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SPECIAL

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Bringing you the latest in research and monitoring

news from the Dutch CaribbeanBioNewsDutch Caribbean Nature AllianceSafeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean

This Issue“Yarari” Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary

BioNews HighlightsDutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database

Research ProjectsLong term ProjectsResearch Priorities

Monitoring overviewDCNA 10 year timeline

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SPECIAL ISSUEAUGUST 2015 - JUNE 2016

“Yarari” Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary • BioNews Highlights

DCNA 10 year timeline • Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database

Research Priorities • Research and monitoring overview

BioNews SPECIAL ISSUE: AUG 2015 - JUN 2016 P-2

The Yarari Sanctuary – ActivitiesBy Paul Hoetjes

The EEZ Committee functions as Yarari’s management body because the Yarari Sanctuary comprises all the waters around Bonaire and Saba (and hopefully St. Eustatius as well in the future) including the EEZ. The committee looked at a first draft action plan late last year and continued to revise it during its last meeting in March of this year. While the plan is not quite final-ized, several actions are already being implemented.

Marine Mammals The Ministry of Economic Affairs, DCNA and the ma-rine parks of St. Maarten and Saba are working with the French Agoa Sanctuary on a proposal to the EU for INTERREG-Caribbean funding to strengthen marine mammal sanctuary cooperation with capacity build-ing for strandings and entanglements, management plans, pooling of data and knowledge and harmoniz-ing whale watching guidelines and regulations.

A third humpback whale fluke photograph taken off Saba was sent to the CARIB Tails’ program (www.car-ibtails.org) for identification and turned out to be a new individual.

Acoustic monitoring on the Saba Bank, which began last November, Is still ongoing. A new NOAA program is now gearing up to place acoustic noise loggers for the coming winter season off Aruba and Curaçao as well as in the Grenadines, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and the Dominican Republic. This represents a huge step forward in the establishment of a regional acoustic monitoring network. The program will also tie into a

The Yarari Sanctuary for marine mammals and sharks was established last September by a joint

Declaration of the State Secretary of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and the island governments

of Saba and Bonaire. To clearly define how the Sanctuary will protect the marine mammals and sharks

of the Caribbean Netherlands, the Committee for the joint management of the Marine Biodiversity and

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Kingdom in the Caribbean (EEZ Committee) has

put together a Plan of Action for Yarari.

Editor’s NotesThis is a very Special Edition of BioNews, produced with our colleagues at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in mind, high-lighting some of our common conservation successes and achievements.

The declaration of the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary in September 2015 by State Secretary Sharon Dijksma, represents a huge milestone for conservation organizations in the Dutch Caribbean which are deeply committed to the preser-vation of our sharks, rays, whales and dolphins.

The Dutch Caribbean Biodiver-sity Database (DCBD) is a multi-

year co-operative undertaking, funded by the Ministry, which is now beginning to come into its own. The DCBD has allowed DCNA to bring on line a wealth of information, maps, GIS and monitoring data as well as research work which would otherwise have been difficult to share. The Ministry’s investment in the database has included uploading and processing data resulting in some excellent graphical representations of the state of the marine environment around St Eustatius and the turtle populations and nesting around Bonaire, for example.

This Special Edition provides a complete overview of all research

and monitoring activity which has taken place in the Dutch Caribbean over the past year as well as the research needs for the region, which were identified in collaboration with the Ministry.

Since 2015 marked DCNA’s 10 year anniversary we are proud to share a copy of our ten year time line and to have included quo-tations from the Ministry’s Paul Hoetjes (Senior Policy Advisor, RCN Bonaire), Director General Annemie Burger and State Sec-retary Sharon Dijksma. We look forwards to another ten years of close and productive collabora-tion to safeguard nature in the Dutch Caribbean.

Welcome to BioNews

BioNews is a monthly

newsletter featuring recent

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]

State Secretary Sharon Dijksma visiting the Saba National Ma-rine Park with Saba Conservation Foundation’s Saba Bank Of-ficer, Dahlia Hassell.Photo credit: Saba Conservation Foundation


research proposal by Groningen University, together with the Dutch Caribbean park organizations, DCNA and other project collaborators that was submit-ted to the NWO’s Caribbean research program. The aim of this research project is to combine acoustic monitoring with visual surveys and DNA sampling to elucidate the seasonal presence, isolation and abun-dance as well as seasonal migratory destination(s) and population history of humpback and Bryde’s whales in the Dutch Caribbean. Of particular interest are indications that there is an “eastern” North Atlan-tic humpback population in the Lesser Antilles that crosses the Atlantic to the Cape Verde islands, Iceland and northern Europe.

SharksThe Ministry of Economic Affairs will soon start a re-view of the Caribbean Netherlands’ fisheries legisla-tion, including regulations to better protect sharks. The two main threats to sharks in our waters are accidental bycatch and the risk of a shark fin market developing, which would lead to targeted fishing of sharks. The Plan of Action for the Yarari Sanctuary includes establish-ment of regulations that prohibit purse seining, gill-net-ting and long-lining (all unsustainable fishing methods with high levels of bycatch, not just of sharks but also sea turtles and dolphins), targeted fishing of sharks and rays as well as removal of fins from sharks or rays.

Following the shark symposium on St. Maarten organized by DCNA/the Nature Foundation St.

Maarten and the PEW charitable trust, which was attended by Sir Richard Branson, several countries have shown a heightened interest in shark conserva-tion. This includes Curaçao, who is already a member of the EEZ committee. St. Maarten announced it will indefinitely extend its current ten-year moratorium on sharks. St. Eustatius is now contemplating joining the Yarari Sanctuary.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is now in the process of creating a small brochure that will include an ID sheet for sharks in the Yarari Sanctuary. This brochure will be ready for distribution by the end of this year.

Map of Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary.Highlighted in BioNews 18.

BioNews 17: People Need Healthy Oceans, and Healthy Oceans Need Sharks. Photo credit: Jim Abernethy

BioNews 19: Pilot study: Tracking Sharks on Saba.Photo credit: Erwin Winter (IMARES Wageningen UR)

BioNews 22: The humpback whales are back!Photo credit: Adan Peres Cabreira of GO WEST Diving, Curaçao

BioNews 25: Shark sightings around the SSS islands.Photo credit: Hans Leijnse

BioNews articles on Yarari’s marine mammals and sharks


BioNews HighlightsResearch and monitoring are essential components to the safeguard of nature and the promotion of sustainable management. Thanks

to the funding support from the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs and other funders as well as the dedicated work of our partners,

conservationists and scientists a wide variety of research and monitoring projects are being carried out within the Dutch Caribbean.

DCNA is happy to help communicate project updates and results to a broad range of audiences on our islands and beyond, and to

help facilitate the work of visiting researchers, scientists and students.

A complete overview of all the projects that took place between August 2015 and June 2016 can be found on pages 7-11 and 14-15.

Monitoring the population of the endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana on St. Eustatius and controlling the invasive green Iguana. Photo ID side view of a male Lesser Antillean Iguana after tagging. Photo credit: Thijs van den Burg/www.SOSiguana.org (RAVON and STENAPA))

Underwater stereo-video (stereo BRUV) was used to study sharks and fish diversity, relative abundance and population structure in the Dutch CaribbeanPhoto credit: Jens Odinga (IMARES)

Many (old) species descriptions on the Caribbean Flora and Fauna have recently become accessible on-line via a new database at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden.Photo credit: Naturalis

First sighting of a pied water tyrant within the Kingdom of the NetherlandsPhoto credit: Peter-Paul Schets

This humpback whale was first spotted in the Domini-can Republic in 1980, and now in Saba in 2016!Photo credit: Candice Volney and SCF (SBMU)

Several new marines species have been discovered in the Dutch Caribbean. In this picture a new species of goby. *Tornabene L, Robertson DR, Baldwin CC (2016) Varicus lacerta, a new species

of goby (Teleostei, Gobiidae, Gobiosomatini, Nes subgroup) from a meso-

photic reef in the southern Caribbean. ZooKeys 596: 143-156.

