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Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database

Central repository for biodiversity related research and monitoring data from the Dutch Caribbean

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  • Present day geothermal and seismic activity on Saba and St. Eustatius, the status of activity of the volcanoes, and possible future precursor activities
    Since the European settlement of St. Eustatius in 1636 and Saba in about 1640 there has been no eruptive activity on either island. Westermann and...
  • Towards reef resilience and sustainable livelihood: : A handbook for Caribbean coral reef managers
    The project has produced a handbook that aims to provide reef managers with tools, information and recommendations on management of coral reef...
  • Status of Dutch Caribbean Reefs
    Following the Royal Palace Symposium in the Netherlands in December 2016, and the harsh call to action by Professor Jeremy Jackson (Scripps...
  • Biology of Parrotfishes
    Content: Chapter 1: Cranial Specializations of Parrotfishes, Genus Scarus (Scarinae, Labridae) for Scraping Reef Surfaces  By Kenneth W. Gobalet The...
  • The Saba Bank
    Until recently the Saba Bank remained a mysterious and largely unexplored off shore atoll falling mostly within the water of the Exclusive Economic...
  • Physis XX - Journal of marine science
    As part of CIEE's Bonaire semester programs, each student conducts an independent research project on a topic of their choice.  The projects...
  • Wave exposure as a driver of dissimilarities in submerged macrophyte community structure of Saint Martins' tropical seagrass meadows- successional stages and future drama?
    Seagrass meadows provide a spectrum of anthropogenically important ecological functions. However, these ecosystems are globally declining under human...
  • The impact of competition, predation and disease on fluorescence patterns of RFP and GFP across the surface of scleractinian corals
    Globally, scleractinian coral populations are declining, and to fully understand this decline it is important to study potential coral stressors in-...
  • Cultural perceptions of environmental degradation, management, and accountability in conservation in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    Conservation is predicated on local support, and if scientists and resource managers wish to develop effective programs the cultural values and...
  • Is the introduced cup coral Tubastraea coccinea an invasive species in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean?
    The orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea has expanded its range from the Indo-Pacific into the western Atlantic region. It grows on a wide variety of...
  • Fish communities and fisheries of the Dutch Caribbean: status and trends
    Abstract in scientific journal or proceedings 1st Annual AcroporaNet Symposium, 2016-06-10 Since 2012 the fish and elasmobranch communities of the...
  • The impact of uncertain Antarctic ice sheet dynamics for future coastal erosion A probabilistic approach for a data-scarce environment in the Caribbean
    Msc. Thesis Case study St. Maarten Key Points • Sea level rise projections are deeply uncertain due to the contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet,...
  • Project rapportage. Regeling Bijzondere Uitkering Natuur voor Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba (2013 – 2019)
    The Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire, virtually all nature organizations, private companies and most individuals on Bonaire recognize caves as important...
  • Tropical dry forests The state of global knowledge and recommendations for future research
    This discussion paper assesses the state of knowledge on tropical dry forests  as it relates to CIFOR’s strategy and identi es research opportunities...
  • Caribbean tourism and agriculture: linking to enhance development and competitiveness
    This study examines current trends in tourism and agriculture in Caribbean countries and the strategy for linking them in order to facilitate their...
  • Testing the usefulness of RTD within the ADM approach in a local design case: Sustainable tourism development in Lower Town, Sint Eustatius (Statia)
    Research-through-designing (RTD) is a method used in the landscape architectural discipline, where designing is used as a research method. Adaptive...
  • Innovations for coral finance
    Coral ecosystems are of primary importance for many coastal populations, while being subject to many threats. Their conservation now and in the...
  • Global Ocean Protection: Present Status and Future Possibilities
  • IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations
    Abstract: Conservation translocation is the deliberate movement of organisms from one site for release in  another. It must be intended to yield a...
  • Cephalopholis cruentata (graysby) behavior and interspecific response to invasive Pterois volitans (lionfish) in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    The invasion of Pterois volitans (lionfish) is a serious concern for Caribbean coral reef health. The morphology and behavior of lionfish is novel to...
  • Spatial distribution and severity of dark spots disease in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    Corals are the building blocks of coral reefs as they provide countless marine organisms with protection and habitat. However, coral diseases are...
  • How does water quality correlate with coral disease, bleaching, and macroalgal growth on coastal reefs? A comparative study of various anthropogenic threats on Bonaire, N.A.
    Coral reefs worldwide are currently jeopardized by anthropogenic factors such as land-based pollution, coastal development, and sediment erosion. In...
  • The impacts of sea-level rise on the index nesting beach on Klein Bonaire for three species of sea turtle
    Abstract: Globally, all extant sea turtles species are endangered due to centuries of uncontrolled exploitation, furthermore they face future threats...
  • The consequences of construction activities associated with the build- ing of the second megapier on the coral reefs near the Holiday Beach Hotel, Curacao
    On April 22nd, 2017, vessels (a large barge and a smaller working boat) that aid with the construction of the second megapier on Curacao were...
  • GENETIC DIVERSITY, CONNECTIVITY AND DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF BONAIRE SEA TURTLES
    with a discussion on sampling mixed aggregations for demographic inferences Student Report  Climate change is threatening sea turtles globally, and...
  • 71st annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) Book of abstracts
    Abstracts: TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN: CHALLENGES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES & CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS (Sponsored by CORALINA & GCFI) Kyne,...
  • Reforestation Project Final Report
    Bonaire has never recovered from the historic felling of its trees. The strong influence of feral goats prevents rejuvenation in those parts where a...
  • Tsunamis in the Caribbean Sea – Implications from coarse-clast deposits and the importance of their shape
    This presentation gives an overview of the results of a five-year research project on tsunami-induced boulder transport. It stresses the importance...
  • Fish, Fishing, Diving and the Management of Coral Reefs
    Peer-reviewed PHD dissertation, University of California San Diego.   This dissertation is a multi-disciplinary attempt to understand how coral...
  • Inorganic nutrients, photosynthetic pigments, and zooplankton species richness and species diversity in the surrounding waters of urban Kralendijk, Bonaire
    Excess nutrients as a result of agricultural, urban, and industrial runoff are major causes to increases in plankton. Coral reefs are nutrient poor...
  • Utilization of smaller grouper species (Cephalopholis cruentata, Cephalopholis fulva, Epinephelus guttatus, Epinephelus adscensionis) densities as a coral reef health indicator
    Serranidae, the grouper family, are common carnivorous fish that inhabit Bonaire’s coral reefs. Smaller grouper species are commonly spotted along...
  • The effects of storm damage on reef rugosity and coral species composition in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.
    Located below the hurricane belt in the Netherlands Antilles, the island of Bonaire is rarely affected by major storms and high-wave action. In a...
  • The suburbanization of the Aruban landscape
    This paper is part of a series on the developments that relate to the Aruban landscape. To bring perspective to current environmental threats and...
  • Global evaluation of shark sanctuaries
    Due to well-documented declines in many shark populations there is increasing pressure to implement new management and rebuilding strategies at the...
  • BioNews special: Climate Change
    Conditions all around the world are changing due to climate change. These changes can be felt throughout all environments, from changing water ...
  • Bonaire national marine park management plan 2006
    The Bonaire National Marine Park was first established in 1979. It surrounds the island of Bonaire and includes the satellite island and the waters...
  • Preliminary checklist of extant endemic species and subspecies of the windward Dutch Caribbean (St. Martin, St. Eustatius, Saba and the Saba Bank)
    Keywords: endemic species, Caribbean, Saba, Saint Eustatius, Saint Marten, Saba Bank   Endemic species and subspecies (or “taxa” for short) having...
  • Spawning Potential Ratio of Ten Reef Associated Fish Species around St. Eustatius from 2012 to 2020
    Student Report Many fish stocks and coral reefs around the world are declining. In this study, ten reef associated fish species around St. Eustatius...
  • Tourism: synergizing people and nature for a better tomorrow (2017-2027)
    Impressively, since the 1970’s Bonaire has championed efforts to protect its natural environment and resources. There is no doubt that these efforts...
