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

Research report 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...
Media Worth Its Salt: Bonaire’s Cargill Salt Ponds Designated a Shorebird Site of Regional Significance

Worth Its Salt: Bonaire’s Cargill Salt Ponds Designated a Shorebird Site of Regional Significance Imagine a vast expanse of rectangular saline ponds...
Scientific article Conservation opportunities for tern species at two Ramsar sites on Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Abstract The island of Bonaire is a nesting location for at least four tern species: a subspecies of the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum antillarum...
Other resources Diver impact on coral and fish communities: A comparison of sites with varying intensities of diving at Yellow Submarine, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

SCUBA diving on coral reefs is a beneficial economic option for small tropical islands, that can have a lower impact on the environment than...
Other resources 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...
Other resources Infection frequency and species identification of the black spot causing parasite found commonly on ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus tractus) in Bonaire

Diseases, pathogens, and parasites in marine ecosystems are difficult to research and understand. Tracking the health of ecosystems, such as tropical...
Scientific article Applying coral breeding to reef restoration: best practices, knowledge gaps, and priority actions in a rapidly evolving field

Reversing coral reef decline requires reducing environmental threats while actively restoring reef ecological structure and func-tion. A promising...
Other resources Frequencies of coral disease in areas suspected of sewage-contaminated groundwater outflow in Bonaire N.A.

Anthropogenically induced stressors are degrading coral reefs globally. Nutrients and bacteria present in wastewater increase the frequency and...
Other resources Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) and their role as bioindicators of environmental stress on coral reefs of Bonaire, N.A.

The use of biological entities as indicators of environmental stress can provide links between changes in ecological conditions and ecosystem...
Research report ‘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...
Scientific article Breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on the Caribbean island of Saba

In 2011 and 2012 the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus mesonauta was monitored on Saba, a 13-km2 island in the Caribbean...
Scientific article Post-breeding migration routes of marine turtles from Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

The management of small rookeries is key to conserving the regional genetic diversity of marine turtle populations and requires knowledge on...
Media Distribution of plant species on the Dutch Caribbean Islands now online

Dutch, Papiamentu and Papiamento below Since 2018 Wageningen University & Research and Carmabi cooperate in bringing together historical and...
Maps and Charts Ramsar sites map of Bonaire

Ramsar sites map of Bonaire (GIS) Status in 2021 with a 500 meter bufferzone. The protected RAMSAR sites on Bonaire are: Washington Slagbaai Klein...
Other resources 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...
Research report Assessment of the Breeding Success of Red-billed Tropicbirds on St. Eustatius

Abstract: We assessed the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation at...
Other resources Assessment of the Breeding Success of Red-billed Tropicbirds on St. Eustatius

We assessed the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation at the nest. We...
Other resources Status of reef health at Yellow Sub study site on Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean: progression of a coral - algal phase shift

Coral reefs around the globe are subject to environmental and anthropogenic stressors that are causing habitat degradation and a decline in reef...
Scientific article Indirect effects of overfishing on Caribbean reefs: sponges overgrow reef-building corals

Consumer-mediated indirect effects at the community level are difficult to demonstrate empirically. Here, we show an explicit indirect effect of...
Research report Bescherming en Beheer Mariene Biodiversiteit in de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba. Een analyse van het internationaalrechtelijk en nationaalrechtelijk kader.

Samenvatting: Het Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) heeft TNO Bouw en Ondergrond en het Netherlands Institute for the Law of...
Media 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...
Other resources Breeding success of Red-billed tropic birds at pilot hill, St.Eustatius - a follow up study (2013-2014)

Assessment of the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) at the Pilot Hill site on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation...
Scientific article Range expansion of Marinomyxa marina, a phytomyxid parasite of the invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea, to the Caribbean

Abstract Halophila stipulacea, a small seagrass species native to the Indo-Pacific, is a Lessepsian migrant and a high-profile invader that has...
Other resources Determining how coral reef habitat structure correlates with fish species richness at six dive sites in Bonaire, N.A.

Biodiversity of coral reef fish species is often related to the structural complexity and diversity of their habitats. This study explores the...
Research report A Management Capacity Assessment of Selected Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas in the Caribbean

Abstract: This report presents the findings of an assessment of capacity building needs for the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the...
Other resources Using prey fish species as bioindicators of anthropogenic stress and predictors of predator density and diversity on coral reefs in Bonaire, N.A.

Bioindicator species have been used to determine changes in water quality and the effect of pollution at sites of environmental concern. Increasingly...
Media 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...
Other resources How do the distribution and abundance of columnar cacti relate to microsite types and goat grazing pressure?

Exotic herbivores are able to disrupt entire ecosystems by competing with native species and feeding on native species. Especially, on islands...
Research report Water Quality Testing July 2012 -St. Maarten Nature Foundation

The Nature Foundation carried out water quality tests on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of July 2012 at seven sites surrounding St. Maarten. These tests,...
Research report 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...
Other resources Nest site selection of sergeant majors (Abudefduf saxatilis): artificial vs. natural reef structures

Nesting animals select sites for reproduction based on adaptive behaviors that have evolved to improve reproductive success and the survival rates of...
Other resources Is it possible to predict which areas of Bonaire are more susceptible to coral bleaching?

Bleaching is caused by the combination of light and temperature stress on corals, and can result in coral mortality. On the island of Bonaire, a...
Scientific article High prevalence of dermal parasites among coral reef fishes of Curaçao

Abstract During expeditions to Curaçao in August and October of 2013, a large number of fish infected with dermal parasites was observed. Infected...
Other resources Enterococci, a bacterial fecal indicator, and its correlation with coral disease abundance in Bonaire

Coral reef environments are diverse and productive ecosystems that supply a variety of benefits to marine species and humans alike. Unfortunately,...
Other resources Fishermen’s by-catch: Effect on fish feeding behaviors in shallow sand flats of Bonaire, N.A.