Photo credit: Barry Brown

Aruba Bonaire Curaçao St. EustatiusSaba St. Maarten

Research and Monitoring Projects per Island: August 2015 - May 2016Marine ResearchMarine MonitoringTerrestrial ResearchTerrestrial Monitoring


Saba and St. Eustatius are home to one of the world’s largest nesting population of red-billed tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus). Monitoring of tropicbirds result-ed in very low breeding success giving rise to worries about the future status of the populations. The instal-lation of camera traps in the nests revealed the main threat: invasive feral cats and rats that take the birds’ egg and chick. Both islands have been taken actions to manage the predators in order to ensure the survival of red-billed tropicbirds’ eggs and chicks. Photo credit: IMARES / SCF

The Saba Bank is an extremely rich area with very high biodiversity of fish, coral, algae and sponges. A select group of researchers from IMARES and several other in-stitutions came together from October 17th to October 31st 2015 to conduct the third expedition to the Saba Bank under the Saba Bank Research Program. During the last expedition a mesocosm (‘underwater tent’) was set up to test whether the reef grows or erodes.Photo credit: Erik Meesters

The boa constrictor invasion on Aruba is most likely the result of the release or escape of a small number of un-related captive snakes**Bushar, L.M., R.G. Reynolds, S. Tucker, L.C. Pace, W.I. Lutter-schmidt, R.A. Odum, and H.K. Reinert. 2015. Genetic characteri-zation of an invasive Boa constrictor population on the Carib-bean island of Aruba, Journal of Herpetology 49Photo credit: Greg Peterson - Aruba Birdlife Conservation

Coral Reef Rehabilitation: combining characteristics of both coral gardening and larval seeding seems most effective to create a hybrid approach that would in-crease growth, survival and genetic diversity*. This picture shows Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) trans-planted by CRF Bonaire, two years later.*Meesters, E.H.W.G; Smith, S.R.; Becking, L.E. (2015). A review of coral reef restoration techniques. IMARES report C026/14.Photo credit: Patrick Ragot/ CRF Bonaire

Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN): a new standardized approach for monitoring the health of the region’s coral reefs.Photo credit: Stephanie Villalobos

Harmful invasive species are a big threat to island ecol-ogy. The problem of roaming livestock is particularly acute in the Caribbean Netherlands. Goats often roam free on the islands grazing, thereby endangering native plant species and indirectly causing erosion problems. Several research projects and monitoring on invasive species are running to safeguard our nature. Photo credit: Paulo Bertuol (STINAPA Bonaire)

Bonaire is home to the endangered Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot. This parrot is a flagship species for the dry forest ecosystem. Due to the decline of this parrot in Venezuela as a result of intense poaching, Bonaire is an important stronghold for its survival globally. This species has been on the brink of extinction, but in re-cent years the numbers are going up steadily.Roost-counts are carried out on a yearly basis (see www.dcbd.nl for data since 1980).Photo credit: Marjolijn Lopes Cardozo (SHAPE/DCNA)

Where have all the crinoids gone?Colorful feather stars (comatulid crinoids, Phylum Echinodermata) were plentiful on the reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire in the late 1960s when David Meyer was seeking accessible localities for the study of their ecol-ogy and distribution. From 2000 to 2010, and with the help of several students, David Meyer resurveyed sites on the leeward reefs of both islands where previous quantitative surveys had been conducted. Results con-firmed that populations of crinoids were decreasing, with the virtual disappearance of the once most-com-mon species, D. discoidea (Meyer et al. 2008). Exactly when this decline began, as well as its cause, remains undetermined, but it was sometime after 1989 and before 1996. Photo credit: David Meyer (University of Cincinnati)

Invasive species on the blacklist in the Dutch Caribbean*:Wild boar (Sus scrofa) - Aruba, Bonaire Curaçao, St EustatiusMongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) – St MaartenBoa constrictor (Boa constrictor) - ArubaGreen Iguana (Iguana iguana) – St MaartenCane Toad (Rhinella marinus) - ArubaLionfish (Pterois voitans / Pterois miles) – all islandsGiant African Land Snail (Achatia fulica) – Aruba, St Eu-statius, St MaartenRed Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrogineus) – Aruba, CuraçaoCactus moth (Cactoblastics cactorum) – Saba, St EustatiusYellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) – all islands* Smith, S.R., W.J. van der Burg, A.O. Debrot, G. van Buurt, J.A. de Freitas (2014)

Key elements towards a Joint Invasive Alien Species Strategy for the Dutch Car-

ibbean. Den Helder, Wageningen: IMARES/PRI, 2014 (Report/IMARES C020/14-

550) 102 p.

Photo credit: Jannie Koning


Twenty-five years ago, STCB began monitoring the sta-tus of three of the world’s six endangered or critically endangered species of marine turtles: the hawksbill, green, and loggerhead turtle. STCB’s mission is to en-sure that Bonaire’s sea turtles have a secure future, and to connect people to sea turtle conservation in ways that inspire them to care for nature. From 2003 to 2013, STCB monitored the post-breeding migration routes of 24 marine turtles from Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, which were drawn together with Wageningen Univer-sity and Groningen University. The results revealed that the turtles travel long distances across the Caribbean to different foraging grounds.Reference: Becking, L.E.; Christianen, M.J.A.; Nava, M.I.; Miller, N.; Willis, S.;

van Dam, R.P. (2016) Post-breeding migration routes of marine turtles from

Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. Endang Species Res, Vol.

30: 117–124

Photo credit: Marjolijn Christianen (Groningen University)

Monitoring and research of the longest coral reef time-series in the world (since 1973) on Bonaire and Curaçao.Photo credit: IMARES + NIOZ

The biggest threat to our conservation organisations in the Dutch Caribbean is simply lack of structural fund-ing to support their day to day operations. While STI-NAPA Bonaire has a small financial gap of USD 40,000, both STENAPA and SCF have significant financial defi-cits of USD 470,000 and 270,000, respectively. *Beek, I.J.M. van, A.O. Debrot, C. Rockmann, R.G. Jak (2015) Structure and fi-

nancing of nature management costs in Caribbean Netherlands, Den Helder:

IMARES, 2015 (Report / IMARES C033/15)- p. 76

Photo credit: styleTTT at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Shark sightings during dives around Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten are currently being recorded to pro-vide information on the occurrence of shark species known to be present, as well as their relative and sea-sonal abundance (data is entered in the DCBD (www.dcbd.nl))*. Similar projects are underway for the other three Dutch Caribbean islands.*Data collected by Sea Saba (Saba), Golden Rock and SCUBAQUA (St. Eusta-

tius); St. Maarten Nature Foundation (St. Maarten), IMARES (Dr. Martin de Graaf)

Photo credit: Jim Abernethy

In November 2015, the Waitt Institute led an expedition in partnership with Carmabi and the government of Curaçao to investigate the abundance and distribution of marine resources in Curaçao, a potential new Blue Halo Initiative site. The research was designed so that results can help guide the development of new policies for sustainably managing ocean resources. In total, 475 dives were conducted during which data was collected on benthic composition, fish biodiversity, abundance and biomassa, invertebrate abundance and density as well as algal canopy height and water quality around the entire island.Photo credit: Mark Vermeij (CARMABI)

Naturalis Biodiversity Center launched its Caribbean program in 2015. The goal of this program is to assess and map the diversity of plants, fungi and animals of the Dutch Caribbean with the help of two local conser-vation organizations, STENAPA and CNSI. Several ex-perts and partner organisations from the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean took part in the 2015 marine and terrestrial expeditions. Photo credit: Henkjan Kievit (SHAPE/DCNA)

Sea turtle populations are monitored in the Dutch Caribbean by nesting surveys, foraging ground sur-veys, sightings during (tourist) dives and satellite tracking. Reports and graphs can be found online (www.dcbd.nl).Photo credit: Nat Miller

Nesting seabirds are currently threatened by human disturbance, invasive predators and habitat loss. The Dutch Caribbean’s iconic terns are very vulnerable as they typically nest on or close to the ground. STINAPA Bonaire and Cargill launched a nesting seabird project in 2013 with the support of Vogelbescherming Ned-erland and DCNA to re-establish the endangered tern breeding populations. Artificial islands were created to guarantee a safer nesting area for terns and are moni-tored throughout every nesting season.Photo credit: Miro Zumrik: SHAPE/DCNA

Aruba Birdlife Conservation has recently reported that no less than 16 new bird observations have been made on Aruba between 2010 and 2016, including 3 pelagic species. This brings the total number of bird species for the island to 252. These 16 species have been added to Aruba Birdlife Conservation’s official bird checklist* The list was compiled by drs. Gregory Peterson, who is chairman of the board of Aruba Birdlife Conservation as well as one of DCNA’s Board Members.*Peterson, G. (2016) Birds of Aruba – ABC Checklist version May 4, 2016 (www.

dcbd.nl)

With gratitude to Armando Goedgedrag, Ferdinand ‘Freddy’ Kelkboom,

Michiel Oversteegen, Patrick Peňa, Peter Sprockel, Damilice Mansur, Rossini

‘Ross Boss’ Wauben, Angiolina Henriquez, Diego Marquez, Albert Peterson

and Annette Peterson-Bredie and special gratitude to Dr. Adrian Delnevo,

Ph.D and Bert Denneman (Vogelbescherming Nederland).

