable
both for data collection and the
interpretation of results. Fortunately many passionate nature
The second focuses on the longspined sea urchin Diadema antillarum. In the early 80’s a mass dieoff of these important herbivores
resulted in coral reef degradation
and researchers are investigating
the current status of urchins on
reefs throughout the Caribbean.
Observations from citizen scientists are being collected online to
create a new map and to understand underlying recovery proOur first article is about a long- cess and reef health in general.
term project looking at what
motivates people to protect Last, we present an article on the
nature on Bonaire, St. Eustatius encouraging results for controlling
and Saba. This important research the invasive Giant African Land Snail
aims to develop tools to get peo- on St. Eustatius.
ple involved in protection our
natural environment. An online Happy reading!
survey can be filled to help to colDCNA Team
lect the necessary data.
lovers are helping our nature conservation organizations as well as
visiting researchers in their efforts
to protect and maintain our beautiful nature. We are highlighting
two projects which are requesting your assistance to collect the
information needed to answer
their research questions. We hope
to reveal their future findings in
future editions of BioNews!
Celebrating Shark Week with a color run on Saba
Photo credit: Kai Wulf
BioNews Issue 26
P-2
Dutch Caribbean sharks celebrated
throughout the Kingdom
By Linda Planthof
Jörgen Raymann on Curaçao
Photo credit: CARMABI
During Dutch Caribbean Shark Week that was
scheduled from June 18th thru 26th, the entire
Dutch Kingdom celebrated sharks, both as
important ocean predators as well as beautiful
sea creatures that deserve our utmost respect.
Throughout the week, various educational and
interactive activities for all ages were organized
in the Netherlands and on the islands of Bonaire,
Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
Would you like to
share a news item?
Please e-mail us:
[email protected]
the biology and threats to sharks. The rest of the
week included lectures, three nights of pub quizzes,
the opening of a shark exhibit, a cocktail party, eggcase walks on the beach, a beer festival with shark
beer, and a shark theme day in the Sea Life aquarium in Scheveningen. In the Amsterdam Hallen,
the #SharkStrong pop-up store opened for a week,
selling items with a shark and ray theme that were
specifically designed for the store. During a cocktail party in the pop-up store, a new animation was
launched asking support for the Save Our Sharks
As the official Save Our Sharks ambassadors, Dutch petition. Until present, 5000 signatures are collected
comedian Jörgen Raymann, and Félipe Saelmans and the number is still counting. The animation can
visited a multitude of events to help with raising be found online here.
publicity and collecting signatures for the Save Our
Sharks petition. To give Dutch Caribbean Shark Week Within the Dutch Caribbean, each island organized
an online identity, the hashtag #SharkStrong was cre- a wide range of shark-related activities for Dutch
ated, which was used in all online communication on Caribbean Shark Week (DCSW). On St. Eustatius,
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. One of the most Jillian Morris and Duncan Brake of the Sharks4Kids
successful events was the #SharkStrong photo chal- organization visited local schools in the week leadlenge, for which numerous people took pictures with ing up to DCSW to teach kids about shark biology
the specially designed visual representation of the and conservation. These visits were a huge success
hashtag, showing their support for shark conserva- amongst both kids and adults. The official Statia
tion on the Dutch Caribbean islands, and in general. Shark Week kick-off took place on Father’s Day with
a Shark Splash Fun Day on the beach. On WednesIn the Netherlands, Dutch Caribbean Shark Week day, Jörgen Raymann visited the island and hosted
kicked off with a dedicated shark weekend in the a well-attended trivia quiz. On Friday, the SuperRoyal Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem. For the children, an burger hosted a shark movie night and the week
activities booklet was produced including a scaven- concluded on Saturday with a roadblock party at
ger hunt and shark puzzles teaching children about the Statia Day stage.
P-3
Help Save Our Sharks
Sign our petition, in which we call on policy makers to protect sharks in all waters of the Dutch Kingdom.
SIGN HERE
activities in the library. Jörgen Raymann and a group
of journalists were taken on a canoe tour amongst
the island’s mangroves to highlight the important
role of this threatened ecosystem, which plays a vital
role as a nursery habitat for many large fishes. The
popular singer Tio Ali created a song called Konservá
On Saba, the Saba Conservation Foundation cel- Tribon den Karibe, which he performed live during
ebrated Saba Shark Week with a barbecue hosted one of the kid’s events.
by Ecolodge, as well as a kickball tournament, a
Yarari sanctuary trivia quiz, a color run, and a game STINAPA Bonaire launched their Shark Week on
night at the Hideaway. On Shark Stanley day, the Bonaire with a sailing competition during which
kids learned about shark anatomy, finning, and the people were able to learn about local shark species
history of sharks, all whilst doing shark games, and and current conservation efforts. Throughout the
crafts. Every day, the SCF visited the schools to edu- rest of the week, STINAPA organized several events
including lectures about sharks and a trivia quiz at
cate the children and each kid at the
Sacred Heart School and PreSchool received a copy Little Havana. On Saturday, the Shark Art Extravaof the Adventures of Shark Stanley and Friends. Fur- ganza art contest was held at the Taste of Bonaire
thermore, a Shark Stanley audiobook was created, event. An appointed jury chose winners from over
and every night, the radio aired a reading of a chil- one hundred submissions of shark and ray art
pieces. Children had plenty of fun with games and
dren’s book starring sharks and rays.