Worldwide, fisheries produce ~27 million tons of by-catch yr -1 . By-catch is defined as unwanted fish that are accidentally caught, or discarded...
Media New Coral Reef Breeding Nursery on Bonaire

A brand new, innovative floating coral fish breeding nursery is being tested at the Dive Friends Sand Dollar location on Bonaire. This project, led...
Research report Lac Bay: Then and Now… A Historical Interpretation of Environmental Change During the 1900s A Site Characterization of Lac Bay for Resource Managers and Naturalists prepared for Bonaire Marine Park

Executive Summary This Site Characterization report provides a comprehensive coverage of past and present scientific research that had been conducted...
Other resources Mapping Benthic Habitats for Representation in Marine Protected Areas

Virtually all marine conservation planning and management models in place or proposed have in common the need for improved scientific rigour in...
Research report Monitoring the effect of cat removal on reproductive success in Red-billed Tropicbird colonies on Saba, 2013-2014: first season of results

One of the most deleterious invasive introduced predators worldwide is the domestic cat which has been found responsible for many island extinctions...
Scientific article The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) breeding in the Dutch Caribbean and notable new records for the Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Abstract We provide the first documentation of Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) breeding in the Dutch Caribbean and new island records for the...
Research report Hurricane Lenny, Klein Bonaire dive site damage report

This handwritten report hurricane Lenny's damage to all dive sites on Klein Bonaire provides an overall impression of the condition of all corals /...
Scientific article Bat Ectoparasites from Sint Eustatius, Lesser Antilles (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Streblinae; Hemiptera: Polyctenidae)

In this paper 4 species of bat ectoparasites are recorded from the island of Sint Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean. One species of true bug (Hemiptera:...
Scientific article Coral diversity matches marine park zonation but not economic value of coral reef sites at St. Eustatius, eastern Caribbean

A B S T R A C T Stony corals play a key role in the marine biodiversity of many tropical coastal areas as suppliers of substrate, food and shelter...
Other resources An identification of the trematode parasite Scaphanocephalus expansus in Bonaire.

An identi cation of the trematode parasite Scaphanocephalus expansus in Bonaire. Presented at a Public Lecture at CIEE Bonaire on August 9, 2017.
Other resources Breeding Success of Red-billed Tropicbirds at Pilot Hill, St. Eustatius – Year 3 (2014-2015)

We assessed the breeding success of red-billed tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) at Pilot Hill on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation...
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article Climate change and temperature-linked hatchling mortality at a globally important sea turtle nesting site

The study of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in vertebrates has attracted major scientific interest. Recently, concerns for species...
Research report Predation threats to the Red- billed Tropicbird breeding colony of Saba: focus on cats

Summary: Feral domestic cats (Felis catus) are recognized as one of the most devastating alien predator species in the world and are a major threat...
Other resources Cay Bay Post-Restoration Assessment

The Cay Bay restoration site is located within the Seaside Nature Park (thus it has been referred to as “Seaside Nature Park” in previous reports ...
Scientific article Effects of Recreational Scuba Diving on Caribbean Coral and Fish Communities

Scuba diving on coral reefs is an increasingly lucrative element of tourism in the tropics, but divers can damage the reefs on which tourism depends...
Other resources 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...
Media 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...
Media Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, visited the DCNA to exchange ideas about science in the Dutch Caribbean.

Dutch, Papiamentu and Papiamento below On Friday, January 20th, 2023, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, visited the...
Other resources Nutrient Enrichment and Eutrophication on Fringing Coral Reefs of Bonaire and Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, 2006-2008

Land-based nutrient pollution is a major stressor on coral reef communities around the Caribbean region and globally. To assess the status of...
Research report 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...
Research report Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean Netherlands

Abstract: The Important Bird Area (IBA) programme is an initiative of BirdLife International aimed at identifying, monitoring and protecting a...
Scientific article Pre-Columbian jadeitite artifacts from the Golden Rock Site, St. Eustatius, Lesser Antilles, with special reference to jadeitite artifacts from Elliot’s, Antigua: Implications for potential source regions and long-distance exchange networks in the Greater

A detailed electron microscopy analysis of jadeitite celts from the Early Ceramic Age Golden Rock settlement on the small volcanic island of St...
Media Dermal parasites on coral reef fish

In 2013 Dr. Martin de Graaf from IMARES noted an unusually high number of coral reef fish at the Salt Pier on Bonaire, infected with dermal parasites...
Media Post-breeding migration routes of marine turtles from Bonaire and Klein Bonaire

News items on: Becking, L.E.; Christianen, M.J.A.; Nava, M.I.; Miller, N.; Willis, S.; van Dam, R.P. (2016) Post-breeding migration routes of marine...
Maps and Charts RAMSAR sites of Aruba

Ramsar sites map of Aruba(GIS). Smoothed to 100m. 'The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an...
Other resources Parrotfish abundance and corallivory at the Yellow Sub dive site in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Parrotfish are some of the most widely recognized reef fish in the world. They occupy almost every tropical reef on the planet, and through their...
Other resources The Value of the LVV Site on Bonaire for Birds

Advice on the importance of this area for birds on Bonaire Bonaire is blessed with splendid nature, both above and below water. Due to their special...
Maps and Charts RedGreenBlue composite of hyperspectral imagery of the coast of Bonaire

Mosaicked and orthocorrected Red Green Blue (RGB) composite image from hyperspectral images taken from airplane from the coast of Bonair with a...
Research report 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...
Media Coral Restoration Bonaire

The Nature funding from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) (previously Ministry of Economic Affairs), has helped...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article Variability of size structure and species composition in Caribbean octocoral communities under contrasting environmental conditions

Octocorals have increased in abundance on a number of Caribbean reefs, but this trend has largely been reported with functional group or genus...
Other resources Is #2 the number one problem in Bonaire? An examination of fecal contamination and sedimentation from runoff

In this study I assessed the extent of sedimentation and contamination by human enteric bacteria Enterococci on the reefs of Bonaire, Netherlands...
Scientific article Green and hawksbill turtles in the Lesser Antilles demonstrate behavioural plasticity in inter-nesting behaviour and post-nesting migration

Abstract Satellite transmitters were deployed on three green turtles, Chelonia mydas, and two hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, nesting in...
Scientific article 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)...
Other resources Assessment of local lionfish (Pterois volitans) densities and management efforts in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

The Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans is an invasive species that was released along the U.S. Atlantic coast and spread to the Caribbean....
Scientific article Caribbean parrotfish density and size inside and outside marine protected area

The direct and indirect impacts of the increase in human population, in particular the growing demand for food, as well as various aspects of climate...
Research report Bonaire's Southern Wetlands Management Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The southern wetlands of Bonaire represent a unique environment for the island. Consisting of a wide variety of habitat types...
Research report Status and Trends of Bonaire’s Reefs, 2011. Cause for grave concerns

Unusually warm ocean temperatures surrounding Bonaire during the late summer and fall of 2010 caused 10 to 20 % of corals to bleach (Fig. 1)....
Other resources Mosquitoes in Belnem on the island of Bonaire: Sources and management implications

Student Report The people of Bonaire are affected by diseases that are transferred by mosquitoes. The problems are related to specifically the Aedes...
Media Saba Iguanas Receive Attention

The Caribbean Netherlands island of Saba is home to a unique but relatively unknown iguana population. Given the many threats faced by islands...
Research report 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...
Other resources Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - St. Maarten

St Maarten’s IBAs—the country’s international site priorities for bird conservation—cover 815 ha (including marine areas), and about c.36% of the...
Media New Research on Mangrove Restoration for Bonaire

Nederlands below. Since 2020, the Mangrove Maniacs have planted over 1500 mangroves along the southwest coast of Bonaire. A new collaborative...
Scientific article A comparison of ungrazed and livestock-grazed rock vegetations in Curacao.

Five of the largest remaining patches of livestock-inaccessible rock vegetation of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, were described and compared to rock...
Research report Seabird conservation status, threats and priority actions: a global assessment

Summary: We review the conservation status of, and threats to, all 346 species of seabirds, based on BirdLife International’s data and assessments...
Other resources Natuur als speelbal van culturele verschillen. Diversiteit in het sociaal-natuurlijk landschap van Bonaire
Scientific article Coral growth rates revisited after 31 years: What is causing lower extension rates in Acropora palmata?

Linear extension of branches in the same Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816) population in Curaçao was measured, employing exactly the same methods, in...
Media Bonaire biodivers paradijs

Een internationaal onderzoeksteam heeft de mariene biodiversiteit van Bonaire onderzocht. Mariene biodiversiteit zegt iets over de verscheidenheid in...
Research report Assessment of Ramsar site Lac Bonaire – June 2010

Findings The main issues that Lac Bay faces were identified as follows: Filling-in of Lac and reduced water circulation. Over-grazing by extensive...
Media Effect of invasive predators on breeding success of threatened Red-billed Tropicbirds

Update on one of the world’s largest nesting population on Saba and St. Eustatius. This news articles was published in BioNews 20 BioNews is...
Other resources Application Form for Site of Importance for Bat Conservation (SICOM)

The Island of Bonaire possess a system of more than 150 natural caves, but only five of them are known to be used as diurnal and maternity roosts by...
Other resources Application Form for Site of Importance for Bat Conservation (SICOM)

The Island of Bonaire possess a system of more than 150 natural caves, but only five of them are known to be used as diurnal and maternity roosts by...
Research report Biodiversiteit voor de BES-eilanden: Bonaire, St. Eustatius en Saba: onderzoeksvragen en verplichtingen
Other resources Does nutrient pollution affect the prevalence of dark spots disease in corals on Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean?

Environmental changes and deterioration have increased coral disease outbreaks, creating a Caribbean hot spot of high disease prevalence and...
Other resources 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...
Research report Breeding success survey of White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaeton lepturus catsbyii, on the islands of Bermuda - 2006 to 2008 Nesting Seasons
Media 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-...
Media Bonaire World Heritage Nomination Project

The Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) has received a number of international recognitions due to the outstanding biodiversity that it protects and...
Scientific article Reproductive performance, mate fidelity and nest cavity fidelity in Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus mesonauta on St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

Mate choice and nest cavity selection are directly linked to reproductive performance in seabirds, and disruption of these can result in breeding...
Scientific article Territorial and reproductive behavior of the three Caribbean Razorfishes of the Genus Xyrichtys (Labridae) at Bonaire

We conducted field studies of the three known species of Caribbean razorfishes of the genus Xyrichtys at four study sites in Bonaire during 1984,...
Scientific article Are Geckos Paratenic Hosts for Caribbean Island Acanthocephalans? Evidence from Gonatodes antillensis and a Global Review of Squamate Reptiles Acting as Transport Hosts.

It is well known that reptiles can act as paratenic hosts for parasites that use mammals as their definitive hosts. However, studies of potential...
Scientific article Rapid Assessment of Stony Coral Richness and Condition on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles

Findings: Combining the findings of this study with that of other studies, the authors conclude that the coral assemblage on the Saba Bank is diverse...
Other resources Small-scale variation in coral reef quality on the leeward side of Bonaire

In the last three decades, Caribbean coral cover values have been declining from 50% to 10% cover Caribbean wide. Several studies have researched...
Other resources The environmental impact of the reverse osmosis desalination plant on the immediately surrounding water and coral reef ecosystem in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

One of the most promising solutions to the growing shortage of potable water is the tapping of the oceans through desalination. Until recently the...
Research report Discovering the Deep ROV assisted data collection to understand the status of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems around Bonaire

Abstract The coral reefs of Bonaire, providing resources and environmental services, are often ranked among the richest, most resilient and least...
Research report Discovering the Deep - ROV assisted data collection to understand the status of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems around Bonaire

MSc thesis report The coral reefs of Bonaire, providing resources and environmental services, are often ranked among the richest, most resilient and...
Research report Marine assessment guideline for BOPEC and Nustar operations

As part of the permit, Rijkswaterstaat requested an ecological monitoring and evaluation framework guideline to accompany the permit-application for...
Other resources Survey of Reef Fish Communities of the Fringing reefs of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

The coral reefs of Bonaire have been reported to be one of the most pristine reefs, with the reefs on the leeward coast of Bonaire regarded as one of...
Media 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....
Other resources Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Aruba