Photo credit: Aruba Birdlife Conservation


The rare and highly venomous banded box jellyfish (Tamoya ohboya) have been investigated since 2001. Since than only 73 have been documented across the Caribbean, 55 on Bonaire. Together with citizen scien-tists, CIEE Research Station Bonaire, DROB, Smithsonian Institute and STINAPA box jellyfish have been collected for research purpose. An interesting phenomenon in Bonaire was observed by Dr. Bud Gillan: the regular swarming of Alatina alata box jellyfish 8 to 10 days af-ter a full moon.Photo credit: CIEE Bonaire

A healthy reef is dependent on the delicate dynamic be-tween its primary builders, hard corals, and its primary bio-eroding agents, notably chemical bio-eroders such as sponges. Recent studies have demonstrated that ocean acidification not only weakens the calcium carbonate skeleton of coral but also increases sponge biomass and therefore the rate of reef erosion. This picture shows bio-erosion by coral excavating sponges. Photo credit: Erik Meesters (IMARES)

Shark populations are in strong decline worldwide, mainly due to overfishing and bycatch. Although the population status of sharks within the Caribbean is poorly known, it is essential to gather insight into their spatial behavior so as to take effective measures to protect them. Consequently, acoustic telemetry is cur-rently being used to study individual movement pat-terns and site fidelity of shark species around Saba, St Eustius and St Maarten. This project is run by IMARES (lead scientist Dr. Erwin Winter) and in partnership with the local nature organisations..Photo credit: Erwin Winter (IMARES Wageningen UR), SCF, NFSXM

On Curaçao, researchers (lead scientist Valerie Cham-berland) of SECORE International, the CARMABI Foun-dation and the University of Amsterdam have been investigating since 2010 the effectiveness of the coral propagation method “larval seeding”. Larval seeding is based on the sexual reproduction of corals and al-lows for genetic recombination, which is essential for corals to adapt to current environmental conditions. Male and female gametes are typically collected on the reef during coral spawning events, fertilized and grown in a laboratory setting and then transplanted to degraded reef areas. Larval seeding has success-fully been used for different coral species. Photo credit: Valerie Chamberland

Fisheries have always been an important element of the economic and cultural activities in the Dutch Carib-bean. Moreover, healthy (reef-)fish attract dive tourists. Data has been collected on our islands’ fish stocks and the observed threats to local fish stocks are invasive fauna, pollution of habitats, sedimentation and over-fishing. This data can be accessed on the DCBD (www.dcbd.nl)Photo credit: Hans Leijnse

Mangrove forests and seagrass beds are extremely productive ecosystems that supply numerous envi-ronmental and anthropogenic goods and services. They provide important nursing, foraging and living grounds to a wide range of species. Their associated flora and fauna is important for the fishing industry. Other ecosystem services include coastal protection, tourist attractions, filtering of sediment and improve-ment of water quality. Several monitoring and research projects are currently under-way in the Dutch Carib-bean, notably at Ramsar sites, to ensure the protection of these two key ecosystems.Photo credit: Henkjan Kievit: SHAPE/DCNA

Bonaire is one of the main breeding locations of the Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). In order to keep track of the abundance of this species, flamingo counts are carried out every month at several key lo-cations of the island. These counts started in 1981 and continue to be carried out with the help of STINAPA Bonaire, Cargill and DROB. The flamingo is an indicator species for the status of the saliñas (salt pans).Photo credit: Rostislav Stach: SHAPE/DCNA

GPS maps have become an essential tool for effective nature conservation and sustainable management plans as they enable the visualization of the Dutch Caribbean islands’ different ecosystems. These maps can be used to understand biological processes, help prioritize areas which need to be protected, measure progress and make critical management decisions. Here Dr. Maarten Eppinga is collecting GPS coordinates for the invasive plant species coralita (Antigonon lepto-pus) near St. John’s, Saba. Different GIS-based maps are housed online in the DCBD (www.dcbd.nl). Photo credit: Elizabeth Haber

Bats play an important role in sustaining life within our islands’ terrestrial ecosystems. They are the primary pol-linators and/or seed dispersers of several plant species that are a key food source for many animal species. The fruit of the columnar cacti, for example, is vital to the sur-vival of the endemic Bonairean yellow-shouldered ama-zon parrot (Amazona barbadensis). This picture shows bat expert Fernando Simal demonstrating how to catch and measure bats using mist netting techniques during the yearly Sea and Learn event. This month-long event on Saba aims to raise environmental awareness. The non-profit foundation Sea and Learn invites renowned scientists and naturalists to share their expertise with Saba’s visitors and local community through a mix of dynamic presentations and field projects.Photo credit: Bridget Sullivan


Commissioned by the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs, the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD) enables the fulfilment of (statutory) reporting obligations, such as CBD, SPAW, Ramsar, CMS, IAC, shark MoU and FAO. The DCBD also contributes to the Dutch Caribbean’s Nature Policy Plan and to target 6 ‘step-up action to tackle the global biodiversity crises’ of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch outermost re-gions. Furthermore, it enables evidence-based policy making for local spatial planning and nature manage-ment. Finally, the DCBD guarantees long-term data availability and access.

Today, the DCBD is an active platform that brings to-gether local and national governments, nature or-ganisations on the islands and the Dutch mainland, local businesses, statisticians from the Central Bureau of Statistics (Bonaire and The Hague), reporters of the Statutory research tasks, and researchers from across the world.

The newest monitoring data and research findings are continuously analysed so that the latest trends and their causes can be published or updated on the DCBD. Below are two examples of trend indicators: “Reef health index of St. Eustatius (2015)” and “Flamin-go abundance on Bonaire Ramsar areas (1981-2016)”.

Reef health index of St. EustatiusCoral reefs provide some of the most valuable eco-system services for our islands. They boost tourism by attracting tourists, support local fisheries and protect against storms. Monitoring of this ecosystem is there-fore of great importance. The regionally agreed Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) scientific methods and guidelines for the Caribbean provide a basic framework to contribute inter-comparable data, helping provide a systematic snapshot of ecosystem health and insight into temporal trends in reef condi-tion and thereby facilitating a regional understanding of status and trends of Caribbean coral reefs.

The graph below was created thanks to in situ obser-vations and 1484 underwater photographs gathered and analysed by Steve Piontek, Matt Davies, Johan Sta-pel, Captain Nadio Spanner and the rest of the team. Based on observations from 20 sites, the reef health of St. Eustatius can be classified as ‘fair’. New data from 2016 is currently being analysed and will be soon be published on the DCBD. The raw photographs are also available on the database and will hopefully aid future analyses of these reefs and any specific species visible on the pictures.

Flamingo abundance of BonaireBonaire is often referred to as “Flamingo Island” and for good reason. The island welcomes as many as 15,000 Caribbean flamingos each year during mating season (typically March to July); the island is in fact one of the main breeding locations for this species, with the main breeding colonies located next to Pekelmeer. Year-round, flamingos forage at different locations around the island, and serve as an indicator species for the status of the island’s saliñas (salt pans). To keep track of the abundance of flamingos on Bonaire, counts of Phoenicopterus ruber are being carried out each month at several key locations, notably Ramsar sites. These counts started in 1981 and are still carried out every month by Frank van Slobbe of the local government of Bonaire (Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire) and his team. The graph below shows the trends for four Ramsar sites. The drop in numbers in Gotomeer coincides with the 2010 petrochemical fire at BOPEC and the use of fire retardants used to combat the fire. Thankfully the Gotomeer graph clearly shows that the flamingo pop-ulation is recovering.

Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database delivers indicators for reporting obligationsBy Peter Verweij and Anouk Cormont (Alterra)

The Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (www.dcbd.nl) provides the latest trends and indicators, digital

maps as well as reports and articles on the status of the Dutch Caribbean’s biodiversity and ecosystems.


Below you will find an overview of the research projects that is took place between August 2015 and June 2016 in the Dutch Caribbean.

Category Subject Islands Organization(s): Lead scientist(s)

Amphinomida Fluorescence on the marine fireworm Hermodice carunculata BON CIEE:Enrique Arboleda

Amphinomida Fluorescence on the marine fireworm Hermodice carunculata BON CIEE:Enrique Arboleda

Birds Redbilled-tropicbird nest success and introduced predators (cats, rats) SAB

IMARES: Dolfi Debrot (PL) SCF: Kai Wulf VHL: Marlous Heemstra, Rick Hinfelaar (student), Rimco Slagter (student)

Birds Relationship between flamingo and brine shrimp and fly larvae in Goto as a function of the salinity BON

WUR: Dolfi Debrot, Daniel van Craats (student) STINAPA

Birds

Suitability study and reforestation of exclosures facilitat-ing the Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrots (Amazona barbadensis) on Bonaire. BON Echo: Lauren Schmaltz

WUR: Quirijn Coolen (student)

Cnidaria Box jellyfish Alatina alata BONSmithsonian: Allen Collins CIEE: Rita Peachey, Austin Lin, Bud Gillan STINAPA Bonaire

Coral reefecosystems Larval acoustic ecology CUR NC State University: Ashlee Lillis

CARMABI

Coral reef ecosystems

Scientific assessment of Curaçao’s near shore waters (corals, algae, fish, invertebrates and water quality) CUR

Waitt Institute (Blue Halo Curaçao) Government of Curaçao Carmabi


Comparing reef fish survey techniques between UVC and sDOV EUX

IMARES: Martin de Graaf STENAPA, Min EZ CNSI

Coral reefecosystems Caribbean reef ecology/ Taxonomy of green algae CUR

Canadian Institute for Advanced Re-search: Patrick KeelingCARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Coral microbiology CUR

San Diego State University: Forest Rohwer CARMABI

coral reefecosystems Coral microbiology CUR

University of British Columbia: Javier del CampoUniversity of British Columbia: Martin KoliskoCARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Ecology of mesophotic reefs CUR

University of New Hampshire: Michael Lesser CARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Evolution and genetics of Caribbean Acropora spp. CUR

Nova Southeastern University: Nicole D. FogartyCARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Marine taxonomy and systematics CUR

Naturalis Biodiversity Center: Bert Hoeksema, Charles FransenCARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Microbial ecology CUR CARMABI: Kristen Marhaver

Coral reefecosystems Population genetics of Caribbean coral CUR University of the Algarve: Aschwin

Engelen

Coral reefecosystems Protist biology CUR

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute: Camille PoirierUniversity of Exeter, United Kingdom: Tom RichardsDalhousie University: Alistair. SimpsonLaboratory of Molecular Biology of Protists: J. Lukes (and parasitology)CARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Sponge ecology and energetics CUR Uva: Jasper de Goeij

CARMABI

Coral reefecosystems Zooxanthellae clade diversity in corals CUR University of Guelph: Ryan Eagleson

CARMABI

Economics of ecosystems

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) on Aruba AUA

Wolfs Company: Esther Wolfs VU University Amsterda: Pieter van Beukering YABI consultancy: Francielle Laclé

Research Projects: August 2015 - June 2016


Ecosystems A comparison of methodological techniques to study coral reefs: a study case between Bonaire and Curaçao BON CIEE: Rita Peachey

Environmental Single use of plastic bags on Bonaire BON STCB: Mabel Nava UM: Cosette Larash (Msc student)

Environmental Water quality analysis on coastal and groundwater around Bonaire BON CIEE: Molly Gleason

Environmental Effects of dry weather on water level, the amount and state of animals and the level of pollution SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Environmental Research into the effects of wildfires on Sentry Hill ridge top SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

EnvironmentalStep-by-step plan for environmental advice regarding storm water drainage systems for new construction on Curaçao

CUR WUR: Klaas Metselaar, Timo Kelder (Msc. student), Caetano Kluijver (Bsc. student)

Environmental Environmental DNA (eDNA) CIEE: Rita Peachey, Dr. Enrique Arboleda Indiana University: Stephen Glaholt

Environmental Effects of an exotic ecosystem engineer on a multi-trophic native community EUX

VU: Jacintha Ellers (Principle Investiga-tor), Wendy Jesse (PhD Student), Jasper Molleman (Msc. student)

Fish Fish brain physiology CUR Macquarie University: Dan WarrenCARMABI

Fish Study on behaviour of sharks using acoustic telemetrySAB, EUX, SXM

IMARES: Erwin de Winter SCF (SBMU): Dahlia Hassell NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets STENAPA

Fish Inventory sharks and rays (SoS project) AUA FPNA: Tatiana Becker

Fish Foraging behavior of Parrotfish(comparison study Bruggemann et all. 1994) BON Lewis & Clark College, Portland: Ken-

neth Clifton, Hannah Rempel (student)

Fish Fish eye physiology and evolution Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama: Michele Pierotti

Human impact Impact of recreational diving in Bonaire BON CIEE: Patrick Lyons

Insects Baseline study of mosquito populations of Ramsar area Lac Bay. BON

WUR: Dolfi Debrot VHL: Arjen Strijkstra, Marieke Verweij, Simon de Groot (student) STINAPA: Caren Eckrich and Sabine Engel

Insects Insect ecology CURFlorida State Collection of Arthropod: Michael ThomasCARMABI

Interstitial biology Ecology of sediments CUR WUR: Tinka MurkCARMABI

Interstitial biology Intertidal oribatid mites CUR University of Graz: Tobias PfingstlCARMABI

Invasive species Utility of lionfish jet hunting behaviour BON CIEE: Patrick Lyons

Invasive species Lionfish in the mangroves of Lac Bay BON CIEE: Enrique Arboleda

Invasive species Research into mitigating measures for Sargassum Seaweed SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Invasive speciesInvasive 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: Per Palsbøll, Marjolijn Christianen WUR: Lisa Becking UvA: Fee Smulders (Msc. student)

Invasive species Grazing impact goats AUAFPNA WUR: Klaas Metselaar, Pim van Hooft, Babette Veerbeek (Msc. student)

Invasive species

(1) Roaming grazer impacts on forest regeneration (2) Predation by feral chickens on forest fauna and flora (3) Status of the Giant African Landsnail on Statia and prospects for its control or eradication.