face painting and were provided with interesting
As St. Maarten offers spectacular diving with sharks, information about the Save Our Sharks project. STIthe dive trips specially organized for St. Maarten NAPA’s team also spent the week visiting the Sentro
Shark Week resulted in some stunning photos. The di Bario’s and the Media Bus teaching kids about
St. Maarten Nature Foundation started their cel- shark conservation and the importance of sharks for
ebrations with an open house at the office, selling their island.
shark art and informing visitors about their work in
the Marine Park. They also hosted several nights at Shortly after DCSW, STINAPA Bonaire hosted the
the Buccaneer beach bar, organizing a big party and official Dutch premiere of the documentary “Great
offering a movie screening and lectures. Following White 3D”, which highlights some of the common
their visit on Statia, the educators from Sharks4Kids misconceptions associated with the danger and
came to St. Maarten to teach high school children importance of sharks.
about the importance of sharks for local reefs.
Dutch Caribbean Shark Week was a tremendous
On the Leeward Islands, Curaçao Shark Week began success, both on the mainland and on the islands;
with a social event at the Avila Hotel during which not only did Dutch and local media broadly cover
CARMABI’s director gave a speech about the impor- the topic of shark conservation, many local resitance of shark conservation for the island. Over the dents learned to no longer fear sharks and actually
course of the week, several activities for kids were embrace their conservation. The hope is that by the
held at CARMABI’s Visiting Center, in addition to a next Dutch Caribbean Shark Week in 2017, participa#SharkStrong nature walk, a quiz night, and multiple tion and awareness will keep improving.
Because not all of Statia’s inhabitants get into the
water and discover their own underwater backyard,
STENAPA created an aquarium at the library for kids
and adults to get acquainted with local coral reefs
and their inhabitants.
#SharkStrong on St. Maarten
Photo credit: Guido Leurs
The taste of Bonaire
Photo credit: STINAPA Bonaire
BioNews Issue 26
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What motivates people to protect nature on
the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba?
By Stacey Mac Donald
That is the research question that, Stacey Mac Donald, a PhD researcher from The Netherlands, is seeking to answer through the use of anthropological and social psychological research insights. Mac Donald also tackles a number of other questions within the fields of nature conservation and, preservation
of cultural heritage on the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, also known as the BES Islands.
Stacey Mac Donald began working last February on
her PhD research project at the Royal Netherlands
Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies
(KITLV) in Leiden, The Netherlands. The goal of her
research project is to determine the motivation of
individuals who protect the BES Island’s natural and
cultural heritage. Mac Donald’s project is part of a
larger project at KITLV entitled ‘Confronting Caribbean Challenges: Hybrid Identities and Governance
in Small-scale Island Jurisdictions’ and is supervised
by prof. Gert J. Oostindie, prof. Gerard Persoon and
dr. Henk Staats.
She not only looks into who the nature conservationists are, including where they are from and to
what extent they feel part of the local community,
but also why these individuals have chosen to help
protect the island’s nature and culture and whether
their sense of belonging to the local community
affects their motives to do so.
Findings from this study will help better understand
if, how and why the different residents of the BES
Islands protect their island’s natural or cultural heritage. Furthermore, results could help towards the
development of campaigns aimed at motivating
While much research focuses on the importance specific community groups to become involved in
of nature conservation on the BES Islands, both the protection of their cultural heritage and natural
for economic development as well as the general environment.
wellbeing of the islands and their residents, little
is known about the individuals who are actively Fieldwork for this research project was conducted
involved with conservation initiatives on these from April to June 2016 on all three islands and conislands. Mac Donald’s PhD research project aims sisted of interviews with key individuals on each
to understand the extent to which residents of island. In addition, interactions of individuals with
all three islands want to play a role in protecting the local environment were video recorded to illustrate the dynamic that is visible on each island.
their natural and cultural heritage.
The weekly Farmers’ market on Saba, hosted by the Social Workplace Organóponics garden - selling organic produce from local farmers, fishermen and conservation foods.
Photo credit: Stacey Mac Donald
P-5
Take the survey
Are you resident of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and would you like to contribute to this project?
share a news item?
PLEASE FILL IN THE ONLINE SURVEY HERE
Please e-mail us:
To participate, you:
• are 16 years of age or older;
[email protected]
• currently reside on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba;
• have protected the natural environment and/or cultural heritage of the island for at least half a day
(four hours) in the past six months.
Filling out the questionnaire will take about 20 minutes and can be filled out in English, Dutch or
Papiamentu.
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fleidenuniv.eu.qualtrics.com%2FSE%2F%3
FSID%3DSV_6icEjttkIMFAnQh&token=zaoYHwR0B4sBUj0vEBUqQYJSRmX3VsY2ZjajBFXNVjc%3D
Preliminary findings show that, regarding environmental protection, the dynamics are (unsurprisingly)
very different on each island. However, conservationists on all three islands mostly consist of so-called
“non-locals”, migrants or expats, that is people who
do not originate from the BES islands. There are of
course exceptions on each island; several local residents are well known for their conservation efforts
and some locals regularly participate in for example,
recycling campaigns and clean-up events.