  • What is St Eustatius’ Nature Worth? (Policy Brief)
    Policy Brief   The Challenge Healthy ecosystems such as the corals reefs and the forests on the hillsides of Boven and the Quill are critical to the...
  • Human leptospirosis: guidance for diagnosis, surveillance and control
    Why were these guidelines written? Leptospirosis is a worldwide public health problem. In humid tropical and subtropical areas, where most developing...
  • New Plan for Creating Sustainable Fisheries in the Caribbean Netherlands
    A 2019 policy brief was just released outlining the requirements for sustainably managing fisheries within the Caribbean Netherlands. Using five...
  • A new catalogue of orchidaceae for Saba, Netherlands Antilles
    The Orchidaceae on the island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles, have only briefly been studied and described. In January 2003, in cooperation with the...
  • The analysis of ecological networks: habitat connectivity and population viability on St.Eustatius
    This student thesis research is in support of a Tourism Master Plan for Sint Eustatius; this plan is focused on the development of sustainable...
  • Distribution and abundance of spatial competition between scleractinian corals and sessile aggressive invertebrates on the west coast of Bonaire
    Processes affecting reef ecosystems have three levels of organization: macroscale, mesoscale and microscale. These processes are conducive to...
  • Sediment rates and composition surrounding a disturbed outlet in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    The small island of Bonaire has seen a dramatic increase in visitation due to diving tourism. The economy of Bonaire depends on this influx of...
  • St Maarten Proposed Land Parks Management Plan 2009
    NAFSXM would like to secure a long term management agreement to protect the environment of the entire Dutch side of the island. The proposed St....
  • Hydrological Research Bonaire
    Fresh water on the semi-arid Caribbean island of Bonaire is scarce as groundwater is generally brackish (electrical conductivity 2,000 to 4,000 μS/cm...
  • The value of nature in the Caribbean Netherlands
    The Challenge Healthy ecosystems such as the forests on the hillsides of the Quill on St Eustatius and Saba’s Mt Scenery or the corals reefs of...
  • Recent Developments in CITES Concerning the International Trade in Queen Conch (Strombus gigas)
    Despite years of regional discussions and trade regulation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), most queen...
  • Mapping Sargassum on beaches and coastal waters of Bonaire using Sentinel-2 imagery
    Sargassum is a genus of brown macroalgae or seaweed that can be found in shallow waters or free floating in the ocean. Sargassum patches on the open...
  • Natuurbeleid van de Nederlandse Antillen 2000 – 2005: Aan de dageraad van een nieuw millennium
    Executive summary Both in the ocean and on land the Netherlands Antilles possesses an enormous wealth in the diversity of its nature. Biological...
  • The Wild Orchids of Saba, Netherlands Antilles
    This field guide includes all the orchid species located during the orchid survey conducted between winter of 2002 to date of publication. In keeping...
  • Increasing coral cover and decreasing coral species diversity with decreasing light availability at depth: a study of the future effects of sea level rise on fringing reef ecosystems
    Global climate change is having widespread effects on the world’s oceans. Particularly vulnerable to changing global conditions are coral reefs,...
  • Redlip blenny (Ophioblennius macclurei) territoriality and feeding behavior
    Redlip blennies (Ophioblennius macclurei) are common reef fish in Caribbean coral reef environments. They are vitally important to reefs as primary...
  • St. Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme - Annual Report 2008
    Abstract: The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
  • Rates and mechanisms of sponge bioerosion
    Coral reefs are complex marine ecosystems providing valuable economic and environmental services. These ecosystems are under serious threat worldwide...
  • Discovery of a new micro-pagurid fauna (Crustacea: Decapoda: Paguridae) in the Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea
    Six new monotypic genera and eight new species of hermit crabs of the family Paguridae Latreille, 1802 are fully described based on specimens...
  • St Maarten Marine Park Management Plan 2007
    The St Maarten Marine Park was first established in 1997. It surrounds the Dutch side of St Martin from the average high water mark to a depth of...
  • The ecological and socio-economic impacts of the lionfish invasion in the Southern Caribbean
    The Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous, voracious predator with a high dispersal capactity. In the space of 30 years, it has...
  • Protecting Saba Bank’s Red Hind and Queen Triggerfish Populations
    Wageningen Marine Research and the Saba Bank Management Unit (SMBU) recently published an evaluation of the effectiveness of the seasonal fishing...
  • Envisioning tourism development on St.Eustatius
    Exploring tourism development possibilities on St. Eustatius, that is what the document in front of you is about. During a 5 week stay on the island...
  • Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment due to Hurricane Activity: Case Study of St. Martin, the Caribbean
    Student Report Every year hundreds of thousands of people are affected by natural disasters that occur due to various physical phenomenon. They...
  • Parke Marino Aruba 2019-2021 Preliminary Management Plan
        In 2016 the Government of Aruba in partnership with TNO Caribbean was awarded the BEST 2.0 Program grant to establish Marine Protected Areas (...
  • Patterns in Caribbean Coral Spawning
    Student Report Most corals worldwide are broadcast spawners that rely on synchronous gamete release for successful fertilization. Spawning synchrony...
  • Future Directions for Biodiversity Action in Europe Overseas: Outcomes of the Review of the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, December 2010
    1. Introduction...
  • Final report St.Eustatius Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
    Coral reefs provide some of the most valuable ecosystem services for the islands. They are a driver of tourism, they protect against storms, and...
  • Biodiversity Monitoring on the BES-islands: …Past, Present and Future
    Abstract With the transition of the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES) from the former Netherlands Antilles to special municipalities...
  • Effects of sediment grain size on abundance of marine nematodes in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    Free-living marine nematodes are a functionally and morphologically diverse group of animals. They have important ecological functions, many of which...
  • A study of succession in algal communities on coral reefs
    The transition in the Caribbean Sea from coral dominated reefs to algal dominated reefs poses a serious risk to the current existing community....
  • Response of three predatory reef fish species to fishing protection in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    Fish protected areas are increasingly utilized as a means of bolstering existing fish stocks while laying the foundation for healthy future...
  • Distribution and density of Leucaena leucocephala on St. Eustatius
    Student Report   This report was commissioned by St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) in order to investigate the distribution and density of...
  • Coral Reef Resilience Assessment of the Bonaire National Marine Park, Netherlands Antilles
    Although Bonaire’s coral reefs remain among the healthiest and most resilient in the Caribbean, this IUCN report based on the IUCN Resilience...
  • Carmabi Annual Report 2011
    Carmabi’s mission is to work towards a sustainable society, in which the sustainable management of nature leads to benefits that future generations...
  • The Stability and Regeneration of Seagrass Meadows During Hurricanes
    Msc. thesis Tropical seagrass meadows are vital coastal ecosystems threatened by both storm activity and human interference. Intense hurricane...
  • Unwelcome guests: Stakeholder perspectives on non-native seagrasses and macroalgal ‘nuisance’ species in Bonaire
    Unlike coral reef and mangrove forest ecosystems, public recognition and multiple values of seagrass beds have only but recently been gaining...
  • Monitoring Statia’s marine ecosystems
    CNSI continues to monitor the vulnerable ecosystems of St. Eustatius coordinated by Data Monitoring Officer (DMO) Kimani Kitson-Walters. Coral reef...
  • Action and monitoring 2017 Sea turtle Conservation Curacao
    This report describes the activities undertaken by Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao (STCC) in 2017. While STCC officially became an NGO in May of 2017...
  • Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Bonaire
    Bonaire’s six IBAs—the island’s international site priorities for bird conservation—cover 23,830 ha (including their marine extensions). They embrace...
  • Baited Remote Underwater stereo0Video (stereo0BRUV) survey as a basis for elasmobranch conservation and management on Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean
    Elasmobranch populations (sharks, rays and skates) worldwide have declined drastically over the past decades and the situation in the Dutch Caribbean...
  • Interactions among sponges, algae, and coral in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean: an analysis of sponge and algae prevalence in relation to coral abundance and health
    Stressors causing coral reef degradation are making reefs susceptible to domination by other organisms. One documented phase-shift is increased...
  • Effects of elevated CO2 levels on Coryphopterus glaucofraenum response to injured conspecific chemical cues
    Carbon dioxide levels in the ocean are predicted to double by the end of the century, making the marine environment more acidic than it is today....
  • Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and Water Quality on Coral Disease Prevalence in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    Trying to understand the extent to which anthropogenic stressors impact coral reefs globally has led to an increase in studies which analyze the...
  • Population size and feeding ecology of the Lesser Antillean Iguana
    Student report Abstract A reptile species that suffers from anthropogenic changes is Iguana delicatissima. This species was common on all Lesser...
  • Initial Inventory of 3D Cadastre Use Cases in the Caribbean
    As argued in many earlier FIG publications, the potential benefits of 3D Cadastre are huge. This is especially true in the Caribbean setting with...
  • Discovering in-depth tourist behaviour and demand using social media data in Bonaire island
    Tourism has not only brought an economic fortune to Bonaire island but also has a detrimental effect on its natural ecosystem. Studying tourist...
  • Tourism: synergizing people and nature for a better tomorrow
    Impressively, since the 1970’s Bonaire has championed efforts to protect its natural environment and resources. There is no doubt that these efforts...
  • BEST 2.0 Regeneration Study
    Habitat degradation and destruction, as well as the introduction of invasive species re-main amongst the key threats to the world’s biodiversity (...
  • Priority Actions for Spaans Lagoen
    A Vision for Spaans Lagoen The biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage of Spaans Lagoen will be maintained, restored, enhanced and managed now...
  • Physis XVI - Journal of marine sciences
    As part of CIEE's Bonaire semester programs, each student conducts an independent research project on a topic of their choice.  The projects...
  • Climate Change Predictions for St-Eustatius and its possible impacts on the island
    This report was created to highlight the most important climate change predictions for St. Eustatius and to highlight possible impacts on the island...
  • An approach to identify options for reuse of nutrients under different development scenarios
    The majority of the world population is living in cities, and population and urbanization rates are expected to grow further, raising challenges for...
  • Structure and substratum preference of a schooling fish: observing the habitat use and nutrient input of smallmouth grunts (Haemulon chrysargyreum) in Bonaire
    Various marine organisms are known to consciously select specific types of habitat that provide maximum shelter from potential predators. Reef fish...
  • Bioaccumulation of run-off pollutants: An evaluation of marine sponges as bioindicators
    Runoff and sewage discharge present serious consequences if left unchecked in coral reef ecosystems. Eutrophication and the introduction of harmful...
  • The sensitivity of the invasive lionfish, Pterois volitans, to parasitism in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
    Invasive species have a history of damaging their invaded ecosystems and in the case of the Pterois volitans invasion to the waters of many Caribbean...
  • Disease Surveys in Curacao - 2005
    In 2004, as part of a GEF funded project entitled “Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building” (CRTR), to assess the current status and...
  • Iguana delicatissima. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T10800A122936983
    Taxon Name: Iguana delicatissima Laurenti, 1768 Common Name(s): • English: Lesser Antillean Iguana, West Indian Iguana • French: Iguane des Petites...
  • Sustainable Tourism: Overview
    The world is continuously getting smaller as globe trotting gets easier with each passing year. In fact, tourism is one of the fastest growing...
  • Estimating damages from climate-related natural disasters for the Caribbean at 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming above preindustrial levels
    This paper examines historical and future changes in normalised damages resulting from climate-related natural disasters for the Caribbean....
  • Application Form for Area of Importance for Bat Conservation (AICOM) Kleine Bonaire
    Located in the South Caribbean xeric region, approximately 800 m from the Island of Bonaire, Klein Bonaire is a small flat island (maximum elevation...
  • State of Nature in the Dutch Caribbean: Saba and the Saba Bank
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the state of nature for the three Dutch Caribbean islands (Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • Year 1 Results of Seabird Breeding Atlas of the Lesser Antilles
    Environmental Protection In the Caribbean (EPIC) carried out breeding seabird research in the Lesser Antilles between February and June 2009, to...
  • A management plan for Spaans Lagoen Aruba
    This management plan is one of the outputs of a two-day participative management planning exercise led by Dr. Lawrence Jones-Walters of Wageningen...
  • FORCE - Future Of Reefs in a Changing Environment
    FORCE project is an integrated research project which takes an ecosystem approach, linking social and ecological aspects towards managing Caribbean...
  • Reef.org
    Protecting Marine Life Through Education, Service, and Research REEF was founded in 1990, out of growing concern about the health of the marine...
  • Coral reef watch (NOAA)
    The NOAA Coral Reef Watch program uses satellite data to provide current reef environmental conditions to quickly identify areas at risk for coral...
  • Understanding the Lionfish Invasion in Bonaire to Develop the Best Strategy for Trinidad and Tobago
    Abstract: Lionfish are venomous, predatory reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific region, but have become widely distributed due to its popularity as...
  • A quantitative assessment of the vegetation types on the island of St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean
    Caribbean dry forests are among the most endangered tropical ecosystems on earth. Several studies exist on their floristic composition and their...
  • Coral reef ecosystem integrated observing system: In-situ oceanographic observations at the US Pacific islands and atolls
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established the Coral Reef Ecosystem Integrated Observing System (CREIOS) to provide...
  • Report of the Scientific Committee (Annual meeting 2011, 30 May-11 June 2011, Trømso, Norway)
    ...National Progress Reports presented at the 2002-10 meetings are accessible on the IWC website. Reports from previous years will also become...
  • Update on geographic spread of invasive lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico
    The Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles [Bennett, 1828]: Family Scorpaenidae) are the first nonnative marine...
  • Observations of territorial behavior of the Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus) on St. Eustatius
    Abstract Little information is available on territorial behavior of the Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus). This study set out to...
  • Variation in herbivore grazing behavior across Caribbean reef sites
    Herbivorous fish can increase coral growth and survival by grazing down algal competitors. With coral reefs in global decline, maintaining adequate...
  • Widespread local chronic stressors in Caribbean coastal habitats
    Coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods they support are threatened by stressors acting at global and local scales. Here we used the data produced by...
  • Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track future increases in sea level
    Sea-level rise (SLR) is predicted to elevate water depths above coral reefs and to increase coastal wave exposure as ecological degradation limits...
  • Sand temperatures for nesting sea turtles in the Caribbean: Implications for hatchling sex ratios in the face of climate change
    A 200-year time series of incubation temperatures and primary sex ratios for green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and...
  • Citizen science regarding invasive lionfish in Dutch Caribbean MPAs: Drivers and barriers to participation
    Abstract Understanding the drivers and barriers to participation in citizen science initiatives for conservation is important if long-term...
  • Impacts of wetland dieback on carbon dynamics: A comparison between intact and degraded mangroves
    Mangroves are effective blue carbon sinks and are the most carbon rich ecosystems on earth. However, their areal extent has declined by over one-...
  • Conflicts and solutions related to marine turtle conservation initiatives in the Caribbean basin: Identifying new challenges
    Highlights   • We identified up to 161 human-derived conflicts which are related to marine turtle conservation initiatives. • We found that each...
  • Reproductive patterns of queen conch, Strombus gigas (Mollusca Gastropoda), across the wider Caribbean region
    Queen conch, Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758), is a species of significant economic importance in the Caribbean Sea, exploited mainly for consumption...
  • Satellite tracking of sea turtles: Where have we been and where do we go next?
    The use of satellite tracking for the fundamental and applied study of marine turtles began in the 1980s but has undergone rapid growth in recent...
  • Bats of Saba, Netherlands Antilles: a zoogeographic perspective
    Data presented herein provide records of four species of bats new to the fauna of the Antillean island of Saba — Monophyllus plethodon, Ardops...
  • Coat of many colours - DNA reveals polymorphism of mantle patterns and colouration in Caribbean Cyphoma Röding, 1798 (Gastropoda, Ovulidae).
    The iconic gastropod genus Cyphoma is commonly observed in the Caribbean, where it lives in association with various octocorallian hosts. Each...
  • A baseline water quality assessment of the coastal reefs of Bonaire, Southern Caribbean
    Bonaire is considered to harbor some of the best remaining coral reefs of the Caribbean, but faces multiple pressures including eutrophication. We...
  • Illegal trade of morphologically distinct populations prior to taxonomic assessment and elevation, with recommendations for future prevention
    The negative impacts of international wildlife trafficking are well known, and such negative impacts can be even more pronounced for insular species...