Aruba’s four IBAs cover just 610 ha, but between them they support over 30,000 seabirds and a number of other significant bird populations. Tierra...
Research report 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,...
Media First mosquito survey for the ABC islands in nearly 75 years

Dutch and Papiamentu below Kralendijk, Bonaire – 10th of November – In 2018 , Naturalis Biodiversity Center conducted the first mosquito survey for...
Research report Status and Trends of Bonaire’s Reefs in 2017: Clear signs of resilience

The “resilience” of coral reef ecosystems has been an important goal of managers and policy makers for decades. At its most basic level, resilience...
Media Molluscs of the Dutch Caribbean Islands

The journal of the Netherlands Malacological Society, Vita Malacologica, dedicated its December 2017 edition to the malacofauna of the Dutch...
Research report Rare plant species, establishment of exclosures and recommendations for a monitoring program in the Washington-Slagbaai Park (Bonaire)

Abstract: The aim of the present project–commissioned by the management of the Washington-Slagbaai Park (WSP)- was to set-up a more strategic...
Media Rodent Control Implemented to Help Save Tropicbirds on Statia

Black rats (Rattus rattus) probably arrived on St. Eustatius along with the first Europeans. While a nuisance for the human population, their...
Media Bonaire’s Yearly Parrot Count

Every year on Bonaire, dozens of dedicated volunteers wake up before dawn with one simple but important mission: count as many yellow-shouldered...
Raw data Reef photo quadrants of St.Eustatius. Raw photo material of the 2015 survey

Raw photo material of the 2015 reef survey using the GCRMN method. The 20 survey sites lie within the St. Eustatius National Marine Park, which...
Raw data Reef photo quadrants of Bonaire. Raw photo material of the 2019 survey

Raw photo material of the 2019 reef survey using the GCRMN method. The 12 survey sites lie within the Bonaire National Marine Park, which surrounds...
Other resources The effect of SCUBA divers on the reproductive behavior of Halichoeres bivittatus in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

The purpose of this study is to determine if divers are affecting the reproductive behavior of Halichoeres bivittatus, commonly known as slippery...
Other resources 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...
Raw data Reef photo quadrants of St.Eustatius. Raw photo material of the 2017 survey

Raw photo material of the 2017 reef survey using the GCRMN method. The 20 survey sites lie within the St. Eustatius National Marine Park, which...
Scientific article Commentary: Managing Recovery Resilience in Coral Reefs Against Climate-Induced Bleaching and Hurricanes: A 15 Year Case Study From Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

A Commentary onManaging Recovery Resilience in Coral Reefs Against Climate-Induced Bleaching and Hurricanes: A 15 Year Case Study From Bonaire, Dutch...
Raw data Reef photo quadrants of St.Eustatius. Raw photo material of the 2016 survey

Raw photo material of the 2016 reef survey using the GCRMN method. The 20 survey sites lie within the St. Eustatius National Marine Park, which...
Research report The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Saba (Netherlands Antilles)

In 1937, 1949 and 1963 P. Wagenaar Hummelinck collected vertebrates with some co-operators. The ants of these expeditions were selected and stored (...
Research report Interactions between invasive mammals and their effects on Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) nesting productivity

Abstract: Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) are cavity-nesting seabirds with important nesting colonies on Saba and Sint Eustatius in the...
Media Bonaire: Roi Sango (EU BEST 2.0)

Starting in 2016, Echo – a small nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting the Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot – has been working...
Other resources The effects of Stegastes planifrons gardening on the prevalence of yellow band disease in the Montastrea annularis species complex

Yellow band disease (YBD) is a bacterial infection affecting corals of the Montastrea annularis species complex. Recent mortality rates of M....
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article Caribbean-Wide, Long-Term Study of Seagrass Beds Reveals Local Variations, Shifts in Community Structure and Occasional Collapse

The CARICOMP monitoring network gathered standardized data from 52 seagrass sampling stations at 22 sites (mostly Thalassia testudinum-dominated beds...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article Occupation rates of artificial and restored natural nest cavities by yellow-shouldered Amazons Amazona barbadensis on Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

The breeding success of obligate secondary cavity nesting birds, including most parrots, can be limited by the availability and quality of nest...
Scientific article Large-scale invasion of western Atlantic mesophotic reefs by lionfish potentially undermines culling-based management

The detrimental effects of invasive lion- fishes (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) on western Atlantic shallow reefs are well documented,...
Other resources Research and Monitoring Report 2013 - Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

We observed green turtles and hawksbills along the west coast of Bonaire, around Klein Bonaire, and adjacent to Lac during snorkel surveys. Green...
Scientific article Abundance of coral-associated fauna in relation to depth and eutrophication along the leeward side of Curaçao, southern Caribbean

A B S T R A C T Coral-associated invertebrates contribute much to the biodiversity of Caribbean coral reefs. Although the nature of their symbiotic...
Other resources Archaeological excavations at Schotsenhoek plantation, St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

In May 2012, the St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research was contracted to carry out an excavation on the NuStar property locally known as ‘...
Media Rare nudibranch discovery highlights diversity of Bonaire’s reefs

In exciting news for the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP), a sighting of Aegires sublaevis, a rare nudibranch, was documented at the Cliff dive...
Scientific article Nitrogen fixation and diversity of benthic cyanobacterial mats on coral reefs in Curaçao

Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) have increased in abundance on coral reefs worldwide. However, their species diversity and role in nitrogen...
Other resources Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Saba

The Saba coastline IBA (AN006)—the island’s site priority for bird conservation—has been identified on the basis of nine key bird species (listed in...
Other resources Algal cover and the effects of various nutrient levels on Bonaire's coral reefs

A reoccurring problem facing a majority of the coral reefs in the Caribbean for the past few decades has been the fear of a changing community...
Scientific article A review of records of the Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata in the Caribbean Sea

The Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata is a pelagic seabird with a dangerously small population size. Remaining breeding sites are threatened by...
Research report Bird communities of contrasting semi-natural habitats of Lac Bay, Bonaire, during the fall migration season, 2011