Concerning the motivation of individuals who help
protect the natural environment, there seems to
be differences, but also overlap, between the various types of residents. Locals appear to place more
emphasis on their emotional attachment to the
island and its nature, referencing experiences they
Would you like to
had in their youth, whereas non-locals tend to place
more emphasis on the (global) scientific importance
of protecting the environment. There are many
nuances within and between each island, however
further data analysis is required to clearly understand the underlying causes of these nuances.
An online survey is set to launch this July for all
residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba who contribute to the conservation of their island’s natural
environment and cultural heritage. This survey is
intended to collect additional data on the different
types of people involved with cultural and natural
preservation, the variety of actions they undertake
and their specific motivation to do so.
Counting plastic waste on Bonaire during the “Trash to Cash Family Challenge”, organized by Selibon N.V., in collaboration with The
Plastic Soup Foundation and Boneiru Duradero.
Photo credit: Stacey Mac Donald
BioNews Issue 26
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Have you recently seen -or not seen- long-spined
sea urchin Diadema antillarum on Caribbean reefs?
By Kelly Latijnhouwers
The early 80’s die-off of Diadema antillarum and
the subsequent reef degradation is by now a
well-discussed and studied topic throughout the
Caribbean. D. antillarum was once known as the
most abundant and therefore most important
herbivore in the Caribbean. Its mass mortality
has led to (macro) algae to take over many Caribbean reefs, being partially responsible for the
reef degradation we are facing today.
Even though the abundance of this species is so
important for conserving coral reefs, the current
status of D. antillarum remains widely unknown
throughout the Caribbean. There have been
several studies on D. antillarum abundance on
individual islands, and even some in larger areas,
but there have been no attempts to recreate the
Caribbean wide map that H. Lessios made in
1984, right after the mass mortality event.
Nonetheless, it has been proven that areas in
which D. antillarum are present, reefs are doing
relatively better than in areas in which they are
absent (T. Hughes, 2016). Therefore, obtaining
knowledge on the current status of D. antillarum would give great insights on circumstances
under which this species can regrow and information about reef health in general. The latter is
exactly what Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(San Diego, USA) and Carmabi research station
(Curaçao) are aiming to accomplish.
In order to test in which areas D. antillarum populations are recovering and in which areas they are
not, Kelly Latijnhouwers is creating a similar spatial map, 30 years after the big die-off. She is not
doing this by counting D. antillarum all over the
Caribbean herself, but by contacting everyone
who is often in and/or around the water anywhere
Have you recently seen -or not seen- long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum
on Caribbean reefs? Please share your observations at www.seaegg.org to contribute to Caribbean wide reef conservation research!
Long- spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum.
Photo credit: Mark Vermeij (CARMABI)
P-7
in the Caribbean, asking them whether they have
recently seen D. antillarum or not. Sightings, observations and information can be really easily shared
on the website www.seaegg.org, where you will
find a short survey in which you can simply click
on your regular dive sites on a map, and answer
the questions that pop up.
The project started in March 2016, and so far a
lot of individual people, dive shops, foundations
and (research) institutions have been collaborating and sharing their observations. However, the
survey will keep on running until November 2016
and all help is very welcome and highly appreciated! If you read this and have any information/
sightings/observations/data on D. antillarum, or
think about it the next time you’re in the water,
feel free to share at either www.seaegg.org or by
emailing to [email protected].
Marine biologist Kelly Latijnhouwers is leading the research
project on the status of Diadema antillarum 30 years after the
mass mortality event. She needs help from people all over
the Caribbean. All insights in Diadema antillarum abundance
are useful for this research. Please share your observations on
www.seaegg.org
Photo credit: SCRIPPS
Spread of Diadema mass mortality through the Caribbean and the Western Atlantic in 1983.
*Reference: Lessios, H. A., Robertson, D. R., & Cubit, J. D. (1984). Spread of Diadema mass mortality through the Caribbean. Science,
226(4672), 335-337.
BioNews Issue 26
P-8
Members of the
Dutch Caribbean
Nature Alliance
Aruba
Fundacion Parke
Nacional Arikok
tel: +297-585-1234
www.arubanationalpark.org
Bonaire
STINAPA Bonaire
tel: +599-717-8444
www.stinapa.org
Invasive Giant African Land Snail, Achatina fulica.
Photo credit: John de Freitas
Curaçao
CARMABI
tel: +599-9-462-4242
www.carmabi.org
Encouraging results for controlling an agricultural pest on St. Eustatius
By Dr. Adolphe (Dolfi) Debrot, project leader, IMARES Wageningen University and Research & VHL
University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, Anthony Reid, St. Eustatius Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Dr. Teresa Leslie, St. Eustatius Health Department, Hannah Madden, STENAPA,
Curaçao
Stichting Uniek Curaçao
tel: +599-9-462-8989
www.uniekcuracao.org
Dr. Johan Stapel, CNSI, and interns Friso Dalm, Lara Uphoff, and Leonie van der Zwet. In 2013, the invasive Giant African Land Snail, Achatina fulica was found in a small part of urban
St. Eustatius. In collaboration with local government agencies and Dutch universities, IMARES* conducted field and laboratory pilot trials of control methods from October 2015 to June 2016.