  • A global compilation of U-series-dated fossil coral sea-level indicators for the Last Interglacial period (Marine Isotope Stage 5e)
    Abstract. This dataset is a comprehensive, global compilation of published uranium–thorium (U-series) dated fossil coral records from ∼ 150 000–110...
  • Multilocus Adaptation Associated with Heat Resistance in Reef-Building Corals
    The evolution of tolerance to future climate change depends on the standing stock of genetic variation for resistance to climate-related impacts [1,...
  • Extreme spatial heterogeneity in carbonate accretion potential on a Caribbean fringing reef linked to local human disturbance gradients
    The capacity of coral reefs to maintain their structurally complex frameworks and to retain the potential for vertical accretion is vitally important...
  • Population structure and dispersal of the coral- excavating sponge Cliona delitrix
    Abstract Some excavating sponges of the genus Cliona compete with live reef corals, often kill- ing and bioeroding entire colonies. Important aspects...
  • Estimating sex ratios in Caribbean hawksbill turtles: testosterone levels and climate effects
    Evolutionary theory predicts that male and female offspring should be produced at a 1:1 ratio, but this may rarely be the case for species in which...
  • Expansion and fragment settlement of the non-native seagrass Halophila stipulacea in a Caribbean bay
    The non-native seagrass species Halophila stipulacea has spread throughout the Eastern Caribbean since 2002, and could potentially impact the...
  • Hurricanes, climate change, and social welfare: evidence from the Caribbean
    We examine whether Caribbean islands will be worse off as hurricane activity alters under climate change. To this end, we construct island level...
  • A framework for measuring coral species-specific contribution to reef functioning in the Caribbean
    Highlights The configuration of coral communities determines ecosystems’ functioning. There is a high variation in the functional contribution of...
  • Future Caribbean Climates in a World of Rising Temperatures: The 1.5 vs 2.0 Dilemma
    A 10-member ensemble from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) is used to analyse the Caribbean’s future climate when mean...
  • Implications of ambiguity in Antarctic ice sheet dynamics for future coastal erosion estimates: a probabilistic assessment
    Sea-level rise (SLR) can amplify the episodic erosion from storms and drive chronic erosion on sandy shorelines, threatening many coastal communities...
  • New Sea Turtle Nesting Records for the Netherlands Antilles Provide Impetus to Conservation Action
    Until the early 1990s, information on sea turtle nesting in the Netherlands Antilles amounted to little more than a few anecdotal accounts and sea...
  • First Atlantic record of the green alga Parvocaulis exiguus from St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean
    The Polyphysaceae is a well-studied family of green algae occurring in tropical and warm-temperate regions around the world. One of its species, ...
  • A Rapid Sustainability Assessment of Wild Plant Extraction on the Dutch Caribbean Island of St. Eustatius
    The Caribbean islands are considered a biodiversity hotspot, with high levels of endemism but also extreme levels of habitat loss. One factor causing...
  • The Reef Fish Assemblage of Bonaire Marine Park: An Analysis of REEF Fish Survey Data
    Abstract: The REEF/TNC Fish Survey Project is a volunteer fish monitoring program developed by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)...
  • A Permanent, Real-Time Monitoring Network for the Volcanoes Mount Scenery and The Quill in the Caribbean Netherlands
    Abstract: The stratovolcanoes of Mt. Scenery at Saba and The Quill at St. Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands, with a total population of about...
  • Development of a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Stock Assessment Model
    We developed a Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) stock assessment model to evaluate the relative contributions of conservation efforts and other...
  • POPULATION ESTIMATE, NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION OF THE MELANISTIC IGUANA IGUANA POPULATION ON SABA, CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS
    Abstract.– Intraspecific diversity is among the most important biological variables, although still poorly understood for most species. Iguana iguana...
  • Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification
    Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is expected to exceed 500 parts per million and global temperatures to rise by at least 2°C by 2050 to 2100...
  • A dynamic vulnerability approach for tourism destinations
    Tourism destinations are vulnerable to increasing environmental change. The available scientific knowledge, however, is of little practical use as it...
  • A review of bottom-up vs. top-down control of sponges on Caribbean fore-reefs: what’s old, what’s new, and future directions
    Interest in the ecology of sponges on coral reefs has grown in recent years with mounting evidence that sponges are becoming dominant members of reef...
  • Prioritising Invasive Species Control Actions: Evaluating Effectiveness, Costs, Willingness to Pay and Social Acceptance
    Island ecosystems are recognised as high priority for biodiversity conservation, with invasive species a significant threat. To investigate...
  • Spatiotemporal and species-specific patterns of diseases affecting crustose coralline algae in Curac ̧ao
    Abstract Distribution and abundance of coral diseases have been well documented, but only a few studies con- sidered diseases affecting crustose...
  • Saving Saba Bank: Policy Implications of Biodiversity Studies
    Abstract: This paper provides a context for the results of recent biodiversity surveys of Saba Bank. Recent biological surveys of corals, fishes, and...
  • What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Wary? Effect of Repeated Culling on the Behaviour of an Invasive Predator
    Abstract: As a result of being hunted, animals often alter their behaviour in ways that make future encounters with predators less likely. When...
  • An environmental risk assessment of three organic UV-filters at Lac Bay, Bonaire, Southern Caribbean
    Highlights • UV filters oxybenzone and octocrylene are detected at Lac Bay Bonaire. • They are present at significant levels in both water column and...
  • No need for artificial light: nocturnal activity by a diurnal reptile under lunar light
    Species are commonly described as either diurnal or nocturnal, with rare reports of deviations outside their normal activity period. Observations of...
  • High spatial resolution mapping identifies habitat characteristics of the invasive vine Antigonon leptopus on St. Eustatius (Lesser Antilles)
    On the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, Coralita (Antigonon leptopus) is an aggressive invasive vine posing major biodiversity conservation...
  • Evaluation of the Status of the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
    Coincident with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, unprecedented numbers of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) stranded on northern...
  • How to make Integrated Coastal Erosion Management a reality
    Highlights Coastal management is usually too responsive via defense works and not pro-active. Intervention Concerning the Erosion Causes (ICEC) is a...
  • Recreational diver preferences for reef fish attributes: Economic implications of future change
    Abstract This study sought to quantify the potential effects of changes in Caribbean reef fish populations on recreational divers' consumer surplus....
  • Unforeseen importance of historical collections as baselines to determine biotic change of coral reefs: the Saba Bank case
    Botanical and zoological collections may serve as archives for historical ecologi- cal research on the effects of global change and human impact on...
  • Can a thermally tolerant symbiont improve the future of Caribbean coral reefs?
    The detrimental effect of climate change induced bleaching on Caribbean coral reefs has been widely documented in recent decades. Several studies...
  • Seven new species within western Atlantic Starksia atlantica, S. lepicoelia, and S. sluiteri (Teleostei, Labrisomidae), with comments on congruence of DNA barcodes and species
    Abstract: Specimens of Starksia were collected throughout the western Atlantic, and a 650-bp portion of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase-c...
  • How much time can herbivore protection buy for coral reefs under realistic regimes of hurricanes and coral bleaching?
    Abstract: Coral reefs have been more severely impacted by recent climate instability than any other ecosystem on Earth. Corals tolerate a narrow...
  • Time preferences and the management of coral reef fisheries
    Abstract: To investigate a potential relationship between financial and marine resource use decisions, we conducted a time preference experiment with...
  • Effects of Future Sea Level Rise on Coastal Habitat
    Sea level rise (SLR) and disturbances from increased storm activity are expected to diminish coastal ecosystems available to nesting species by...
  • Last interglacial hydroclimate seasonality reconstructed from tropical Atlantic corals
    The seasonality of hydroclimate during past periods of warmer than modern global temperatures is a critical component for understanding future...
  • Same but different? Zoantharian assemblages (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in Bonaire and Curaçao, southern Caribbean
    Abstract Marine community datasets are key to the effective management and conservation of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, which are...
  • Thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the critically endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) revealed by double-digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing: opportunities for previously elusive conservation genetics research
    THOUSANDS OF SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS IN THE CRITICALLY EN- DANGERED KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (LEPIDOCHELYS KEMPII) REVEALED BY DOU- BLE-...
