DCNA

Between December 2017 and June 2018, members of the St. John’s community planted five lemon trees to bring attention to and work towards the eradication of the invasive Coralita vine on Saba. Using updated Participatory Action Research techniques, researchers were able to inspire community involvement which had previously been hindered due to a lack of interest and understanding.

Article published in BioNews 34

More Information: Vaas, J., Driessen, P.P.J., Giezen, M., van Laerhoven, F., Wassen, M.J. 2020. Tailoring participatory action research to deal with the latent problem of an invasive alien vine on Saba, Caribbean Netherlands. Regional Environmental Change (2020) 20: 30 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-020-01591-z 

A series of recent surveys worked to highlight the important relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms. Studies were conducted off the coasts of Sint Eustatius, Curaçao and Bonaire. Understanding the relationship between reef inhabitants and their host corals could be critical in designing conservation efforts for reefs into the future.

Article published in BioNews 34

For more information:

Hoeksema, B.W.; García-Hernández, J.E.; van Moorsel, G.W.; Olthof, G.; ten Hove, H.A. Extension of the Recorded Host Range of Caribbean Christmas Tree Worms (Spirobranchus spp.) with Two Scleractinians, a Zoantharian, and an Ascidian. Diversity 2020, 12, 115.

Hoeksema, B.W.; García-Hernández, J.E. Hostrelated Morphological Variation of Dwellings Inhabited by the Crab Domecia acanthophora in the Corals Acropora palmata and Millepora complanata (Southern Caribbean). Diversity 2020, 12, 143.

The 2019 Naturalis Biodiversity Center and ANEMOON Foundation expeditions worked, among other things, to catalog the wide variety of seaweeds off the coast of Bonaire. From this and previous reports, nearly 250 species were identified and the most common were highlighted in the “Common Seaweeds of Bonaire” ID cards, now available for free download from the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database.

Article published in BioNews 34

For more information: van der Loos, Luna. (2020). Identification cards: the common macroalgae of Bonaire (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae).  DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30892.00644

New research describes a unique species of iguana for the islands of Saba and Monserrat. The painted black iguana, with its distinct black coloration, is an endemic species to these islands and must be recognized as such to help improve conservation efforts. Threats due to unsustainable harvesting (including pet trade) and habitat loss threaten the small remaining populations of these iguanas.

Article orginally published in BioNews 34

For More Information: Breuil, M., Schikorski, D., Vuillaume, B., Krauss, U., Morton, M.N., Corry, E., Bech, N., Jelić, M., Grandjean, F. (2020). Painted black: Iguana melanoderma (Reptilia, Squamata, Iguanidae) a new melanistic endemic species from Saba and Montserrat islands (Lesser Antilles). ZooKeys 926: 95–131. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.926.48679

BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. BioNews provides regular updates on science and nature projects as well as overviews of on-going research and monitoring efforts, long term projects, recent reports and publications.

In BioNews 34 you will find articles on:

• Protecting Saba’s Painted Black Iguanas
• Get to Know Bonaire’s Seaweeds
• New discoveries on relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms
• Using Lemon Trees to Combat Coralita on Saba

You will also find up to date overviews of:

• Recent reports and publications
• Current research, monitoring and long term programs

Download the full color version of BioNews 34

You can sign-up here or send an email to research@DCNAnature.organd we will be happy to add you to our mailing list.

For previous versions, please check the BioNews archive

*This newsletter was published by DCNA and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).

New research links two known coral diseases, skeletal eroding band and Caribbean ciliate infection, to a single originating pathogen. Studying the physical symptoms along with their genetic makeup, researchers were able to compare the disease-causing pathogens. Understanding these pathogens will prove instrumental in designing mitigation strategies to protect the remaining corals worldwide.

Article originally published in BioNews 33

For More Information: Montano, S., Maggioni, D., Liguori, G., Arrigoni, R., Berumen, M.L., Seveso, D., Galli, P., Hoeksema, B.W. (2020) Morpho-molecular traits of IndoPacific and Caribbean Halofolliculina ciliate infections. Coral Reefs 39 (2): 375–386. 

On August 1, 2019 the SISSTEM project kicked off at the University of Aruba, an ambitious program aimed at the development of critical capacity for Sustainable Island Solutions. SISSTEM advances sustainability policies at an academic level, supporting resilience in small island states while educating a new generation of academics that have the skills and capacity to make these policies a reality. SISSTEM offers a 3-year, 180 EC bachelor program in STEM with specializations in bio-environmental sciences, technology and engineering, and informatics and data sciences; a 1.5-year, 90 EC multidisciplinary master program, PhD projects for sustainable development in small island states and a research and development center. The SISSTEM project is the result of a collaboration between the University of Aruba, KU Leuven and the initial phase is funded by the EU as part of the EDF-11 fund.

Article originally published in BioNews 33

The results of a four-year study were just published, cataloging the butterfly species of St. Eustatius over the winter months of 2009- 2012. This project also provided an update to species lists for the Dutch Caribbean islands of St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten. The butterfly faunas of the three islands totals 44 species, including seven new species records for St. Eustatius. By comparing butterfly populations between different habitat types, the researchers determined which factors are important for increasing local diversity. 

News-article originally published in BioNews 33

For more information see: Debrot, A.O., Madden, H., Becking, L.E., Rojer, A., and Miller, J.Y. (2020) The butterflies of St. Eustatius with faunal comparisons among the adjacent islands of the Lesser Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science, 50(1) : 91-106. https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v50i1.a12

The Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) recently conducted surveys of free-roaming livestock on St. Eustatius, highlighting population booms especially among goats and sheep. These animals can decimate local landscapes and be carriers of disease for native species and humans alike. Understanding population shifts is crucial in the sustainable management of the island’s natural resources.  

Article orginally published in BioNews 33

More Information: Madden, H. 2020. Free-roaming livestock distribution, densities and population estimates on St. Eustatius: a 2020 update. Technical Report. February 2020
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.17388.72325

BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. BioNews provides regular updates on science and nature projects as well as overviews of on-going research and monitoring efforts, long term projects, recent reports and publications.

In BioNews 33 you will find articles on:

• Survey of Free Roaming Livestock on St. Eustatius
• New Butterfly Census for the Dutch Caribbean Windward Islands
• Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SISSTEM)
• Genetic Analysis Finds Link in Coral Diseases

You will also find up to date overviews of:

• Recent reports and publications
• Current research, monitoring and long term programs

Download the full color version of BioNews 33

You can sign-up here or send an email to research@DCNAnature.organd we will be happy to add you to our mailinglist.

Note:

To read BioNews you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer and to enjoy it to the fullest we recommend you to open it in full screen mode.

For previous issues check the BioNews archive.

*This newsletter was published by DCNA and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).