Bonaire
STCB
tel: +599-717-2225
www.bonaireturtles.org
From the initial two gardens
in 2013, the species has since
been confirmed in 37 gardens
encompassing an epicentre
of about 100 lots in the Bay
Brow area. During the study
period, application of ecofriendly iron-phosphate snail
bait successfully prevented
further spread into adjacent
buffer-zone monitoring areas.
Iron-phosphate snail bait was
effective in greatly reducing
snail population density. It
was applied once a week at an
average density of 0.7 g/m2 at
garden level, but was concentrated in hotspot snail habitat areas. Nevertheless, hand
picking, which is more labour
intensive and gives more variable results, also appeared
effective in reducing snail density. Finally, beached Sargassum seaweed, brought forth
as a snail deterrent used on
neighbouring islands, did not
measurably kill snails above
zero control levels, and the
researchers concluded that
seaweed is unlikely to be effective in snail control.
Based on their encouraging
results, control and eventual
eradication of Achatina from
St. Eustatius still seems feasible
using a combination of snail
baits and handpicking combined with dedicated monitoring. We hope that in the context
of the recently drafted Dutch
Caribbean joint policy actionplan against invasive species,
the Statia island government
and Dutch central government
will support continued efforts to
contain and eventually wipe out
this invasive agricultural pest. P-9
Research Overview
Below you will find an overview of the research projects for which fieldwork took place on the islands of the
Members of the
Dutch Caribbean
Nature Alliance
Subject
Fluorescence on the marine fireworm Hermodice carunculata
BON
CIEE:Enrique Arboleda
Birds
Suitability study and reforestation of exclosures facilitating the Yellowshouldered Amazon Parrots (Amazona barbadensis)​on Bonaire.
BON
Echo: Lauren Schmaltz
Cnidaria
Cubozoans of Bonaire
BON
CIEE: Rita Peachey, Austin Lin
Coral Reef
ecosystems
Comparing reef fish survey techniques between UVC and sDOV
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
STENAPA, Min EZ, CNSI
BON
Alterra: Sander Mücher
IMARES: Erik Meesters
Coral Reef
ecosystems
Coral Reef
ecosystems
Economics of
ecosystems
Environmental
Coral reef mapping using hyperspectral imagery
Status of Diaderma antillarum on Caribbean Reefs
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) on Aruba
All
AUA
Scripps institution of oceanography: Stuart Sandin
CARMABI: Kelly Latijnhouwers
UN
D AT I O
N
Saba
Saba Conservation Foundation
tel: +599-416-3295
www.sabapark.org
St. Eustatius
STENAPA
tel: +599-318-2884
www.statiapark.org
Wolfs Company: Esther Wolfs
VU University Amsterdam:
Pieter van Beukering
YABI consultancy: Francielle
Laclé
CIEE: Rita Peachey,
Dr. Enrique Arboleda
Indiana University: Stephen
Glaholt
Environmental DNA (eDNA)
NSERVA
TI
CO
O
F
Amphinomida
A
ON
Category
Organization(s):
Islands
Lead scientist(s)
SA
B
Dutch Caribbean.
Fish
Fish brain physiology
Macquarie University: Dan
Warren
Fish
Fish eye physiology and evolution
Smithsonian: Michele Pierotti
Fish
Local stakeholders’ views and needs with regards to the marine
ecosystem
SAB
7Senses: Madelon Eelderink
SCF
Invasive species
Research into mitigation measures for Sargassum Seaweed
SXM
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Government of St. Maarten
Invasive species
Invasive seagrass-sea turtle interactions
(*Part of NWO project: Ecology and conservation of green and
hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean)
BON
STCB: Mabel Nava
RuG: Marjolijn Christianen,
WUR: Lisa Becking
Plants
Germination of seeds of indigenous trees of Curaçao
CUR
CARMABI: John de Freitas
Pants
Testing effective ways to grow native plants
BON
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz,
Johan van Blerk, Maddi
Lattimore
Reptiles
Sea turtle conservation in spite of climate change
(*Part of NWO project: Ecology and conservation of green and
hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean)
BON
STCB: Mabel Nava
RuG: Marjolijn Christianen
WUR: Lisa Becking
Zooplankton
Zooplankton Response to UV light
BON
CIEE:Rita Peachey, Sara
Buckley, Austin Lin
St. Maarten
Nature Foundation
tel: +721-544-4267
www.naturefoundationsxm.org
St. Maarten
Emilio Wilson Estate FDN
tel: +1-721-524-1516
www.sxmconservationfoundations.org/ewef
Bonaire
Echo
tel. +599-701-1188
www.echobonaire.org
BioNews Issue 26
P-10
Long Term Projects
Category
Subject
Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP) (ARMS: Autonomous
Reef Monitoring Structures)
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Environmental factors driving recruitment success in
Caribbean corals
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Bioersion of reefs by coral-excavating sponges
NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl
BON,CUR, SAB,
IMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de
EUX
Bakker (PhD student)