  • Feral goat eradications on islands.
    Abstract: Introduced mammals are major drivers of extinction. Feral goats (Capra hircus) are particularly devastating to island ecosystems, causing...
  • Extreme spatial heterogeneity in carbonate accretion potential on a Caribbean fringing reef linked to local human disturbance gradients
    Abstract The capacity of coral reefs to maintain their structurally complex frameworks and to retain the potential for vertical accretion is vitally...
  • Regional-scale dominance of non-framework building corals on Caribbean reefs affects carbonate production and future reef growth
    Abstract Coral cover on Caribbean reefs has declined rapidly since the early 1980's. Diseases have been a major driver, decimating communities of...
  • The Relationship between Diver Experience Levels and Perceptions of Attractiveness of Artificial Reefs - Examination of a Potential Management Tool
    Abstract: Artificial reefs are increasingly used worldwide as a method for managing recreational diving since they have the potential to satisfy both...
  • User fees across ecosystem boundaries: Are SCUBA divers willing to pay for terrestrial biodiversity conservation?
    Highlights​ Ecosystems are intrinsically linked, but conservation across boundaries is limited. User fees applied across ecosystem boundaries may...
  • Pelagic movements of pacific leatherback turtles (dermochelys coriacea) highlight the role of prey and ocean currents
    Abstract: Background: Leatherback turtles are renowned for their trans-oceanic migrations. However, despite numerous movement studies, the precise...
  • Population structure and connectivity of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, throughout the wider Caribbean region,
    As coral reefs continue to decline worldwide, it becomes ever more necessary to understand the connectivity between coral populations to develop...
  • High spatial resolution mapping identifies habitat characteristics of the invasive vine Antigonon leptopus on St. Eustatius (Lesser Antilles)
    On the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, Coralita (Antigonon leptopus) is an aggressive invasive vine posing major biodiversity conservation...
  • High coral cover at lower mesophotic depths: a dense Agaricia community at the leeward side of Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean
    Coral cover at lower mesophotic depths (particular- ly >75 m) by zooxanthellate scleractinians is usually very scarce, largely due to the...
  • Host Range of the Coral-Associated Worm Snail Petaloconchu ssp. (Gastropoda: Vermetidae), a Newly Discovered Cryptogenic Pest Species in the Southern Caribbean
    Abstract: The presence of associated endofauna can have an impact on the health of corals. Duringfieldwork on the southern Caribbean island of...
  • Evaluation of coral reef management effectiveness using conventional versus resilience-based metrics
    With increasing stressors to coral reefs, defining tools that evaluate their dynamics and resilience is important to interpret system trajectories...
  • Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (Leiosolenus spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals
    Abstract: Bioerosion caused by boring mussels (Mytilidae: Lithophaginae) can negatively impact coral reef health. During biodiversity surveys of...
  • An updated checklist of the lichens of St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles
    In the course of a multi-taxon biodiversity inventory for the island of St. Eustatius, lichens were collected from 11 plots representing different...
  • Habitat map of St.Eustatius
    Shapefile of habitat types in 2015 and of a potential of a possible future with urban expansion and agricultural intensification. See this report for...
  • Marine Animal Monitoring Form
    In an effort to gather much needed information on local populations of whales, dolphins, manatees, sharks, rays and large groupers STINAPA Bonaire...
  • Fieldguide Halophila stipulacea reproductive structures
    Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that can reproduce both sexually (through flowering and subsequent seed formation) and asexually (through...
  • Wider Caribbean Region Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network: Annex D - Biophysical Baselilne Monitoring Methods
    The GCRMN baseline scientific monitoring methods provide a basic framework for existing and developing monitoring programs to contribute data that...
  • A manual for the landbird monitoring program of STINAPA Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
    About 210 resident and migratory bird species are found on the island of Bonaire. More than half of these species are landbirds. Some of the...
  • BioNews 1 - Last quarter 2012
    This first issue presents you with an overview of the on-going research and monitoring efforts focusing on the last quarter of 2012. In future issues...
  • Exciting Rare Sighting in the Dutch Caribbean: the Antillean manatee
    Exciting Rare Sighting in the Dutch Caribbean: theAntillean manatee Last month STINAPA’s ranger Luigi Eybrecht was diving near Playa in Bonaire when...
  • Curacao’s New Underwater Research Station
    Plans for a cutting edge, underwater research station ‘PROTEUS™’ have recently been released.  The modular design, inspired by coral polyps, will...
  • Sustainable Tourism: Recommendations
    Developing a sustainable tourism plan to be implemented within the Dutch Caribbean will require integration and teamwork at all levels. Although...
  • Coral Restoration Bonaire
    The Nature funding from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) (previously Ministry of Economic Affairs), has helped...
  • New and Very Abundant Microbe Found Living in Corals
    Although coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, nearly a third of all marine species can be found on or around these reefs (McAllister,...
  • Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database: The Future of Data Sharing
    A big obstacle in nature- policy, management and research is to access excising long-term data in an environment that experiences a high turnover in...
  • Presentations, Workshops and Excursions Provide New Nature Conservation Drive in Participants
    During the 2019 edition of the DCNA convention held on Bonaire end of October, biologists from the region met to thoroughly discuss coral restoration...
  • Special Edition: State of Nature in the Caribbean Netherlands
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the Caribbean Netherlands islands Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • Status of the Queen Conch on the Windward Islands
    Concern for the future of Queen Conch has resulted in a number of regional and international measures, which have been taken to protect them. Trade...
  • Bats of St. Eustatius
    In 2015, Naturalis Biodiversity Center set out to create a baseline study of St. Eustatius’ marine and terrestrial fauna and flora in collaboration...
  • Global Defaunation and Plant Invasion: cascading effects on seagrass ecosystem services
    Ecosystems have been providing our society with useful services to sustain us in our livelihood, survival and health for as long as we exist....
  • Bonaire 2050, a nature inclusive vision
    This is a story about one of the Dutch Caribbean islands: Bonaire. A story that is shaped by the people of Bonaire and that may help develop this...
  • Call of action to reduce plastic pollution on St. Maarten
    Residents and businesses of St. Maarten are being urged to abandon the use of single-use, non-biodegradable plasticsto help create a cleaner and...
  • Environmental DNA FOR Lionfish Mapping
    When a new species is introduced to a foreign environment, it can upset the natural balance.  One such example, was the introduction of the Pacific...
  • More than half of Saba’s nature affected by Irma
    THE BOTTOM – About 60 percent of Saba’s nature in general was devastated as a result of the recent hurricane Irma. According to Kai Wulf, Park...
  • Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Management Update for the Dutch Caribbean
    Since 2014, a new coral disease has been spreading through the reefs of the Caribbean. Known as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), this disease...
  • Invasive Species Workshop on St. Eustatius
    Twenty-five participants attended an informative workshop on invasive species on November 28th and 29th 2017. The Caribbean Netherlands Science...
  • Special Edition: Transboundary Species
    There has been a recent increase in public awareness of environmental issues as the effects of climate change have become ever more noticeable in our...
  • Environmental DNA reveals tropical shark diversity in contrasting levels of anthropogenic impact
    Increased and targeted fishing pressure has led to the collapse of shark populations around the world. According to worldwide estimates, a staggering...
  • Restoration of Key Biodiversity Areas of St. Maarten
    In July 2017, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) Foundation initiated a project to restore coastal and terrestrial biodiversity by...
  • Exploring the Saba Bank’s Deep Sea
    During the fifth leg of the NICO expedition researchers from NIOZ Sea Research, Wageningen Marine Research and Naturalis Biodiversity Center studied...
  • 40-year study: Changes on the Coral Reefs of Bonaire and Curaçao
    Although it’s now becoming widely accepted that coral reefs are degrading quickly on a global scale, there have been very few long-term studies where...
  • NICO Science Expedition to the Dutch Caribbean
    December 13th marked the beginning of an incredibly exciting and ambitious research expedition organized by the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea...
  • First silky shark sightings by Saba Conservation Foundation
    Whilst nurse sharks and Caribbean reef sharks are regularly spotted on the Saba Bank, it’s not every day that you see silky sharks. During a routine...