Findings: Species richness Species richness is highest in Lac’s mangrove thickets and salt flats. They have a two-fold higher total species richness...
Media Co-funded by the EU’s RESEMBID program and Wageningen University & Research, Pilot Project ‘Turning the Tide’ launches in Aruba

Dutch below ORANJESTAD, ARUBA – Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) in collaboration with Wageningen University...
Other resources Tubastraea coccinea: Distribution and substratum preference of an exotic coral in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

The study of introduced species has gained popularity in recent years. A species introduced to a new area can have negative effects on the native...
Scientific article Caribbean Sea Soundscapes: Monitoring Humpback Whales, Biological Sounds, Geological Events, and Anthropogenic Impacts of Vessel Noise

Assessing marine soundscapes provides an understanding of the biological, geological and anthropogenic composition of a habitat, including species...
Other resources Staat van instandhouding van de natuur van Caribisch Nederland

Sinds de staatkundige herstructurering van het Koninkrijk in 2010, maken de Caribische eilanden van Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius als speciale...
Media 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...
Research report 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...
Research report An Assessment of the Health and Resilience of Bonaire’s Coral Reefs

Abstract: From July 19-26, 2010, a dedicated team of researchers completed transect surveys on 25 reefs located on the leeward side of Bonaire and...
Other resources Research and Monitoring of Bonaire ’s Sea Turtles: 2014 Technical Report

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) was initiated in the early 1990s to protect the island’s marine turtle populations. Our current research and...
Other resources Changing benthic communities on Saba Bank Is Saba Bank becoming a ‘Sponge reef’?

Abstract - Due to multiple stressors, many coral reefs are degrading. Shifts from a coral dominated system to an alternate phase are observed. For...
Research report The Lesser Antillean Iguana on St. Eustatius: 2012 status update and review of limiting factors

Abstract: The endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima, is an emblematic species for the island of St. Eustatius and in Caribbean...
Other resources Dust on Bonaire

Student Report Introduction The main goal of this research report is to shed light on the problems surrounding dust on Bonaire, and to give...
Research report Research and Monitoring of Bonaire’s Sea Turtles: 2013

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) was initiated in the early 1990s to protect the island’s marine turtle populations. Our current research and...
Scientific article Black spot syndrome in reef fishes: using archival imagery and field surveys to characterize spatial and temporal distribution in the Caribbean

Recently, observations of black spot syndrome (BSS) in Caribbean fishes have been linked to infection by a digenean trematode parasite, ...
Research report Research and Monitoring of Bonaire’s Sea Turtles: 2015 Technical Report

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) was formed in 1991 in order to protect the island’s marine turtle populations. In 2002 we standardized our...
Other resources Quantitative tracking of the cellular and skeletal respose of the Caribbean coral orbicella annularis to gradients i marine sewage pollution

Msc. Thesis Abstract Orbicella annularis is an abundant framework-building Scleractinian coral that serves as an ecological cornerstone throughout...
Research report 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...
Media Tropical sea urchins move from a marine lab in Leeuwarden to the Rotterdam Zoo

At Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (HVHL) in Leeuwarden, the sea urchin Diadema antillarum has been cultivated to help restore the...
Research report Research and Monitoring Results for the Size Class Distribution and Abundance of the Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, and Seagrass Characterization in Lac Bay, Bonaire

Executive Summary This report provides a comprehensive coverage of accomplishments completed to date by Environics for the Lac Bay queen conch (...
Media New Species of Cone Snail Discovered on Aruba

Nederlands and Papiamento below. Researchers from the Florida Atlantic University and University of California recently discovered a new species of...
Research report A Report on the Status of the Coral Reefs of Bonaire in 2005 with Advice on a Monitoring Program

This report characterizes the state of Bonaire’s reefs as of March 2005. We pay particular attention to structural and functional attributes of reefs...
Other resources NIOZ-Saba Bank/Saba Cruise report: Net coral community calcification and hydrodynamics (Saba Bank/Saba)

Cruise Background Many islands in the Caribbean sea are fringed by coral reefs and/or coral veneers, which produce CaCO3 for their skeletons. Not...
Research report 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....
Media Erosion around Kralendijk, Bonaire

In areas with sparse vegetation, intense rainfall events can loosen the soil material, after which it is transported away towards the ocean by...
Research report Biological Inventory of Saba

Abstract: Saba is the smallest of the three Windward Islands in the Netherlands Antilles, with an area of 13 km2. Saba is the northernmost island...
Research report Tanker Anchoring Impact Study and Recommendations St Eustatius Marine Park

Abstract: St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) is the only active environmental non-government organization on St. Eustatius, and was...
Other resources Final report St.Eustatius 2016 Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

The goal of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), an operational network of ICRI, the International Coral Reef Initiative, is to improve...
Other resources 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...
Research report Vegetatie onderzoek Bonaire 2019

This report describes a field visit to the Caribbean island of Bonaire aiming at collection of field data on the arid vegetation, which consists...
Other resources Spaans Lagoen Species List

Species List IMPORTANT NOTICE The species list in this document is not all-inclusive, meaning that not all species which can be found in the "Spaans...
Media Bionews Diadema Special Edition: How you can help

Help Protect Sea urchins Help us track sea urchin health in the Caribbean by adding your observations of healthy, sick or dead urchins. These...
Research report Bonaire National Marine Park. Tropical Storm Omar; Report of Reef Condition

Abstract: On October 14 and 15, 2008 Tropical Storm Omar reached Bonaire. Wind speed averaging 18 to 20 knots from SW started at 3 am on October 14...
Other resources Effects of shore proximity and depth on the distribution of fish larvae in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

A vast majority of marine fish species, both reef and pelagic, are bipartite, meaning that they have a pelagic larval stage distinctly separate from...
Research report Caribbean Humpback Acoustic Monitoring Programme: 2016-2017 Report

In September 2016, the West Indies distinct population segment (DPS) of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), was delisted under the US...
Scientific article Global analysis of the effect of local climate on the hatchling output of leatherback turtles

The most recent climate change projections show a global increase in temperatures along with precipitation changes throughout the 21st century....
Other resources 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...
Scientific article Conservation status of Caribbean coot Fulica caribaea in the Netherlands Antilles and other parts of the Caribbean