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Development of restoration methods for threatened
Caribbean coral species
CRF Bonaire: Augusto Montbrun,
Francesca Virdis
SECORE Project
CARMABI: Mark Vermeij
BON, CUR, SAB
UvA: Valerie Chamberland (PhD
student)
SCF, Sea Saba, Samford University:
Jennifer Rahn
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Developing a plan to manage the waters around Curaçao
sustainably, profitably, and enjoyably for this and future
generations
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Restoration Ecosystem Services and Coral Reef Quality
(Project RESQ)
Database
Dutch Caribbean Species Catalog: Taxonomic knowledge
system Dutch Caribbean
Sustainable ecosystem management and use by marine comEnvironmental
munities in two exemplary regions (TripleP@Sea Program)
Environmental
Effects of dispersants on the fate of oil in realistic conditions
(C-IMAGE consortium, TripleP@Sea Program)
Ecotoxicological aspects of rational application of chemicals in
Environmental response to oil spills to reduce environmental damage
(C-IMAGE consortium, TripleP@Sea Program)
Ecotoxicological aspects of rational application of chemicals
in response to oil spills to reduce environmental damage
Environmental Development of an area specific net environmental and economic benefit analysis (NEEBA) to support oil spill mitigation
decisions; with St. Eustatius as example
program on the list or
[email protected]
CUR
Smithsonian: Carole Baldwin
CUR
UvA: Valerie Chamberland (PhD
Student)
CARMABI
SECORE Foundation
CUR
Waitt Institute (Blue Halo Curaçao):
Kathryn Mengerink
BON
IMARES: Erik Meesters
NFSXM
STENAPA
SCF
Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
AUA, BON, CUR, Naturalis: Sander Pieterse & Berry van
SAB, EUX, SXM der Hoorn
EUX
WUR: Grietje Zeeman, Marc Spiller
CNSI
BON, EUX
WUR: Linde van Bets (PhD student);
Arthur Mol, Jan van Tatenhove;
Machiel Lamers
IMARES: Han Lindeboom
CNSI
EUX
WUR: Tinka Murk, Marieke ZeinstraHelfrich (PhD student)
CNSI
EUX
WUR: Tinka Murk, Justine van
Eenennaam (PhD student)
CNSI
EUX
WUR: Tinka Murk, Sophie Vonk (PhD
student)
Lei Wageningen UR: Stijn Reinhard
CNSI
BON, CUR, SAB,
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
EUX, SXM
Fish
Status of shark and fish communities in the Dutch Caribbean
Fish
Fish and Fisheries Research Programme
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Min. EZ
Dept LVV
CNSI
Interstitial
biodiversity
Moleculair biodiversity analysis of marine and terrestrial communities by metabarcoding
EUX
Naturalis: Arjen speksnijder
ANEMOON: Niels Schrieken
Invasive
species
Combatting the economic and ecological impacts of overgrazing on inhabited islands
BON
UsA: Michaela Roberts (PhD student)
Mangrove
ecosystems
Mangrove restoration Lac Bay, Bonaire
BON
STINAPA: Sabine Engel
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
WUR: Klaas Metselaar
DROB
Marine
ecosystems
Marine Park Aruba
AUA
Directie Natuur en Milieu: Gisbert
Boekhoudt
TNO: Kris Kats
Marine
ecosystems
Marine biodiversity baseline study St. Eustatius
EUX
Naturalis: Bert Hoeksema
STENAPA
CNSI
Molluscs
Population dynamics and role in the food chain of the Queen
Conch Lobatus gigas in the Dutch Caribbean Territories
EUX, SAB
Public Health
DNA waterscan: Monitoring disease vectors in the Caribbean
(mosquitoes and midges)
EUX
incorrect information?
Please e-mail us:
Organization(s):
Lead scientist(s)
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Zero nutrient discharge of domestic waste (water) nutrients
Environmental and total reuse of nutrients in agriculture and aquaculture in
Caribbean Islands (TripleP@Sea Program)
Don’t see your research
Island
WUR: Aad Smaal, Leo Nagelkerke
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Erik Boman (PhD student)
SCF (SBMU)
CNSI
Naturalis: Kevin Beentjes
ECPHF: Teresa Leslie
P-11
Sustainable development Dutch Caribbean (TripleP@Sea
Program)
Sustainability - Are human activities a risk for ecosystem services?
- Green Statia or how to regain balance between nature and
agriculture?
EUX
IMARES: Diana Slijkerman
Alterra: Rene Henkens
CNSI
Terrestrial
biodiversity
Baseline assessment and DNA barcoding of specimens
EUX
Naturalis: Michael Stech, Berry van
der Hoorn
STENAPA
CNSI
Terrestrial
biodiversity
Testing surrogates to establish conservation priorities
EUX
Naturalis: Jeremy Miller
STENAPA
NWO Projects in the Dutch Caribbean
BON, SAB, EUX
NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Steven van
Heuzen (PostDoc), Alice Webb (PhD
student)
STENAPA
CNSI
Environmental Caribbean island biogeography meets the anthropocene
EUX, SXM
(Planned for
other islands)
VU: Jacintha Ellers, Matt Helmus,
Wendy Jesse (PhD. Student)
CNSI
Confronting Caribbean Challenges: Hybrid Identities and
Environmental Governance in Small-scale Island Jurisdictions
psychology
- Behavioural differences between/within the BES islands
when it comes to nature conservation and cultural heritage.