EUX

IMARES: Dolfi Debrot STENPA: Hannah Madden VHL: Jelmer van Belle, Lara Uphoff (student) and Friso Dalm (student) LVV: Anthony Reid

Invasive species Lionfish ecology CUR DC: Amelia Ritger CARMABI

Invasive species Research into mitigation measures for Sargassum Seaweed SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Government of St. Maarten

Invasive species Lionfish ecology CUR DC: Amelia Ritger CARMABI

Invasive species The effect of goats on soil erosion, in Bonairean Scrublands - WSNP BON WUR: Asha Vergeer

STINAPA:Paulo Bertuol

Mammals Spatial and temporal distribution of whales (acoustic loggers Saba Bank) SAB

IMARES: Dick de Haan Min. EZ: Paul Hoetjes SCF, NFSXM, CNSI

Research Projects: August 2015 - June 2016 continued


Management An policy assessment on pest management in Washington Slagbaai National Park. BON WUR: Nikkie van Grinsven

STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol

Mangrove ecosystems

Biological and ecological assessment of mangroves (the Spanish Lagoon area) AUA ASDF: Kevin de Cuba, Tatiana Becker

Mangrove ecosystems

Biological and ecological assessment of mangroves (the Spanish Lagoon area) AUA ASDF: Kevin de Cuba, Tatiana Becker

Marine ecosystems Anchialine fauna CURWestern Australian Museum: William HumphreysCARMABI

Microbes Zooplankton response to UV light BON CIEE: Rita Peachey

Microbes Ecological study on indigenous marine microbiota BON SJSM: Adam Allen

Microbes Physiology of cyanobacteria on reefs CUR MPI: H. Brocke, J. den Haan CARMABI

Molluscs

Genetic study on Queen conch (*Part of long term project: Population dynamics and role in the food chain of the Queen Conch Lobatus gigas in the Dutch Caribbean Territories)

AUA

IMARES: Erik Boman (PhD student), Martin de Graaf Smithsonian: Nathan Truelove Aruba Marine Park Foundation Santa Rosa (LVV) Castro Perez, Byron Boekhoudt

Pants Testing effective ways to grow native plants BON Echo: Lily Leahy, Nathan Schmaltz

Plants Germination of seeds of indigenous trees of Curacao CUR CARMABI: John de Freitas

Plants- Ethnobotany - Flora and Vegetation (within the course Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods)

EUXNaturalis: Tinde van Andel, Chantal Posthouwer (student), Thomas Verheijden (student)

Plants Groasis Study: testing the effectiveness of Groasis boxes on pioneer plant species BU: Daniel Fishburn, Echo

Reptiles Lesser Antillean iguana: population structure genetics EUX RAVON: Bart Kluskens STENAPA: Hannah Madden

Reptiles Lesser Antillean iguana: nesting behaviour ecology EUX RAVON: Bart Kluskens STENAPA: Hannah Madden

Reptiles Sea turtle conservation in spite of climate change BON STCB: Mabel Nava RuG: Sandra Striegel (Msc. student)

Reptiles Boa and Cascabel Research AUA FPNA: Andrew Odum

Reptiles Behavior of the endemic Aruban Whiptail lizard AUA FPNA, Toledo Zoological Society: Andrew Odum

Reptiles

Sea turtle migration and habitat use in Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao - Population dynamics (DNA sampling) - Migration (satellite tracking, isotope studies) - Habitat use (enclosures seagrass meadows, GIS habitat mapping) (*Part of NWO project: Ecology and conservation of green and hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean)

BON, AUA, CUR

WUR: Lisa Becking RuG: Per Palsbøll, Marjolijn Christianen, Jurgen van der Zee (PhD student) STCB: Mabel Nava CARMABI: Sabine Berendse

Sponges Bioerosion of reefs by coral-excavating sponges

BON, CUR, EUX, SAB

IMARES: Didier de Bakker (PhD) IMARES: Erik Meesters NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl

Sponges

Coral excavating sponges (*part of NWO project: Caribbean coral reef ecosystems: interactions of anthropogenic ocean acidification and eutrophication with bioerosion by coral excavating sponges)

EUX

NIOZ: Steven van Heuven (PostDoc), Alice Webb (PhD student), Didier de Bakker (PhD student), Paul Peters (Msc. student)

Terrestrial ecosystems Landscape Ecological mapping Arikok National Park AUA

FPNA WUR: Klaas Metselaar, Henk Jan Oosterhuis (Msc. student)

Terrestrial ecosystems

St. Eustatius Scientific Terrestrial Expedition (invertebrates, mollusks, flies, beetles, spiders and moths, mosquitos and midges, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphib-ians, bryophytes, plants)

EUX

Naturalis: Berry van der Hoorn (PL) and team* RAVON: Bart Kluskens, Joran Janse STENAPA: Hannah Madden Mammal Society: Bart Kluskens CNSI

Zooplankton Zooplankton Responde to UV light BON CIEE:Rita Peachey, Sara Buckley, Austin Lin

Zooplankton Zooplankton Response to UV light BON CIEE:Rita Peachey, Sara Buckley, Austin Lin


Don’t see your research

program on the list or

incorrect information?

Please e-mail us:

[email protected]

Long Term Projects: August 2015 - June 2016

Category Subject Island Organization(s):Lead scientist(s)

Coral Reef Ecosystems

Modified Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program BON STINAPA: Robert Steneck; Suzanne

Arnold


Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP) (ARMS: Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures) CUR Smithsonian: Carole Baldwin


Environmental factors driving recruitment success inCaribbean corals CUR

UvA: Valerie Chamberland (PhD Student)CARMABI SECORE Foundation


Development of restoration methods for threatenedCaribbean coral species BON, CUR, SAB

CRF Bonaire: Augusto Montbrun, Francesca VirdisSECORE ProjectCARMABI: Mark VermeijUvA: Valerie Chamberland (PhD student)SCF, Sea Saba, Samford University: Jennifer Rahn


Dissolved Organic Matter released by macroalgae as a possible food source of bioeroding sponges

BON,CUR, SAB, EUX

NIOZ: Benjamin Müller (PhD student), Fleur van DuylCARMABIFORCE Project

Coral Reef Ecosystems Bioersion of reefs by coral-excavating sponges BON,CUR, SAB,

EUX

NIOZ: Fleur van DuylIMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de Bak-ker (PhD student)


Developing a plan to manage the waters around Curaçao sustainably, profitably, and enjoyably for this and future generations

CUR Waitt Institute (Blue Halo Curaçao): Ayana Elizabeth Johnson


Monitoring and research of the longest coral reef time-series in the world (since 1973) BON, CUR

IMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de Bak-ker (PhD student)NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Rolf Bak

Database Dutch Caribbean Species Catalog: Taxonomic knowledge system Dutch Caribbean

EUX (planned for other islands)

Naturalis: Sander Pieterse & Berry van der Hoorn

Ecosystem services

Quantification of ecosystem services provided by marine protected areas in the Caribbean with a view to their payment (Project CARIPES)

EUX

IMARES: Erik MeestersGem City Consulting: Steve Piontek Nova Blue Environment: Jean-Philippe Maréchal

EnvironmentalZero nutrient discharge of domestic waste (water) nutrients and total reuse of nutrients in agriculture and aquaculture in Caribbean Islands

EUX WUR: Grietje Zeeman, Marc Spiller

Environmental Sustainable ecosystem management and use by marine com-munities in two exemplary regions BON, EUX

WUR: Linde van Bets (PhD student);Arthur Mol, Jan van Tatenhove; Machiel LamersIMARES: Han Lindeboom

Environmental Effects of dispersants on the fate of oil in realistic conditions EUX WUR: Tinka Murk, Marieke Zeinstra-Helfrich (PhD student)

Environmental Ecotoxicological aspects of rational application of chemicals in response to oil spills to reduce environmental damage EUX WUR: Tinka Murk, Justine van Eenen-

naam (PhD student)

EnvironmentalDevelopment of an area specific net environmental and eco-nomic benefit analysis (NEEBA) to support oil spill mitigation decisions; with St. Eustatius as example

EUX WUR: Tinka Murk, Sophie Vonk (PhD student)

Fish Status of shark and fish communities in the Dutch Caribbean BON, CUR, SAB, EUX, SXM IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Interstitial biodiversity

Moleculair biodiversity analysis of marine and terrestrial com-munities by metabarcoding EUX Naturalis: Arjen speksnijder

ANEMOON: Niels Schrieken

Invasivespecies

Combatting the economic and ecological impacts of overgraz-ing on inhabited islands BON UsA: Michaela Roberts (PhD student)

Molluscs Population dynamics and role in the food chain of the Queen Conch Lobatus gigas in the Dutch Caribbean Territories EUX, SAB

WUR: Aad Smaal, Leo Nagelkerke IMARES: Martin de Graaf (Imares)Erik Boman (PhD student) SCF (SBMU): Dahlia Hassell

Public Health DNA waterscan: Monitoring disease vectors in the Caribbean (mosquitoes and midges) EUX Naturalis: Kevin Beentjes

ECPHF: Teresa Leslie

Sustainability "Sustainable development Dutch Caribbean (TripleP@Sea Program) EUX IMARES: Diana Slijkerman

Alterra: Rene Henkens

Terrestrial biodiversity Baseline assessment and DNA barcoding of specimens EUX

Naturalis: Michael Stech, Berry van der Hoorn STENAPA: Hannah Madden

Terrestrial biodiversity Testing surrogates to establish conservation priorities EUX Naturalis: Jeremy Miller

STENAPA: Hannah Madden


Long Term Projects: August 2015 - June 2016

NWO Projects in the Dutch Caribbean


Caribbean coral reef ecosystems: interactions of anthropo-genic ocean acidification and eutrophication with bioero-sion by coral excavating sponges

BON, SAB, EUX NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl

Environmental Caribbean island biogeography meets the anthropocene AUA, BON, CUR, SAB, SXM, EUX

VU: Jacintha Ellers, Matt Helmus, Wendy Jesse (PhD. Student)

Environmental psychology

Confronting Caribbean Challenges: Hybrid Identities and Governance in Small-scale Island Jurisdictions- Behavioural differences between/within the BES islands when it comes to nature conservation and cultural heritage.