  • Microplastic Contamination on Beaches of the Lesser Antilles
    Plastic pollution is one of today’s most pressing global challenges. An estimated 4-12 billion kg of plastic enter our oceans annually, where it is...
  • Bonaire 2050, a nature inclusive vision
    Results from a series of designs sessions, workshops and interviews describe a vision for Bonaire in 2050. In this vision, measures to combat...
  • New Research in the Conservation of Sea Turtles on Their Nesting Beaches
    New research led by Swansea University’s College of Scienceand recently published in Scientific Reportshas reported effective conservation strategies...
  • Unexpected high number of endemics for the windward Dutch Caribbean Islands
    In light of the mounting impact of humans on our planet, there is an urgent need to assess the status of all current living species so as to ensure...
  • Persbericht “Kriabon en toekomst geitenhouderij”
    Press article on: Kriabon and the future of goat farming- Bonaire
  • Bonaire Welcomes Back Indiana University
    A group of students from Indiana University (IU) recently visited Bonaire.   Since 2015, IU has been sending students to Bonaire as part of their...
  • Mas Piska pa Boneiru: Less talk more action
    Identifying and overcoming bottlenecks in fisheries management on Bonaire. Fishing is one of the oldest professions in the Dutch Caribbean. Many...
  • Urgent Conservation Action Needed to Save the Lesser Antillean Iguana
    The Lesser Antillean Iguana is an endangered endemic reptile found in the Lesser Antilles whose population is rapidly decreasing. Although once also...
  • New discoveries on relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms
    A series of recent surveys worked to highlight the important relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms. Studies were...
  • BioNews 1-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    A dedicated Saba Bank Symposium was organised by the University of Wageningen in December 2016. The Symposium was held in Den Helder and brought...
  • 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...
  • Dutch Caribbean: “home” of unique, and likely vulnerable, populations of Bryde’s and humpback whales
    During the last decade several marine areas in the Wider Caribbean have been awarded extra protection as “marine mammal reserves”, such as the the...
  • 71st annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
    The 71st annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) was held in San Andres, (Colombia) from 5–9 November 2018. This...
  • St. Eustatius: economic value of nature
    The Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) hosted two “Economic Value of Nature” workshops on St. Eustatius from 3-6 April 2017. These...
  • Leeward Blindsnake: Native to St. Eustatius
    Using DNA-and morphological analysis, a team from Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON) and Naturalis have discovered that the...
  • Population Structure and Connectivity of Reef-building Corals in the Southern Dutch Caribbean
    A new study will examine the genetic connectivity of corals located around the ABC islands. The goal is to find a link between the spatial...
  • Underwater Sounds around Saba Bank
    Powerpoint Presented at the Saba Bank Symposium 2016 Introduction  Aims of acoustic research Methods Acoustic results and life sound analysis Future...
  • State of Nature in the Caribbean Netherlands: St. Eustatius
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the three Caribbean Netherlands islands (Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • BioNews 26-2019 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....
  • Alarming Decline of Bridled Quail-Dove populations on Statia
    The Bridled Quail-dove is a regionally endemic species that, on Statia, is only found in upper elevations of the Quill (above ~150m) and inside the...
  • New Bird Records for Bonaire 2016-2017
    The island of Bonaire has achieved worldwide recognition for its rich and diverse marine life, but the island is rapidly gaining momentum as a...
  • Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire: A Year in Review
    Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) recently published their 2019 annual report. Last year marked an important year as new research provided...
  • Importance of Native Seagrass in the Fight Against Erosion
    A recent study worked to quantify seagrass’s ability to minimize erosion in shallow water of Lac Bay, Bonaire. In addition, this study examined how...
  • BioNews Special Edition: Sustainable Tourism
    Prior to the Corona virus pandemic, the trends for tourism in the Caribbean were pressing for cheaper and more varied options. There was a pressure...
  • Caribbean Marine Park Managers Dive into Fisheries Management
    Representatives from 15 Caribbean marine national parks recently met on the island of Saba in the Caribbean Netherlands to focus on their role in...
  • Sea & Learn 2018
    This year Sea & Learn celebrated their 16thannual event on Saba. A total of 16 experts provided dynamic hands-on field projects and powerful...
  • Tree Adoption website to help heal Bonaire’s dry forests
    Echo is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot (Amazona barbadensis) on Bonaire, and the unique dry-...
  • State of Nature: Bonaire
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the three Dutch Caribbean islands Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • AlgaePARC: Bringing Innovation to Bonaire
    A collaborative effort between private, government and university partners, has been working to develop a microalgae production test facility on...
  • Coral Spawning Predictions for the South Caribbean
    Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) has released its annual coral spawning prediction calendar for the south Caribbean. This...
  • The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to the People. Summary for Policy Makers
    Summary For Policymakers This global synthesis report highlights the unique range of values provided by seagrasses to people around the world. It...
  • Designing the optimal artificial reef
    A new study compared the effectiveness of three popular artificial reefs to increase fish densities around Saba and St Eustatius. The researchers...
  • Nature in the Dutch Caribbean is critically threatened and intervention is necessary
    Wageningen University recently published an alarming report on the threatened natural resources on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. The Dutch...
  • Satellites and Sharks: Latest in Saba Bank Shark Research
    The Saba Bank is an important habitat within the Yarari Shark Sanctuary.  Visited by a variety of different species, little is known about the life...
  • A Critically Endangered Palm Found Only on Bonaire
    A recent report describes, for the first time in its history, the critically endangered Bonaire Palm.  Although first documented in 1979, it took...
  • Changes in Curaçao’s Fish Population Over the 20th Century
    A recently published study looked to compare Curaçao’s historical records of fish catches between the years 1905 and 2016. This study highlights...
  • Nutrient monitoring data on Bonaire and Curacao, 2007
    Raw data of a comparative nutrient monitoring program that included seasonal sampling for nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, DIN, SRP, TDN, TDP),...
  • Structure and financing of nature management costs in Caribbean Netherlands
    The Nature Policy Plan Caribbean Netherlands identifies the need to “Evaluate the financial instruments available for nature conservation in the...
  • A Report on the Status of the Coral Reefs of Bonaire 2003 with Advice on the Establishment of Fish Protection Areas
    Bonaire has long been considered to have amongst the healthiest reefs of the Caribbean. However, at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Pew Fellows for Marine...
  • Tropical Americas Coral Reef Resilience Workshop Report
    The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assumed leadership of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) in 2010 with...
  • The current state of Cuaçao's Coral Reefs
    Abstract: The coral reefs of Curaçao represent one of the best reef systems left in the Caribbean at present. However, this does not mean that these...
  • Seabirds, marine mammals and human activities on the Saba Bank
    During the HNLMS 'TYDEMAN' bathymetric expedition on the Saba Bank, April - May 1996, two observers spent 7 weeks on board and to collect data on the...
  • Sustainable Funding for Nature Parks in the Netherlands Antilles. Feasibility Study of a Protected Areas Trust Fund
    In 1998 the Dutch Parliament called for a feasibility study for a trust fund and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations agreed, under...
  • Modelling urban floods in semiarid environment: a case study in Paradera, Aruba
    During the storm of November 20th, 2016 significant parts of the Paradera catchment in Aruba were flooded. The damage to the roads and houses...
  • An Economic and Social Study of the Saba Marine Park, Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
    The Dutch island of Saba in the North Eastern Caribbean has been surrounded by a protected area since 1987. This area known as the Saba Marine Park...
  • A population assessment and habitat description of the Alsophis rufiventris on the Quill and Boven National Park, St. Eustatius
    Abstract The genus Alsophis used to be very abundant in the Lesser Antilles. Numbers have declined ascribed to anthropogenic causes and the...
  • Management of European (Sub)Tropical Biodiversity In support of sustainable development: Policy recommendations and priorities for research
    NetBiome-CSA is a European funded project that aims to extend and strengthen research partnerships and cooperation for the smart and sustainable...
  • Feasibility study of a new harbour on the island of St. Eustatius
    St. Eustatius is a small island in the Caribbean that belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its existing harbour is due for upgrades and repairs...