BON, SAB, EUX
KITLV, Leiden University: Gert Oostindie (Project director)
KITLV, Leiden University: Stacey Mac
Donald (PhD student)
BON, EUX, SXM
UU: Henk Dijkstra, NIOZ: Peter Herman, Rebecca James (PhD student)
TU Delft: Julie Pietrzak
STENAPA
CNSI
EUX
UU: Wim Spakman
NIOZ: Lennart de Nooijer
Alfred Wegener Institute Germany
CNSI
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Caribbean coral reef ecosystems: interactions of anthropogenic ocean acidification and eutrophication with bioerosion by coral excavating sponges
- Bioerosian and climate change
Geosciences
Stability of Caribbean coastal ecosystems under future
extreme sea level changes (SCENES)
- The effects of climate change on calcifying algae
Geomorphological
4D crust-mantle modelling of the eastern Caribbean region:
toward coupling deep driving processes to surface evolution
- Reconstructing past climate change
Invasive
species
Exotic plant species in the Caribbean: foreign foes or alien
allies?
(1) Socio-economic impacts of invasive plant species
(2) Ecological impacts of invasive plant species-Utrecht
University
Reptiles
Ecology and conservation of green and hawksbill turtles in
the Dutch Caribbean
BON, SAB, EUX
(1) UU: Jetske Vaas (PhD student),
Peter Driessen, Frank van Laerhoven
and Mendel Giezen (2) UU: Elizabeth
Haber (PhD student), Martin Wassen,
Max Rietkerk,Maarten Eppinga.
CNSI
BON, CUR,
(Planned for
other islands)
RuG: Per Palsbøll, Marjolijn
Christianen, Jurgen van der Zee (PhD
student)
WUR: Lisa Becking
STCB: Mabel Nava
CARMABI
STENAPA
CNSI
BO-projects in the Dutch Caribbean
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
BO-11-019.02-038– Analysis photomaterial coral reefs/
phase 2
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
BO-11-019.02-022 –Inventory corals
DCBD
BO-11-019.02-002 - Expansion knowledge system Dutch
Caribbean
Fisheries
BO-11-019.02-055 – Fisheries inventory (EEZ Curaçao)
CUR
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
BON, CUR
IMARES: Erik Meesters
BON
IMARES: Erik Meesters
AUA, BON, CUR,
Alterra: Peter Verweij
SAB, EUX, SXM
Fisheries
BO-11-019.02-049 – Saba Bank – Fisheries
SAB
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Marine
biodiversity
BO-11-019.02-008 – Saba Bank – Marine Biodiversity
SAB
IMARES: Erik Meesters
Marine
mammals
BO-11-019.02-054 – Management plan marine mammal
sanctuary Sababank
SAB
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
Marine
mammals
BO-11-019.02-005 – Marine mammals Caribbean Netherlands
BON, SAB, EUX
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
Natural
resource use
BO-11-019.02-050 – World Heritage nomination Bonaire
National Marine Park
BON
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
Reptiles
BO-11-019.02-057 – Action plan invasive Green Iguana
(HD3623)
EUX
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
Ecological Professionals Foundation:
Hannah Madden
BioNews Issue 26
P-12
Monitoring Overview
Don’t see your monitoring
program on the list or
incorrect information?
Below you will find an overview of the monitoring work that is currently running in the Dutch Caribbean.
Monitoring work for which fieldwork took place in this month is highlighted.
Category
Subject
Island
Birds
Flamingo Abundance
BON
DROB: Frank van Slobbe
Cargill
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol
Birds
Monitoring vulnerable parrot nests
(remote camera sensing work)
BON
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz
Birds
Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot roost counts
BON
Echo: Sam Williams
DROB: Frank van Slobbe
Bird Monitoring (Caribbean Waterbird Census)
AUA
BON
FPNA
DLVV: Tatiana Becker
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol,
Caren Eckrich
Please e-mail us:
[email protected]
If you have research or
monitoring data, the DCNA
secretariat can help you to
get it housed in the Dutch
Birds
Caribbean Biodiversity
Database (DCBD). This
Birds
Tern monitoring (artificial nesting islands)
BON
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol, Caren
Eckrich
Cargill
DROB
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
Birds
Terrestrial Bird Monitoring Program for Bonaire
BON
STINAPA: Fernando Simal
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz
Birds
Nesting Sea Birds
BON
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol
Birds
Bird monitoring
SAB,
EUX,
SXM
EPIC: Adam Brown
Birds
Red-billed Tropicbird monitoring
SAB
EUX
STENAPA
Ecological Professionals
Foundation: Hannah Madden
SCF: Kai Wulf
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
Birds
Population assessment of the Bridled Quail-dove
EUX
STENAPA
Ecological Professionals
Foundation: Hannah Madden
Coral reef
ecosystems
Coral Bleaching Monitoring
SXM
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Coral reef
ecosystems
Survival rate of Scleractinian Corals and Diadema
antillarum) in Oranjebaai. (Permanent monitoring
transects)
EUX
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
database is a central online
resource with all biodiversity
and conservation related
information for the Dutch
Caribbean.
