DCNA

BioNews 51 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 51 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

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 51 you will find articles on:

 

You will also find up to date overviews of:

You can sign-up here or send an email to research@DCNAnature.org and 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).

Date
2022
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Tags
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

The path to Coral Recovery: Scientific Foundations and Practical Lessons

During the 2019 edition of the DCNA Convention on Bonaire, biologists from local protected area management organizations including Aruba National Park Foundation, STINAPA Bonaire, Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire, CARMABI Curaçao, Saba Conservation Foundation, Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, STENAPA and CNSI of Sint Eustatius will be united on October 28th for a full day of workshops. The central focus of the workshops will be coral recovery, with insights from science and practices. The Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-NL) will also be present. In addition to their participation in the other workshops, Arjan de Groene of WWF-NL will give a presentation on the Coral Action Plan for the Caribbean Netherlands and Joseph Stuefer from NWO will further elaborate on the upcoming call for scientific research proposals in the Dutch Caribbean.

Article published in BioNews 27

 

Date
2019
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Watershed-to-Reef: New Approach for Coral Reef Management

Results from a 2020 study highlight the interconnectivity between watershed areas and neighboring coral reefs on the island of Bonaire. This study provided evidence that coral reefs near areas with high erosion risk were more likely to show signs of deteriorating health than neighboring reefs. New emphasis on watershed-to-reef management will be critical for designing future conservation plans.

For more information, see the full report here: van der Geest, M., Meesters, E., Mücher, C.A. (2020). Impact of terrestrial erosion on coral reef health at Bonaire: a plea for nature-inclusive “watershed-to-reef” based coastal management. Wageningen University & Research report C055/20

Article published in BioNews 40

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Author

Using Digital Footprints to Manage Conservation Efforts

Researchers from Wageningen University and Research compiled thousands of photographs taken on Bonaire to analyze tourist activities and highlight the most common visited locations. Understanding the type of visitor and how they are using the space will help build targeted marketing and educational material to maximize conservation efforts for the island.

For more information you can read the full report here: Slijkerman, D., van der Wal, J.T., de Vries, P., Verweij, P. 2020. Tracking digital footprints in Bonaire’s landscapes. Wageningen University & Research report C052/20.

Article published in BioNews 40

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Author

In loving memory of Paul Hoetjes, a legend in nature conservation

It is with great and profound sadness that we have to say goodbye to Paul Hoetjes, a legend in nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean and cofounder of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA). Paul Hoetjes passed away on the 13th of November 2020.

Article published in BioNews 40

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Author

BioNews 40 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

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 40 you will find articles on:

You will also find up to date overviews of:

Download the full color version of BioNews 40 

You can sign-up here or send an email to research@DCNAnature.org and 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).

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Document
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Bonaire’s First Brown Booby Population Count in Over 50 Years

Between 2008 and 2010, STINAPA Bonaire and volunteers took to counting Brown Booby seabirds along the northwestern coast of Bonaire. These numbers represent the first study of its kind in over 50 years and showed a slow increase in numbers since the establishment of the Washington Slagbaai National Park in 1969.

Article published in BioNews 39

Date
2020
Data type
Other resources
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Author

Importance of Seagrass and Macroalgae in the Protection of Coastlines

Researchers from the Netherlands and Mexico studied three bays on Saint Martin to illustrate the ability of seagrass and algae fields to withstand hurricane level storms while continuing to dissipate energy and anchor sediments. Through field surveys, biomechanical measurements and computer simulations this project demonstrated the importance of coastal ecosystems in the protection of coastlines.

Article published in BioNews 39

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Maarten
Author

Recovery of Orbicella annularis corals from parrotfish predation

Orbicella annularis is an important reef-building coral and an endangered species. Previous studies suggest it is also one of the most intensely grazed corals by parrotfishes in the Caribbean. Yet, the healing capacity of Caribbean corals from parrotfish predation scars remains poorly understood. In a recent study published in Coral Reefs, researchers from California Polytechnic State University monitored the healing of over 400 recent parrotfish predation scars on O. annularis colonies on the islands of St. Croix and Bonaire for up to two months in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Article published in BioNews 39

 

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Geographic location
Bonaire
Author

Tracking Sharks around Sint Maarten

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently retrieved acoustic receivers (loggers) to learn about the movement patterns and home ranges of Caribbean reef and Nurse sharks around St. Maarten. The majority of the sharks fitted with acoustic devices showed remarkably high site fidelity. The small home ranges of the sharks show that reserves and marine parks offer good opportunities to protect these shark species. 

Article published in BioNews 39

 

Date
2020
Data type
Media
Geographic location
St. Maarten
Author