BON, SAB, EUX

KITLV, Leiden University: Gert Oostin-die (Project director)KITLV, Leiden University: Stacey Mac Donald (PhD student)

Geosciences Stability of Caribbean coastal ecosystems under future extreme sea level changes (SCENES) BON, EUX, SXM

UU: Henk Dijkstra, NIOZ: Peter Her-man, Rebecca James (PhD student) TU Delft: Julie Pietrzak

Geomorpho-logical

4D crust-mantle modelling of the eastern Caribbean region: toward coupling deep driving processes to surface evolution EUX UU: Wim Spakman

Invasivespecies

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

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.

Reptiles Ecology and conservation of green and hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean

EUX, BON, AUA, CUR

RuG: Per Palsbøll, Marjolijn Christianen, Jurgen van der Zee (PhD student)WUR: Lisa BeckingSTCB: Mabel NavaCARMABI

BO-projects in the Dutch Caribbean

DCBD BO-11-019.02-002 - Expansion knowledge system Dutch Caribbean

AUA, BON, CUR, SAB, SXM, EUX Alterra: Peter Verweij

Fish BO-11-019.02-030 - Continuation of shark management plan BON, EUX, SAB IMARES: Ingrid van Beek

Invasive species

BO-11-019.02-045 -Multifunctional approach harmful for harmful exotic species Caribbean Netherlands BON, EUX, SAB IMARES: Dolfi Debrot

Marine Mammals

BO-11-011.05-005 – Marine Mammals Caribbean Nether-lands BON, EUX, SAB IMARES: Dolfi Debrot

Marine biodiversity

BO-11-019.02-008 – Saba Bank research programme 2011-2016 SAB IMARES: Erik Meesters

Microbes BO-11-019.02-047 – Deep fields of Cyanobacteria BON IMARES: Erik Meesters

Molluscs BO-11-019.02-026 – Continuation of the state of spiny lobster and Conch EUX IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Natural resource use BO-11-019.02-034 – Inventory Fisheries Dutch Caribbean AUA, BON, CUR,

SAB, SXM, EUX IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Natural resource use BO-11-019.02-049 – Saba Bank – Fisheries SAB IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Natural resource use

BO-11-019.02-050 – World Heritage nomination Bonaire National Marine Park BON IMARES: Ingrid van Beek

Natural resource use

BO-11-019.02-051 – Sustainable fisheries with fish traps Carib-bean Netherlands (HD3571) EUX, SAB IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Reptiles BO-11-019.02-046 – Sea turtle research Lac bay BON IMARES: Lisa Becking

Coral Reef Ecosystems BO-11-019.02-038– Analysis photomaterial coral reefs/ phase 2 BON, CUR IMARES: Erik Meesters

Coral Reef Ecosystems BO-11-019.02-022 –Inventory corals BON IMARES: Erik Meesters

Fisheries BO-11-019.02-055 – Fisheries inventory (EEZ Curaçao) CUR IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Marine mammals

BO-11-019.02-054 – Managementplan marine mammal sanctuary Sababank SAB IMARES: Dolfi Debrot

Reptiles BO-11-019.02-057 – Action plan invasive Green Iguana (HD3623) EUX

IMARES: Dolfi DebrotEcological Professionals Foundation: Hannah Madden


Below you will find an overview of the research projects that have been prioritised for the year 2015.

1. Coastal water quality/nutrients and interaction with groundwater:

• Possible link to fish diseases Bonaire/incidence of Fibropapillomatosis in green turtles in Lac and Lagoon can be used

to determine the linkages with water quality, pollutants in sediments, etc serving as indicators, or sentinels for the

health of these important ecosystems.

2. Morphodynamics (near shore coastal hydrodynamics, current models):

NOTE: one of the NWO projects is addressing this, should link with this/build on this

• Currents and sand transportation (and production from Halimeda) in Lac (Bonaire) – very important to management

of this Ramsar site

• effects on beach accretion and depletion Statia and potential of reef restoration/beach restoration

• sedimentation rates [St. Maarten]

3. Invasive species:

• Follow up studies of impact of rats (and cats) on nesting tropic birds

• Follow-up on Ciguatera pilot study for Windward islands and Saba Bank, in particular in relation to lionfish

consumption

• The effects of the invasive sea grass Halophila stipulacea on the native seagrasses in the area of Lac Bay and St.

Eustatius (aggregations of juvenile conch under Halophila in Statia), and the impact on green turtles feeding in Lac

(and Lagun), Bonaire and St. Eustatius [St. Maarten]

• Scaevola taccada (White inkberry/Beach naupaka) spread and potential impact on sea turtle nesting on Klein Bonaire

• Donkey, cat, pig population size and distribution on Bonaire

• Management of Corallita

• Impact of invasive microbes [relevant to ballast water treaty ] [in Curaçao 80% change in composition found in harbor

compared to other areas]

• Effect of lionfish on coral reef species (fish, crustacean)

4. Bonaire Parrot (Lora)

• Genetics of yellow shouldered amazon parrot (establish uniqueness of Bonairean Parrot as compared to Venezuelan

islands)

• What is the effective (i.e., breeding) population size of lora as compared to the total population

5. Carrying capacity/management effectiveness

• BNMP reef carrying capacity and implications for management (only old and dubious data available, urgent need for

an update under current circumstances and how carrying capacity is influenced by management, e.g. can carrying

capacity be increased with proper management. Consider also new types of recreation such as kite surfing and assess

actual effects)

• Effectiveness of nature management, both marine and terrestrial (is management having an effect and what

management actions should be improved or instated?)

• Saba/Statia trails (effects of use, potential mitigation measures?)

• Assess effectiveness of restoration efforts (e.g. reforestation, are the right species being planted, is the focus on rare

species correct or counterproductive?

6. Fisheries research

• Conch: vertical (depth) migration of conch

• Commercial fish species: identify reproductive season or peak spawning period and assess connectivity between islands

• Unused stocks: identify potential and sustainability of currently unused fish stocks such as diamond-back squid

• Assess effects of ghost traps on Saba Bank (and Statia) [NOTE: this is currently being finalized for Statia]

7. Sociological study of nature perception in the community

NOTE: Echo did a study on perception of parrots in the community in 2012, this could be a starting point

• How does the local community perceive nature and nature conservation and to what degree do they enjoy nature,

how might this be improved? How effective is current communication, if any, to improve enjoyment of nature in the

community and perception of the need to protect nature?

• Assess the extent of current pollution from land by plastic bags, styrofoam and other plastic debris. How willing are

people to change their behavior regarding plastic bags, and what would be needed to effectively curb the continued

generation of this type of marine debris

8. DNA barcoding to monitor biodiversity. [is already starting on St. Eustatius by Naturalis]

9. improve baseline data on Sharks

Summary of Research Priorities


Summary of Research Priorities

Additional notes:

1. Habitat mapping:

• Satellite data

Curaçao is ordering high resolution multi-spectral satellite fly-over data in November 2015, would be cost effective if

Aruba and Bonaire could also be included. This could:

− enable ecosystem/habitat mapping for future monitoring

− Assess impacts of development on coastal zone (identify waste water streams, marine habitat maps feasible

down to 30 m)

• Aquatic vegetation mapping in Lac Bay (e.g. using Lowrance fishfinder and software application)

The following are research questions from last year and still very much valid for Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. They are

mostly completed or underway on the Caribbean Netherlands’ islands but some are still valid.