Organization(s): Lead scientist(s)
Coral reef
ecosystems
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
SAB
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
CNSI
Corals reef
ecosystems
Staghorn coral field monitoring survey
EUX
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
Coral reef
ecosystems
Monitoring and research of the longest coral reef
time-series in the world (since 1973)
BON
CUR
IMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de
Bakker (PhD student)
NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Rolf Bak
Ecosystems
Invasive seagrass monitoring
BON
EUX
STINAPA: Sabine Engel, Caren
Eckrich
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Ecosystems
Seagrass monitoring
SXM
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Ecosystems
Mangrove monitoring
SXM
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
P-13
Ecosystems
Seagrass/conch/mangrove/ benthic fauna,
Lac Bay Restoration
BON
STINAPA: Sabine Engel, Caren
Eckrich
WUR: Klaas Metselaar
Environmental
Water quality testing
SXM
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
EPIC: Natalia Collier
Fish
Shark monitoring:
-Shark sightings
- Shark Abundance, distribution and movements
(tagging, acoustic telemetry)
SAB
SXM
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf, Erwin de
Winter
SCF(SBMU)
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
Fish
Spawning monitoring: Red hind surveys on
Moonfish Bank
SAB
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Insects
Bee tracking
BON
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz
Invasive species
Goat and/or donkey removal:
-Washington Slagbaai National Park
- Lac Bay area (exclusion plots)
- Quill National Park (exclusion plots)
BON
EUX
STINAPA: Evo Cicilia
IMARES: Dolfi Debrot
DROB
STENAPA
Invasive species
Lionfish abundance and control
BON
CUR
SXM
SAB
EUX
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol (50 meter
traps)
CARMABI: Mark Vermeij
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
Invasive species
Monkey Monitoring: abundance and distribution
SXM
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Invasive species
Feral pig population assessment (trapping)
BON
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz, Sam
Williams
UsA: Michaela Roberts
Mammals
Bat monitoring
AUA
BON
FPNA
WildConscience: Fernando Simal,
Linda Garcia
Mammals
Dolphin monitoring (since 1999)
BON
Ron Sewell
Molluscs
Conch (Strombus gigas) on St. Eustatius, Saba
Bank, Anguilla
SAB
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf, Erik Boman (PhD student)
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
Natural resource
use
Fishery monitoring (including marine mammal
sightings and use of escape vents to reduce bycatch)
SAB
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Plants
Reforestation Klein Bonaire
BON
STINAPA
Plants
Phenology of bats in cacti landscapes of Aruba
AUA
WildConscience: Linda Garcia,
FPNA
Reptiles
Lesser Antillean Iguana: Monitoring population
density
EUX
RAVON: Tim van Wagensveld
STENAPA
Ecological Professionals
Foundation: Hannah Madden
Reptiles
Boa and Cascabel Monitoring
AUA
FPNA, Toledo Zoological
Society: Andrew Odum Reptiles
Red bellied Racer snake population survey
EUX
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Sea turtle monitoring:
-Satellite tracking
-Nest monitoring
-In water surveys (BON, CUR, SXM)
-Fibropapillomatosis presence (BON)
AUA,
BON,
CUR,
SAB,
EUX,
SXM
TurtugAruba Foundation
STCB: Mabel Nava
CARMABI (STCC): Sabine Berendse
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
SCF:Kai Wulf
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Reptiles
BioNews Issue 26
P-14
Reports and Publications overview
Below you will find an overview of the reports and
publications on biodiversity related subjects in the
Dutch Caribbean that have recently been published.
Debrot, A.O. (IMARES), A. Reid, A., T. Leslie, H. Madden,
J. stapel, F. Dalm, L. Uphoff, L. van der Zwet (2016)
Pilot trials on St. Eustatius to contain the spread of and
eradicate the invasive Giant African Land Snail
Ames, C.L., J.F. Ryan, A.E. Bely, P. Cartwright, A.G.
Collins (2016)
A new transcriptome and transcriptome profiling of
adult and larval tissue in the box jellyfish Alatina alata: an
emerging model for studying venom, vision and sex, BMC
Genomics DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2944-3
Geelhoed, S.C.V., N. Janinhoff, J.P. Verdaat (2016)
First visual record of a living basking shark Cetorhinus
maximus in the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean Journal of
Science, Vol. 49(1) 76-78
Jesse, W.A.M., H. Madden, J. Molleman, T. van
Wagensveld (2016)
Bakker, D. de, E.H.W.G.. Meesters, J.D.L. van Bleijswijk,
First Recorded Introduction for the Saba Anole (Anolis
P.C. Luttikhuizen, H. J. A. J. Breeuwer, L. E. Becking (2016) sabanus) and an Overview of Introduced Amphibians and
Population Genetic Structure, Abundance, and Health
Reptiles on St. Eustatius, IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS:
Status of Two Dominant Benthic Species in the Saba
144–146
Bank National Park, Caribbean Netherlands: Montastraea
cavernosa and Xestospongia muta, Plos ONE 11(5):
Montano, S., D. Maggioni, P. Galli, B.W. Hoeksema (2016)
e0155969, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155969
A cryptic species in the Pteroclava krempfi species
complex (Hydrozoa, Cladocorynidae) revealed in the
Baldwin, C.C., D.E. Ptassy, D.R. Robertson (2016)
Caribbean, Marine Biodiversity: 1-7, DOI: 10.1007/s12526A new deep-reef scorpionfish (Teleostei, Scorpaenidae,
016-0555-5
Scorpaenodes) from the southern Caribbean with
comments on depth distributions and relationships of
Nassar, J.M., R. Galicia, A. Ibarra, R.A. Medellin (2016)
western Atlantic members of the genus, Zookeys 606:
Tracking the origin of the smearing behavior in long141–158.