Abstract: In 2005 to 2006 we assessed the status of the Caribbean coot Fulica caribaea in the Netherlands Antilles, largely semi-arid islands in the...
Other resources Diurnal Variation of Cleaning Intensity in Bonaire, N.A

Cleaner species are believed to help maintain the health of client species by cleansing them of parasites, dead or infected tissue and debris which...
Scientific article A novel framework to evaluate the financial sustainability of marine protected areas

ABSTRACT Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are globally underfunded. We present a five-step framework that can help practitioners prioritize...
Other resources The relationship between fish diversity and live coral cover and changes in fish diversity over time in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles has one of the healthiest coral reef systems in terms of fish species richness and live coral cover in the Caribbean....
Scientific article Seagrass ecosystem metabolic carbon capture in response to green turtle grazing across Caribbean meadows

Increasing green turtle abundance will lead to increased grazing within seagrass habitats—ecosystems that are important for carbon sequestration and...
Other resources Natural Catastrophes in the Flamingo Colony of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

In the past 25 years the Red Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) of Bonaire, estimated by ROOTH (1965) to comprise a population of at least 5,...
Scientific article Invasive lionfish had no measurable effect on prey fish community structure across the Belizean Barrier Reef

Invasive lionfish are assumed to significantly affect Caribbean reef fish communities. However, evidence of lionfish effects on native reef fishes is...
Research report Assessing the Relationship between Coastal Currents and Water Quality Indicators on Bonaire: ADCP & CTD approach

MSc internship report 75% of coral reefs worldwide experience degradation of which 60% is caused by local (anthropogenic) stressors. The human...
Scientific article 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...
Research report 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...
Scientific article 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...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article 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...
Other resources 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...
Other resources 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...
Other resources Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - St. Eustatius

Statia’s two IBAs—the island’s international priority sites for bird conservation—cover 41% of the island’s land area. Both IBAs are formally...
Book Birds of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao

A site and field guide. Birds of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao is the essential guide for anyone traveling to those islands. It showcases the more than...
Scientific article Damage to the leeward reefs of Curac¸ao and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles from a rare storm event: Hurricane Lenny, November 1999

Fringing reefs along the southwestern shores of the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire (12°N), located outside the most frequent hurricane...
Research report ‘Nature-based solutions’ zijn noodzakelijk om Caribische Nederland te behoeden voor de gevolgen van klimaatverandering

Achtergrond Caribisch Nederland (Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius) en de Koninkrijkspartners Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten worden nu en in de komende...
Research report Reef dissolution : Rates and mechanisms of coral dissolution by bioeroding sponges and reef communities

Embargo until April 04 2020 PhD thesis For coral reefs to persist, the rate of CaCO3 production must be greater than the rate of erosion to enable...
Scientific article Synthesis of coral reef health indicators for the Western Atlantic: Results of the AGRRA program (1997-2000)

Abstract: The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) sampling strategy is designed to collect both descriptive and quantitative information...
Media Recognize Caribbean nature in one click with ObsIdentify

Dutch, Papiamentu, Papiamento, and French below Have you ever wondered what kind of species you are seeing around you? A beautiful lizard, flower, or...
Scientific article Reconstructing past thermal conditions in beach microclimates

Abstract Reconstruction of past conditions provides important information on how ecosystems have been impacted by climate change, but generally for...
Research report Ecological values of the 12 miles zone of Bonaire

In 2015 an Expert group assessed the ten Dutch World Heritage candidate sites and advised the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science with regards...
Other resources Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of Tripneustes ventricosus on Kralendijk’s waterfront

Coral reefs are being threatened by both anthropogenic and environmental factors. One prominent factor is the loss of herbivores on coral reefs due...
Research report Exotic and invasive terrestrial and freshwater animal species in the Dutch Caribbean

We here provide an overview of 72 invasive animals of the terrestrial and freshwater environments of the Dutch Caribbean, eleven of which are no...
Scientific article Hierarchical spatial patterns in Caribbean reef benthic assemblages

Aim Coral assemblages on Caribbean reefs have largely been considered to be biogeographically homogeneous at a regional scale. We reassess this in...
Research report Saba Bank; health status 2010. Cruise report

Findings: The main conclusion from this study is that the health of the reefs of the Saba Bank has deteriorated since the first observations in 1972...
Scientific article Spatial and Temporal variation of Chlorophyll-a and nutrients in coastal waters of Saba

Anthropogenic stressors such as improper wastewater treatment, dump sites and construction sites can increase nutrient input into marine coastal...
Research report Spatial and Temporal variation of Chlorophyll-a and nutrients in coastal waters of Saba

Abstract Anthropogenic stressors such as improper wastewater treatment, dump sites and construction sites can increase nutrient input into marine...
Other resources Diadema antillarium populations in Bonaire: is there evidence of over- or under population?

The sea urchin Diadema antillarum is an important herbivore in coral reef ecosystems of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is still recovering from a 1983...
Media Ecological Restoration Lac Bay and South Coast, Bonaire

Lac Bay is the largest semi-enclosed bay in the Dutch Caribbean, offering visitors breathtaking views, white sandy beaches and shallow turquoise...
Research report Linking spatial gradients and habitat to reef fish assemblages: Insights from a remote coral reef system

Student Report Drastic loss of Caribbean coral reef habitat in the past decades has recently begun to negatively affect reef fish assemblage...
Other resources The Yellow-Shouldered Amazon - Perspectives

There are 330 parrot species worldwide, of which a third is threatened with extinction. The Yellow-shouldered Amazon (Amazona Barbadensis) is a...
Research report Assessing water quality and the benthic species communities around the Dutch Caribbean Island Sint Eustatius.