2. Collection and evaluation of baseline data including species inventories and production/updating of habitat maps

for key habitats and species including:

• Marine environments (coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests):

- Habitat maps for all marine ecosystems: Aruba, Saba [done], St. Eustatius [done], St. Maarten

- Revised habitat maps for the leeward shore: Bonaire [ongoing], Curaçao [note that there are habitat maps

for Bonaire and Curaçao produced by Fleur van Duyl but these are now decades out of date]

• Terrestrial environments:

- Habitat maps for Aruba [habitat maps produced and ground truthed by CARMABI exist for all islands except Aruba]

- Species inventories (all islands) [Statia starting soon]

- Cost effective methods for assessing terrestrial habitat change [remote sensing is now being proposed for

monitoring]

- Detailed inventories and mapping for key ecosystems including:

Cactus habitats (Bonaire)

Elfin forest (Saba)

Boven forest types (Statia)

- Baseline data and population dynamics (including reproductive biology and conservation ecology) for key

species including:

Caribbean coot

Northern Caracara

Red bellied racer (Saba, Statia)

3 Climate change research including:

• Most probable effects of climate change and sea level rise (all islands)

• Recommendations for adaptive management at the island level to ensure ecosystem robustness and maximize the

potential for ecosystem adaption and change

• Assessment of ecosystem/habitat vulnerability to climate change and responses

• Assessment of species vulnerability to climate change and responses


Below you will find an overview of the monitoring work that took place in the last 10 months.

Category Subject Island Organization: Project Leader

Birds Flamingo Abundance (monthly counts) BONDROB: Frank van Slobbe Cargill STINAPA Bonaire: Paulo Bertuol

Birds Monitoring vulnerable parrot nests (remote camera sensing work) BON Echo: Lily Leahy, Nathan Schmaltz

Birds Bird Monitoring (Caribbean Waterbird Census) AUA BON

FPNA DLVV: Facundo Franken STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol

Birds Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot roost counts BON Echo: Sam Williams DROB: Frank van Slobbe

Birds Terrestrial Bird Monitoring BON Echo: Lily Leah BU: Daniel Fishburn

Birds Nesting Sea Birds BON STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol

Birds Terrestrial Bird Survey at Klein Bonaire BON STINAPA: Fernando Simal

Birds Bird monitroingSXM, CUR, SAB

EPIC: Adam Brown CARMABI: John de Freitas

Birds Red-billed Tropicbird monitoring EUX STENAPA: Hannah Madden

Birds Population assessment of the Bridled Quail-dove EUX STENAPA: Hannah Madden

Corals Coral Bleaching Monitroing SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Corals Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network EUX, SAB

Gem City Consulting: Steve Piontek IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Ecosystems Invasive seagrass monitoring EUX Gem City Consulting: Steve Piontek

Ecosystems Seagrass monitoring SXM St Maarten Nature Foundation:Tadzio Bervoets

Ecosystems Mangrove monitoring SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Ecosystems Monitoring and research of the longest coral reeftime-series in the world (since 1973)

BON/ CUR

IMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de Bakker (PhD student) NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Rolf Bak

Ecosystems Monitoring and Research Saba Bank (3rd expedition) SABIMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de Bakker (PhD student), NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Gem City Consulting: Steve Piontek

Ecosystems Seagrass/conch/mangrove, Lac Bay BON STINAPA: Sabine Engel

Environmental Water quality testing SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets EPIC: Natalia Collier

FishShark monitoring: - Shark sightings - Shark Abundance, distribution and movements (tagging)

SXM IMARES: Martin de Graaf NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Fish Inventory sharks and rays (SoS project) AUA FPNA: Tatiana Becker

Fish Spawning monitoring: Red hind surveys on Moonfish Bank SAB SBMU (SCF): Dahlia Hassell IMARES: Martin de Graaf

Fish Saba Bank fish monitoring SAB IMARES: Ingrid van Beek

Fish Impact nature reserves on fish populations EUX STENAPA: Jessica Berkel

Insects Bee tracking BON Echo: Lauren Schmaltz BU: Daniel Fishburn

Invasive speciesGoat and/or donkey removal: -Washington Slagbaai National Park - Lac Bay area (exclusion plots)

BON STINAPA Bonaire: Evo Cicilia IMARES: Dolfi Debrot

Invasive species Goat Excluder Project in the Quill National Park EUX STENAPA: Hannah Madden

Invasive species Lionfish abundance and control

BON, CUR, SXM, SAB, EUX

STINAPA Bonaire: Ramon de Leon, Paulo Bertuol (50 meter traps) CARMABI: Mark Vermeij NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets SBMU (SCF): Dahlia Hassell STENAPA: Jessica Berkel

Monitoring Overview: August 2015 - June 2016Members of the

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

ArubaFundacion ParkeNacional Arikok

tel: +297-585-1234www.arubanationalpark.org

BonaireSTINAPA Bonaire

tel: +599-717-8444www.stinapa.org

CuraçaoCARMABI

tel: +599-9-462-4242www.carmabi.org

CuraçaoStichting Uniek Curaçao

tel: +599-9-462-8989www.uniekcuracao.org

BonaireSTCB

tel: +599-717-2225www.bonaireturtles.org


Monitoring Overview: August 2015 - June 2016

Invasive species Invasive Monkey Monitoring: abundance and distribution SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Mammals Bat monitoring AUA BON

WildConcience: Fernando Simal, Linda Garcia FPNA

Molluscs Conch (Strombus gigas) on St. Eustatius, Saba Bank, Anguilla SAB EUX

IMARES: Martin de Graaf, Erik Boman (PhD student) SBMU (SCF): Dahlia Hassell

Natural resource use Fishery monitoring (including marine mammal sightings and use of escape vents to reduce by-catch )

SAB, EUX

IMARES: Martin de Graaf Gem City Consulting: Steve Piontek SBMU(SCF): Dahlia Hassell

Plants Reforestation Klein Bonaire BON STINAPA Bonaire: Elsmarie Beukenboom

Plants Phenology study of columnar cacti and native treespecies on Bonaire BON STINAPA Bonaire: Paulo Bertuol,

Fernando Simal

Plants Phenology of bats in cacti landscapes of Aruba AUA WildConcience: Linda Garcia, FPNA

Reptiles Lesser Antillean Iguana: Monitoring population density EUX RAVON: Bart Kluskens STENAPA: 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

Reptiles

Sea turtle monitoring: -Satellite tracking -Nest monitoring -In water surveys (BON, CUR, SXM) -Fibropapilloma presence (BON)

BON, CUR, ARU, EUX, SXM

STCB: Mabel Nava STENAPA: Jessica Berkel CARMABI: Sabine Berendse NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

Members of theDutch CaribbeanNature Alliance

SabaSaba Conservation Foundation

tel: +599-416-3295www.sabapark.org

St. EustatiusSTENAPA

tel: +599-318-2884www.statiapark.org

St. MaartenNature Foundation tel: +721-544-4267

www.naturefoundationsxm.org

St. MaartenEmilio Wilson Estate FDN

tel: +1-721-524-1516www.sxmconservation-foundations.org/ewef

BonaireEcho

tel. +599-701-1188www.echobonaire.org

SABA CONSERVATIO

N

FOUNDATION

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

ANEMOON Analyse Educatie en Marien Oecologisch Onderzoek

ASDF Aruba Sustainable Development Foundation

BO project Policy Supporting Research project

BU Bangor University, United Kingdom

CARMABI Caribbean Research and Management of Biodi-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 Develop-ment, Bonaire

DLVV (Santa Rosa)

Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery and Farmers market (Santa Rosa), Aruba

ECPHF Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation

EPIC Environmental Protection in the Caribbean

FPNA Fundacion Parke Nacional Arikok, Aruba

IMARES Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem 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-sonian

Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural 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 Neth-erlands

VU VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Wildcon-science Wildlife Conservation, Science and Education