nosed bats (Leptonycteris spp.). Mammalian Biology DOI:
10.1016/j.mambio.2016.08.003
Beek, I.J.M. van (2016)
Ecolgical values of the 12 miles zone of Bonaire, Ijmuiden: Risch, D. D. de Haan (2016)
IMARES (Report/IMARES C026/16), p. 1-34
Humpback and minke whale acoustic presence with
reference to fish sounds and ambient noise levels at Saba
Böhm, T. W. Hoeksema (2016)
Bank, Caribbean Windward Dutch Islands, Den Helder:
Habitat selection of the coral-dwelling spinyhead blenny, IMARES (Report/ IMARES C067/16), p.1-22
Acanthemblemaria spinosa, at Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean,
B.W. Mar Biodiv DOI:10.1007/s12526-016-0543-9
List of Acronyms
AUA Aruba
BON Bonaire
CUR Curaçao
SAB Saba
EUX St. Eustatius
SXM St. Maarten
Alterra
Research Institute for our green living
environment, the Netherlands
Analyse Educatie en Marien Oecologisch
ANEMOON
Onderzoek
ASDF Aruba Sustainable Development Foundation
BO project Policy Supporting Research project
BU Bangor University, United Kingdom
Caribbean Research and Management of BiodiCARMABI
versity Foundation
CIEE
Council of International Educational Exchange,
Bonaire
CRF Coral Reef Foundation
DCNA Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
DCBD Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database
DROB
Directorate of Spatial Planning and Development, Bonaire
DLVV
Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery
(Santa
and Farmers market (Santa Rosa), Aruba
Rosa)
ECPHF Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation
EPIC Environmental Protection in the Caribbean
FPNA Fundacion Parke Nacional Arikok, Aruba
Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem
IMARES
Studies, the Netherlands
LVV
Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry &
Fisheries, St. Eustatius
NFSXM Nature Foundation St. Maarten
Naturalis Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands
NIOZ Royal Institute for Sea Research, the Netherlands
NWO Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
RAVON Reptielen Amfibieën Vissen Onderzoek Nederland
RuG University of Groningen, the Netherlands
SBMU Saba Bank Management Unit
SCF Saba Conservation Foundation
Smith- Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural
sonian History
STCB Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire
STCC Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao
STENAPA St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation
STINAPA National Parks Foundation Bonaire
TUD Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
UsA University of St. Andrews, Scotland
UU University of Utrecht, the Netherlands
UvA University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
VHL
University of Applied Sciences VHL, the Netherlands
VU VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
WildconWildlife Conservation, Science and Education
science
WNF World Wide Fund for Nature
WUR
Wageningen University and Research Centre,
the Netherlands
P-15
Calendar
More events to add to this
An overview of nature conservation and management related events of this month and the coming months.
June
5
[email protected]
Event
World Environment Day
6-9
Workshop
Caribbean border control and invasive aliens species management workshop, Jamaica
6-8
Event
World Oceans Day
14-16
Symposium
Shark Conservation Symposium, Sint Maarten (Hosted by Government of St. Maarten, St.
Maarten Nature Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust, and The Pew Charitable Trusts)
18-26
Event
Dutch Caribbean Shark Week 2016 (Save Our Sharks Project Dutch Postcode Lottery)
19-24
Symposium
13th International Coral Reef Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii USA
Congress
4th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC4), St. John's, Newfoundland and
Labrador, Canada
30-3
August
calendar? Please e-mail us:
July
25-5
August
30-3
August
Economic Tools
for Conservation
Economic tools for conservation, Berkeley, California
Congress
4th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC4),
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
August
29-1
Sept
Meeting
13th Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Inter-American Sea Turtle Convention
(IAC), Belize
September
1-10
Congress
IUCN World Conservation Congress, Honolulu, Hawaï
26-30
Workshop
Caribbean Birding Trail, Bonaire (Echo and DCNA)
October
3-4
Workshop
Shark Management Expert Workshop, Bonaire
5
Meeting
Fishery Commission BES, Bonaire
6
Meeting
Dutch Caribbean EEZ committee, Bonaire
15 - 22
Expedition
Shark Tagging Expedition (Satellite tags), Saba Bank (SOS project)
18-21
Working
conference
Coastal Dynamics and Ecosystem Change: Caribbean, quo vadis?, Bonaire
28-30
Conference
31- 5
Nov
Meeting
20th Annual Scientific Conference of the European Elasmobranch Association (EEA),
Bristol (UK)
7th Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the SPAW Protocol and 3rd
STAC of the Land Based Sources of marine pollution (LBS) Protocol, Miami, Florida, USA
DCNA Contact Information
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance | Kaya Finlandia 10a | Kralendijk, Bonaire | Dutch Caribbean
+599-717-5010 | [email protected] | www.DCNA nature.org
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Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance | Kaya Finlandia 10a | Kralendijk, Bonaire | Dutch Caribbean