  • Seagrasses and coastal protection: The role of Halophila stipulacea in sediment stability at the coast of St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean
    Abstract Seagrasses are increasingly being recognized for their potential in protecting the coastlines from flooding and erosion. As ecosystem...
  • An archaeological assessment of Steward plantation, St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands
    In November 2011, the St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research was asked to conduct an archaeological assessment of Steward plantation. The...
  • Sustainability of Wild Plant Extraction on the Dutch Caribbean Island Sint Eustatius
      An often overlooked mechanism driving local extinction or scarcity of species is the selective  plant extraction by humans. Not much...
  • St. Maarten Nature Foundation Lionfish Response Plan
    This document serves as a reference for the controlling and management of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans complex...
  • Results of Nature Foundation Research into invasive Seagrass H. stipulacea in the Simpson Bay Lagoon
    Abstract: In February 2013 the St. Maarten Nature Foundation confirmed the presence of Halophila stipulacea, an invasive seagrass, in the Simpson Bay...
  • St. Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme - Annual Report 2006
    Abstract: The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
  • Proceedings of the Technical Workshop on Mitigating Sea Turtle Bycatch in Coastal Net Fisheries
    Abstract: Sea turtles are adversely affected by a range of factors, some natural and others caused by human activities, such as fishing operations....
  • Status and trends of the coral reef ecosystem around Saba 2016 – Netherlands Antilles
    The Caribbean coral reefs showed drastic degradation over the last decades. As most Caribbean islands, Saba is economical dependent on their...
  • A review of coral reef restoration techniques
    In this review the following three reef restoration techniques are discussed: 1. Coral gardening, 2. Larval seeding, and 3. Reef balls. These...
  • Status and trends Saba Bank fisheries: 2015
    The Saba Bank is a 2200 km2 shallow bank area that lies fully within the Dutch Kingdom’s Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters. In recent...
  • An Economic and Social Study of the Saba Marine Park, Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
    The Dutch island of Saba in the North Eastern Caribbean has been surrounded by a protected area since 1987. This area known as the Saba Marine Park...
  • How channel dimensions relate to the erosivity of tidal flows in mangrove channels in Lac Bay, Bonaire. BSc thesis
    Almost the entire shoreline of Bonaire belongs to the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP), from the high water line to 60m depth. The marine park...
  • Student essays on economic values of nature of Bonaire
    To inform decision makers about the most effective strategies to protect the ecosystems of Bonaire, a full-scale valuation of all ecosystem services...
  • MAP MANGROVE PLANTING SITES & COMPARE AND EVALUATE MANGROVE RESTORATION TECHNIQUES
    Abstract This thesis assignment consists of two parts: mapping mangrove planting sites along the southwest  coast of Bonaire, and comparing and...
  • A population assessment and habitat description of the Alsophis rufiventris on the Quill and Boven National Park, St. Eustatius
    The genus Alsophis used to be very abundant in the Lesser Antilles. Numbers have declined ascribed to anthropogenic causes and the introduction of...
  • A nature inclusive vision for Bonaire in 2050
    Bonaire, one of the Dutch Caribbean islands, is facing major challenges: managing (mass) tourism and population growth, preventing high erosion rates...
  • ‘Quick scan’ to assess the prevalence of dermal parasites among coral reef fishes of Bonaire.
    In the past, diseases and infections have had dramatic impacts on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems (e.g. white band disease in corals (Pantos and...
  • St. Eustatius National Parks - Lionfish Response Plan
    This document serves as a reference for the controlling and management of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans complex...
  • To what extent are marine conservation and economic development reconcilable in Bonaire National Marine Park?
    Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) is a marine protected area (MPA) surrounding Bonaire, a small coral island in the Caribbean. Its purpose is to...
  • Coral restoration Bonaire. An evaluation of growth, regeneration and survival.
    The Coral restoration of Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and Elkhorn (A. palmata) as practiced by the Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire (CRFB) is...
  • A status report of nature policy development and implementation in the Dutch Caribbean over the last 10 years and recommendations towards the Nature Policy Plan 2012-2017
    The National Nature Policy Plan 2001-2005 (NPP-5) and its current status of implementation was assessed as a first step towards a new Nature Policy...
  • St. Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme - Annual Report 2007
    Abstract: The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
  • Biology and fishery management of the White Sea Urchin, Tripneutus ventricosus, in the eastern Caribbean
    Abstract: The white sea urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus, is common in shallow coastal waters of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, and is widely...
  • Water quality of the coastal zone of Bonaire Results field monitoring 2011-2013
    Approach: Eutrophication is a common threat to the integrity of coral reefs as it can cause altered balance and integrity of the reef ecosystem. On...
  • Mapping and modelling of landslide and flood hazards on St. Eustatius with openLISEM
    Student Report Between 1900-2016 there have globally been more than 14,000 major events of natural hazards, like landslides and floods. The Caribbean...
  • Chapter 12. Status and trends of coral reefs of the Caribbean region
    Regional Context: The Caribbean Region represents only 1% of Earth’s marine surface but hosts 10% of the world’s coral reefs, including fringing...
  • Bonaire 2050, putting the vision into numbers
    Bonaire is facing major challenges including (mass) tourism, population growth, urban expansion, climate change, biodiversity loss and the unilateral...
  • Mas Piska pa Boneiru: A social mapping study of the fisheries sectors of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius
    Why is it so difficult to manage the fisheries sector on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius and how should this be tackled in the future in order to...
  • Tracking digital footprints in Bonaire’s landscapes
    Introduction and aims  With the introduction of smart phones that also take photos combined with GPS tracking applications, more tourists are able to...
  • Cultural Ecosystem Service (CES) for Local Community in Aruba
    This research is based on the TEEB framework- The Economics of Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity.TEEB is a branch in United Nations Environment...
  • The Protection and Management of the Sargasso Sea: The golden floating rainforest of the Atlantic Ocean
    The Sargasso Sea is a fundamentally important part of the world’s ocean, located within the North Atlantic sub-tropical gyre with its boundaries...
  • Quick scan environmental impact assessment of the St. Eustatius harbour extension
    At St. Eustatius a project has started for the improvement and expansion of the Seaport St. Eustatius. The planned activities related to the project...
  • Water quality monitoring Bonaire. Results monitoring November 2011 and recommendations for future research
    Abstract On the island Bonaire, eutrophication is a point of serious concern, affecting the coral reefs in the marine park. Eutrophication can cause...
  • World Heritage and Tourism: the Case of Curacao How to combine local and global interests
    Objectives: This paper examines the relationship between World Heritage and Tourism on Curacao focusing on the interests involved on a local and...
  • A status report of nature policy development and implementation in the Dutch Caribbean
    The National Nature Policy Plan 2001-2005 (NPP-5) and its current status of implementation was assessed as a first step towards a new Nature Policy...
  • In-water monitoring of sea turtle aggregations in St. Eustatius National Marine Park
    Abstract: All species of sea turtles in the Caribbean have come under threat in recent years due to a multitude of factors. Habitat destruction and...
  • Radar Surveys for Audubon’s Shearwater on Saba, Netherlands Antilles
    Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), known locally as Wedrego on Saba and St. Eustatius, is a medium-sized seabird species that feeds at sea...
  • Saba Bank research expedition 2011 – Progress Report
    Abstract: The Saba Bank is a large submerged carbonate platform of approximately 2,200 km2 in the Caribbean Sea which lies partially within the...
  • Saba Bank Symposium: summary and recommendations
    Introduction: Since 2010, the Saba Bank falls under the jurisdiction of The Netherlands. Spanning an area of 2000km2, the Saba Bank houses the...
  • Use of satellite data for the monitoring of species on Saba and St. Eustatius.
    Abstract: On 10 October 2010 Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius became ‘special municipalities’ of the Netherlands, making the Dutch government...
  • Assessing effectiveness of the seasonal closure of the Moonfish Bank of the Saba Bank for two species of concern, the Red Hind and the Queen Triggerfish: the first five years
    Summary Based on traditional knowledge of the Saban fishermen, a spawning aggregation area (SPAG) for the Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) and the...
  • St. Eustatius GCRMN Caribbean Final Report 2018
    Twenty-two sites across four monitoring zones of St. Eustatius’s marine ecosystem were assessed using the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network...