WNF World Wide Fund for Nature

WUR Wageningen University and Research Centre,the Netherlands


BEFORE• 1999firstNationalParksintheDutchCaribbeancreated

• 2000NatureFoundatonandSTENAPAthreatenedwithclosure

• 2002NatureForumrecom-mendedcreationof“trustfund”

• MINAworkinggroupdeveloped“Budget and Financial Planning for the nature areas of the Nether-lands Antilles”

• 2003“Trust Fund Study”commissioned

• 2003 closure of Statia Parks brought park representa-tives to the table and led to the creation of DCNA

Dutch Caribbean Nature AllianceSafeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean

2005• DutchPostcodeLotteryprovidedSpecialProjectfunding

• DCNAregisteredonSt.Maarten

• DCNA’sfirstBoardmeeting• “Sustainable funding for

the nature parks of the Netherlands Antilles”publishedrecommendingcreationofconservationTrustFund

• Regionalturtleoutreachandeducationprogramme(FIRST)

• Staffexchange(FIRST)• ManagementSuccessprojectstarted(FIRST)

2006• DutchMinistryoftheInteriorapprovedtenyearsubsidyandthecreationofaconservationtrustfund

• HerMajestyQueenBeatrixoftheNetherlandsbe-cameheadoftheCouncilofPatrons

• DCNATrustFundestab-lished

• ManagementPlancom-pletedforBonaireNationalMarinePark(FIRST)

2007 • FundingfromPrinceBernhardNatureFundforNatureGuideseries

• Parksproducedfirststand-ardizedAnnualReportsandFinancialStatements

• LegislationHandbookdevelopedforSt.Eustatius(FIRST)

2008 • Queen’sGeneralSecretaryattendedBoardmeeting

• DutchPartnerGroupformed(includingIUCNNL,WNF,VBN,IVN,NM,De12L)

• VogelbeschermingNeder-landraisedfundsforbirdconservationworkintheDutchCaribbean

• Birdmonitoringwork-shopsheldonSt.EustatiusandAruba(FIRST)

2009 • DCNAbecamenewestBeneficiaryoftheDutchPostcodeLottery

• StatiaMarineParkGuidepublished(FIRST)

• Managementplanswrit-tenforSt.MaartenandQuill-BovenNationalPark

• STINAPAJuniorRangerpilotprogrammestartedonBonaire(FIRST)

• MooringinstallationcourseonSaba(FIRST)

• BirdLiferecognised23ImportantBirdAreasintheDutchCaribbean

NICO VISSER DCNAPATRON

“ThecreationofDCNAisadreamcometruefortheDutchCaribbean.ItenablesnaturemanagementNGOstoworktogethertoprojectandmanagetheuniquerichnessofbiodiversityon

theislands.”

QUEEN BEATRIXOFTHENETHERLANDS“TheeffortsanddedicationofeveryoneinvolvedinDCNA-bothprofessionalsandthemanyenthusiasticvolunteers-deservetherespectandsupportof

usall.”

ELSMARIEBEUKENBOOM

“Ithinkwehaveagreatfoundation.Wehave

somethingunique.NotjustfortheCaribbean,Ithink

fortheworld.”

LEENDERT VAN DRIELDCNABOARDCHAIR

“WeallneedtocontributeourskillstobuildabalancebetweenhumanactivityandconservingthebeautyofnatureandDCNAseemstobedoingexactlythat.”

JUDITH LINGEMANDUTCHPOSTCODE

LOTTERY“Thecollaboration

betweenallofyouisareallygreatexamplefortheworldofnatureconservation.”

INDRA ZAANDAM“Natureteachesussomuchaboutlifeandcanleadtohappierhealthierpeople.Thechallengeistogetouryoungercommunityexcitedaboutnature

educationastheybecomeourfutureleaders.”

Ten Year Timeline


2009 • DCNAbecamenewestBeneficiaryoftheDutchPostcodeLottery

• StatiaMarineParkGuidepublished(FIRST)

• Managementplanswrit-tenforSt.MaartenandQuill-BovenNationalPark

• STINAPAJuniorRangerpilotprogrammestartedonBonaire(FIRST)

• MooringinstallationcourseonSaba(FIRST)

• BirdLiferecognised23ImportantBirdAreasintheDutchCaribbean

2010• NatureFoundationpro-videdwithMarineParkmanager

• DutchPostcodeLotteryfundedSpecialProject:“WearetheWorld”

• Conchrestorationprojectkick-startedinLac,Bonaire

• Documentaryfilmseries“TropischKoninkrijk”broadcastonDutchna-tionaltelevision

• NatureEducationandGISinitiativesstarted(FIRST)

• Lionfishfoundonallsixislands

2011• RoyalopeningoftheParkeNacionalArikokvisitorcentre

• ManofWarShoalMarineParkestablishedonSt.Maarten

• WNFAmbassadorsvisitBonaire

• DatadevelopmentandGISprojectlaunched

• GreatMigrationgamelaunchedonBonaire

2012• DutchGovernmentrecog-nised5NationalParksintheDutchCaribbean

• SHAPEphotographerscompleted5yearphotoshootofDutchCaribbean

• SPAWrecognised3parks:BonaireNationalMarinePark,Quill-BovenNationalPark,SabaBankNationalMarinePark

• St.Maartensharktaggingproject(FIRST)

2013 • NaturePolicyPlanforCaribbeanNetherlandscompletedwithMinistryofEconomicAffairs

• BirdGuidetotheWashing-tonSlagbaaiNationalParkpublished(FIRST)

• PocketGuidebooktotheBirdsofSaba(FIRST)

• RoyalopeningoftheCARMABIMarineResearchstation

2014 • SPAWrecognised3parks:SabaNationalMarinePark,StatiaNationalMarinePark,ManofWarShoalsMarinePark

• Onlinedonationsystemandfirstcrowdsourcefundingevent(FIRST)

• BirdsCaribbeanWetlandBirdsworkshop(FIRST)

• LuigiEybrechtawarded“HopeandInspiration”award

2015 • “SaveourSharks”projectfundedbyDutchPostcodeLottery

• MoUsignedwithBirdLifeInternational

• ReptileBookpublished• YarariMarineMammalandSharkSanctuaryestablished

INDRA ZAANDAM“Natureteachesussomuchaboutlifeandcanleadtohappierhealthierpeople.Thechallengeistogetouryoungercommunityexcitedaboutnature

educationastheybecomeourfutureleaders.”

PAUL HOETJESMINISTRYECONOMICS/

RCN“Themostspecialthing

aboutDCNAisthatitisapeernetwork.Itbringstogetherpeoplefromthedifferentislandsthathavethesameexperiences,thesameissuesandproblems,todiscusssolutions.ThatisuniqueintheDutchCaribbean.”

ANNEMIE BURGERDIRECTORGENERAL

“Itismybeliefthateconomyandecologyaretwosidesofthesamecoin.Asustainableeconomyisimpossibleifwedon’tpreserveour

ecosystems.”

TADZIO BERVOETSDCNAVICECHAIR

“Bysharingresources,skillsandexperience,engagingparkstaffinjointprojects,throughlobbyingand

fundraising,DCNAworkstomakesurethatresourcesneveragaingetinthewayofourstaffdoingtheirjob.”

JULIA MARISOLMARTINUS

JUNIORRANGER

“DCNAisanorganisationintheDutchCaribbeanthatreallycaresaboutnatureandtheydoeverythingtheycantohelpus.Wecouldn’taskforanything

better!”

SHARON DIJKSMASTATESECRETARY

“This(Yarari)specialreservewillensurethe

conservationoftheanimalsinthewaterssurroundingSabaandBonaire.Sharksarenotonlyimportantfortourismbutalsoforfishery.Whentherearemore

sharks,therearealsomorefish-contrarytowhatone

wouldexpect.”

DCNA Ten Year Anniversary2005 - 2015

BioNews Issue 24

Dutch Caribbean Nature AllianceSafeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance | Kaya Finlandia 10a | Kralendijk, Bonaire | Dutch Caribbean+599-717-5010 | [email protected] | www.DCNAnature.org

DCNA’s activities are generously supported by the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom

Relations and Dutch Postcode Lottery. BioNews is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

special - dcna

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