  • Dutch Caribbean Research Platform Towards the sustainable strengthening of the knowledge system in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
    The Caribbean Research Programme is administered by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and has received funding from the Netherlands Ministry of...
  • Depth matters: (anti) microbial diversity of marine sponges
    https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/depth-matters-anti-microbial-div...   Abstract This thesis aims to investigate the impact of depth on...
  • An Inventory of the Geographical Distribution and Conservation Status ofMarine Turtles and Sharks in the Wider Caribbean andRelationship to Fisheries
    Findings on Marine Turtles ·         Migration routes to and from nesting sites (typically index beaches) are variously known in the Caribbean,...
  • Cetaceans of Saba, Sint Eustatius & Sint Maarten: current knowledge and future monitoring
    Abstract: In December 2012 IMARES conducted workshops on the identification of whales & dolphins in the Caribbean on the islands of Sint Maarten...
  • Eutrophication status of Lac, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean Including proposals for measures
    Abstract: Lac is a semi-enclosed lagoon located on the south-eastern side of Bonaire, and contains a diversity of shallow water coral reef associated...
  • Preliminary overview of exotic and invasive marine species in the Dutch Caribbean
    The marine exotic species of the Dutch Caribbean are less well-known than its terrestrial exotics. So far, only 27 known or suspected marine exotic...
  • Introduced agricultural pests, plant and animals diseases and vectors in the Dutch Caribbean, with an “Alert species” list
    A review of the introduced agricultural pests and animal and plant diseases and vectors for the Dutch Caribbean in which a total of 47 exotic pests,...
  • Influence of coastal economic valuations un the Caribbean: enabling conditions and lessons learned
    Across the Caribbean, national economies are heavily dependent on coastal ecosystem services. Coral reefs, mangroves, and other coastal ecosystems...
  • Marine mammals in the Wider Caribbean – Current research and priorities for future studies
    Summary: Information on the distribution, abundance and ecology of marine mammal in the Wider Caribbean Region is scarce. This report aims at...
  • The potential Outstanding Universal Value and natural heritage values of Bonaire National Marine Park: an ecological perspective
    The Southern Caribbean forms a separate biogeographic province for marine mollusks and marine fish faunas. The terrestrial desert and xeric...
  • St. Eustatius GCRMN Caribbean Final Report 2019
    Twenty-two sites across four monitoring zones of St. Eustatius’ marine ecosystem within the national marine park were assessed using the Global Coral...
  • Ezels op Bonaire
    Policy advice on the future position of donkeys on Bonaire
  • Turtles by the numbers-STCB Year Report 2019
    Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire’s mission is to ensure that Bonaire’s sea turtles have a secure future, and to connect people to sea turtle...
  • An Atlas of Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat for the Wider Caribbean Region. WIDECAST Technical Report No.6
    Abstract: Six species of sea turtle nest in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). In partnership with more than 120 Data Providers, the spatial database...
  • Baseline assessment of the coral reef fish assemblages of St. Eustatius
    The shallow marine habitats surrounding St. Eustatius fulfil critical ecosystem services in terms of fishery production, recreation, dive tourism and...
  • Sea Turtle In-water Monitoring Survey 2011
    Seven sea turtles species inhabit the world’s oceans today and have a unique evolutionary lineage that dates back at least 110 million years.Sea...
  • St. Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme - Annual Report 2005
    Abstract: The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
  • WIDECAST Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for the Netherlands Antilles
    Abstract: The Netherlands Antilles consists of five Caribbean islands. The leeward islands are Curaçao and Bonaire, close to the mainland of...
  • Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) survey of elasmobranchs on Bonaire’s reef
    The current status of elasmobranch populations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean remains generally poorly known (Fowler et al. 2005). There is...
  • Max Restoration of the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, to Caribbean coral reefs
    Coral reefs are among the most valuable and threatened ecosystems on Earth. Lower species diversity, and subsequently reduced resilience, make...
  • Future of Bonaire: Greenpeace review on the impacts of climate change on the Dutch Caribbean island Bonaire
    Bonaire or Boneiru, as it is known in Papiamentu, is a Dutch Caribbean island. An island full of heritage, gorgeous sunset views and a place that...
  • Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policy Makers
    This Synthesis Report is based on the reports of the three Working Groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including relevant...
  • Testing the effectiviness of two methods for selectively trapping lionfish and estimating the feasibilty of a commercial lionfish fishery on Saba
    Student Report The invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) started invading the Caribbean Sea since the 1980's and were first sighted...
  • Assessing effectiveness of the seasonal closure of the Moonfish Bank of the Saba Bank for two species of concern, the Red Hind and the Queen Triggerfish: the first five years
    Based on traditional knowledge of the Saban fishermen, a spawning aggregation area (SPAG) for the Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) and the Queen...
  • A Guide to Assessing Coral Reef Resilience for Decision Support
    Coral reef resilience is the capacity of a reef to resist or recover from degradation and maintain provision of ecosystem goods and services (Mumby...
  • Coral Reef Resilience Assessment of the Bonaire National Marine Park, Netherlands Antilles
    Abstract: Although Bonaire’s coral reefs remain among the healthiest and most resilient in the Caribbean, this IUCN report based on the IUCN...
  • Habitat Surveys of Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles: An Assessment of Benthic Communities and Fish Assemblages
    Saba Bank is a large and completely submerged carbonate platform in the northeastern Caribbean Sea located approximately 4 km southwest of Saba...
  • A landscape ecological vegetation map of Sint Eustatius (Lesser Antilles)
    Abstract: A semi-detailed landscape-based vegetation map (scale: 1: 37,500) based on field data from 1999 has been available as an update of Stoffers...
  • Monitoring the Saba Bank Fishery
    Findings The main conclusion from this study is that no new fishing permits should be issued until a long-term fishery monitoring program is in place...
  • The total economic value of nature on Bonaire
    Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves are critical to Bonairean society. In the last decades, various local and global developments...
  • Classifying benthic habitats and deriving bathymetry at the Caribbean Netherlands using multispectral Imagery
    Benthic habitats (habitats occurring at the bottom of a water body) and coral reef ecosystems provide many functions. Currently, however, coral reefs...
  • UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers 2022 (vol 7)
    Introduction to the seventh edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers This volume includes research reports and personal...
  • Tracking digital footprints in Bonaire's landscapes - spatial distribution and characterisation of tourists on Bonaire using social media
    Introduction and aims With the introduction of smart phones that also take photos combined with GPS tracking applications, more tourists are able to...
  • Climate change effects on the biodiversity of the BES islands
    In this report we review and assess possible consequences of climate change for the biodiversity of the Dutch BES islands (Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • Some Observations Made From ROV on Mid-Depth Habitats and Reef Fish Communities of Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles
    A small submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was used to explore mid-depth habitats of Saba Bank – a submerged carbonate platform in the...
  • Preliminary inventory of key terrestrial nature values of Bonaire
    Abstract: A preliminary inventory is given of key terrestrial nature values of Bonaire in order to determine their occurrence in relation to areas...
  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Marine No-Take Reserves in St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles
    Abstract: Marine reserves, in which exploitation of marine organisms and other human activities are restricted or prohibited, can be valuable tools...
  • Initial Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) studies on St. Eustatius
    The large marine gastropod, Queen conch (Strombus gigas) was studied over a period of 3 months on the island of St. Eustatius. Strombus gigas are...
  • St. Eustatius National Marine Park Management Plan 2007
    Abstract: The St. Eustatius Marine Park was created in 1996 and extends around the entire island from the high water line to 30m depth contour. St....
  • The Total Economic Value of Nature on Saba
    This study is part of the project “What is Saba’s Nature Worth?” The project is part of the encompassing project The Economics of Ecosystems and...
  • UV filter pollution Bonaire by tourism - Lac Bay monitoring and survey results 2017
    Chronic stressors such as water pollution, overfishing, and ocean warming are major threats to the resilience of coral reefs as they influence...
  • Evaluation of the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database: user perspectives
    The Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD; www.dcbd.nl) is a nature and biodiversity web-platform for the Dutch Caribbean funded by the Dutch...

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