Summary The health of coral reefs is threatened by anthropogenic land-based input, which is a global problem. High nutrient conditions make corals...
Research report Humpback and minke whale acoustic presence with reference to fish sounds and ambient noise levels at Saba Bank, Caribbean Windward Dutch Islands

The Antillean Island chain is a known breeding and calving ground for North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). However, while most...
Research report Humpback and minke whale acoustic presence with reference to fish sounds and ambient noise levels at Saba Bank, Caribbean Windward Dutch Islands

The Antillean Island chain is a known breeding and calving ground for North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). However, while most...
Research report Assessing Water Quality and the Benthic Species Communities around the Dutch Caribbean Island Sint Eustatius

MSc internship report The health of coral reefs is threatened by anthropogenic land-based input, which is a global problem. High nutrient conditions...
Scientific article Sound production as an indicator of red hind density at a spawning aggregation

Abstract: Annual spawning aggregations of red hind Epinephelus guttatus form at predictable times and locations and have historically succumbed to...
Other resources Research and Monitoring of Bonaire's Sea Turtles: 2017 Technical Report

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) has been protecting sea turtles on Bonaire since 1991, so this year represents the 26th Anniversary of our...
Media Invasive Coralita Threatens Biodiversity Dutch Caribbean

Dutch below Coralita is an ornamental plant that was introduced to several Caribbean islands but has quickly found its way to the top of the invasive...
Research report Spatial & Temporal monitoring of Bonaire’s near-shore water quality

Internship report Although Bonaire’s waters harbours one of the richest reefs of the Caribbean, it has not evaded the unprecedented global decline of...
Research report Staat van de natuur van Caribisch Nederland 2017

Sinds de staatkundige herstructurering van het Koninkrijk in 2010, maken de Caribische eilanden van Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius als speciale...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article A Quantitative, Non-Destructive Methodology for Habitat Characterisation and Benthic Monitoring at Offshore Renewable Energy Developments

Following governments’ policies to tackle global climate change, the development of offshore renewable energy sites is likely to increase...
Scientific article Coral Reef Arks: An In Situ Mesocosm and Toolkit for Assembling Reef Communities

Coral reefs thrive and provide maximal ecosystem services when they support a multilevel trophic structure and grow in favorable water quality...
Scientific article Long-term movements of an adult male Kemp's Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

LONG-TERM MOVEMENTS OF AN ADULT MALE KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (LEPI- DOCHELYS KEMPII) IN THE NORTHWEST- ERN GULF OF MEXICO—Despite recent insights...
Media Long-spined sea urchins: not trouble but in trouble

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below Since February 2022 there have been reports of Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema) die off from a number...
Media Ground-breaking Shark Research Conducted in St. Maarten Waters

During the week of April 11, 2021, members from the Nature Foundation St. Maarten, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), the Saba Conservation...
Media Parental Behavior Linked to Declining Nest Success

New Red-billed Tropicbird data suggested declining nest survival rates may be more related to parental behavior than previously thought. A researcher...
Media Health is Wealth: A One Health Approach to control vector-born diseases and promote sustainability

At the Sustainability Conference held on St. Eustatius in December 2017, the panel “Health is Wealth” explored the interrelationship between the...
Media Studies to understand the critical phases in juvenile conch biology

Dutch below Queen conch are facing immense pressure leading to a dramatic decrease in their populations. Luckily, a new project, started at the...
Other resources Position Statement of the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group on Non-Native Invasive Iguanas

The purpose of this Position Statement is to highlight the pest status that non-native iguanas can attain when introduced to tropical and sub-...
Media 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...
Media Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the Dutch Caribbean

Papiamentu, Papiamento and Dutch below Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a highly infectious coral disease that has spread rapidly...
Media Sargassum Fertilizer Transfers Heavy Metals to Vegetables

Nederlands below. A joint experiment between WWF-Mexico and STINAPA Bonaire found that vegetables grown in soil enriched with sargassum had higher...
Other resources 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...
Media St. Eustatius: Bridled Quail-Dove Population Continues Declining

In the December 2017 edition of BioNews, we provided an overview of the results of two population assessments of the Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon...
Research report Mountain biking on Aruba's wild coast

The island of Aruba predominantly has a ‘sun, sea and sand’ tourism destination image. The Arub Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) aims to diversify the...
Media Uncovering the Secrets of the Red-Billed Tropicbird in the Southern Caribbean

Dutch Below Red-billed Tropicbirds were once thought to be rare visitors to the Southern Caribbean, however, there has been an increase in sightings...
Media STENAPA’s protection of Caribbean Sea turtles

Each year, hawksbill and green turtles, and sometimes even leatherback turtles, come to the beaches of Statia to lay their eggs. New protocols,...
Media This Little Island is a Haven for Migratory Shorebirds

Fernando and I are at our one of our “high density” points (counting stations) on the Cargill Salt Production Facility in southern Bonaire. We are...
Media Coral Monitoring Finds Annual Coral Bleaching on Bonaire

A recent report released by STINAPA notes the occurrence of coral bleaching on Bonaire between 2016 and 2020. During this study, coral bleaching was...
Media DCNA Launches Bionews Kids – A New Magazine to Empower Youth in the Dutch Caribbean

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below. Kralendijk, Bonaire –The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) released the first edition of...
Media Bonaire 2050, a nature inclusive vision put into numbers

Dutch below A study by Wageningen University and Research set-up a series of design sessions, workshops and interviews to describe a vision for...
Research report 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...
Other resources Cleaner-client interactions and depth distributions among three cleaner species: Bodianus rufus, Elacatinus evelynae, and Anclyomenes pedersoni

Cleaning is a symbiotic behavior that has been observed in many animals, including both terrestrial and marine species. Cleaner species and their...
Research report Nature Foundation Marine Park, Reef & Marine Research Assessments Post Hurricane Irma

On the 6th of September powerful category five storm Hurricane Irma struck Sint Maarten with 185 MPH winds, causing widespread damage to the island...
Media Saba: Horticultural Project

Thanks to generous funding from The Netherlands Ministry of Economics Affairs through the Nature Fund, the Island Government of Saba is implementing...
Scientific article Results of management actions for tern populations on Bonaire

Event: BirdsCaribbean 21st International Conference, Topes de Collantes, Cuba, 13-17 July, 2017 Abstract in scientific journal or proceedings Five...
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article Spatial Ecology of the Association between Demosponges and Nemalecium lighti at Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Abstract Coral reefs are known to be among the most biodiverse marine ecosystems and one of the richest in terms of associations and species...
Scientific article 40 years of change on the coral reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire

Over the past decades, numerous studies have reported declines in stony corals and, in many cases, phase shifts to fleshy macroalgae. However, long-...
Scientific article Island–island and island–mainland movements of the Curaçaoan long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae

Of the 3 species comprising the genus Leptonycteris Miller, L. curasoae has been the least studied with respect to its long-distance flights and...
Other resources Large scale, medium scale, and small scale patterns of benthic cyanobacteria & the possibility of groundwater association on a coral reef

Cyanobacteria presence in the marine ecosystem is biologically significant due to its versatile nature. This phylum is responsible for destructive...
Other resources Assessing the correlation between coral disease prevalence and fish species richness from 2007-2011 in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Coral reefs have existed for thousands of years and are currently subjected to many threats. Coral disease is of particular concern because of its...
Other resources A comparative study of benthic and coral reef fish communities on artificial versus natural reefs of Bonaire, N.A.

Caribbean coral reef ecosystems are threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. In an effort to...
Media Saba Bank: marine mammals

The Northern Caribbean is a well-known breeding and calving ground for North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and considerable ...
Other resources Sustainable diving tourism on the Golden Rock - Assessment of the ecological and social carrying capacity of reefs of Sint Eustatius and the potential for artificial reefs

Tropical regions and developing states depend largely on their “blue nature” and related tourism for their potential and economic well-being. Even so...
Other resources From Whaling to Tagging: The Evolution of North Atlantic Humpback Whale Research in the West Indies

North Atlantic humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, migrate from summer feeding grounds across the temperate and high latitudes to breeding...
Scientific article Geographic Patterns In Pollen Production In The Plant Ring Species Euphorbia tithymaloides In The Caribbean

Abstract—We examine investment in male function in the context of geography and floral morphology in the plant ring species Euphorbia tithymaloides,...
Scientific article Coral community decline at Bonaire, Southern Caribbean

We assessed the status of coral reef benthic communities at Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, in December 2008 and January 2009 through ~5 km of photo...
Scientific article Population stock structure of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Atlantic revealed using mtDNA and microsatellite markers

Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive genetic analysis of stock structure for leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), combining 17...
Scientific article First record of Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) for Aruba

Abstract Robert L. Norton encountered a Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) approximately 60 km NNW of Aruba, providing Aruba’s first record...
Scientific article Surveying bats for conservation: the status of cave-dwelling bats on Curaçao from 1993 to 2003

In view of their ecological importance and the abundance of threats on a developing Caribbean island, we surveyed the bats of Curaçao, Netherlands...
Media BioNews 4 - April 2013

This month’s issue focuses on the conservation efforts for the Red-billed Tropicbird, which is taking place on the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius...
Scientific article Iguana Delicatissima Mortality and Reproduction

The Lesser Antillean Iguana was originally found in the Lesser Antilles from Anguilla to Martinique, but is rapidly being lost from both large and...
Maps and Charts Topography St.Eustatius

Multiple topographical map layers: Roads (source: Imms, E.) Buildings (source: DCNA) Fences (source: Puijk, A., 2015) Contours (source...
Other resources The lionfish culling program in Sint Eustatius island, dutch caribbean

Lionfish impacts are highly negative (directly or indirectly) on native populations and the entire Caribbean ecosystem.Since December 2010, when the...
Other resources Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) Distribution and Feeding Behavior in Relation to Salinity Levels on Bonaire, Netherland Antilles

Bonaire is home to the largest natural flamingo reserve in the western hemisphere, housing one of the four remaining crucial breeding grounds in the...
Other resources Trends in the Caribbean Netherlands

As of 10 October 2010, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) is responsible for the collection and publication of statistical data on the three islands of the...
Scientific article 40 Years of benthic community change on the Caribbean reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire: the rise of slimy cyanobacterial mats

Over the past decades numerous studies have reported declines in stony corals and, in many cases, phase shifts to fleshy macroalgae. However, long-...
Research report Status and trends of coral reef health indicators on Saba (Caribbean Netherlands)

Coral reefs are threatened globally and their trajectories of decline are very similar worldwide. In the Caribbean coral cover has declined by 80%...
Other resources Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire: 2016 Technical Report

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) has been protecting sea turtles on Bonaire since 1991, so this year represents the 25th Anniversary of our...
Media Rat Invaders: Islands Fighting Back Against Killer Rodents

Since the furry stowaways landed here aboard sealing and whaling ships in the 19th century, they've been wreaking ecological havoc on the island and...
Monitoring protocol Hurricane reef damage form

Form to inventory reef damage of hurricanes, incl. fields: dive site and dive depth date are corals/sponges covered in sand? are there overturned/...
Other resources Coralita, we're gonna beat ya! The social and ecological contexts of invasive plant management in the Caribbean

Power point Recommendations Coralita management on Statia Reforestation efforts and Coralita management can reinforce one another, and we should...
Scientific article Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) roosting at Washington-Slagbaai National Park, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) are known to roost on the northwestern coast of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. A published account from the 1950s...
Scientific article Bromeliad Invertebrate Communities on Saba, Netherlands Antilles

We sampled tank bromeliads and censused their invertebrate fauna at four elevations on the small Caribbean island of Saba. We expected that...
Scientific article Variation in habitat soundscape characteristics influences settlement of a reef-building coral

Coral populations, and the productive reef ecosystems they support, rely on successful recruitment of reef-building species, beginning with...
Other resources Brood location preference and paternal care behavior by sergeant majors (Abudefduf saxatilis)

Sergeant majors (Abudefduf saxatilis) engage in male-dominated reproduction: males establish territories, females are courted, mate with the male and...
Other resources Investigations of an unidentified benthic cyanobacterial species on Bonaire, N.A.

An unidentified benthic cyanobacterial species has been documented growing on the reef system of Bonaire, N.A. Despite their role as nitrogen fixers...
Other resources Stony corals of St. Eustatius

Previous surveys of the coral fauna of St. Eustatius were usually of short duration and part of a larger research that included all of the windward...
Other resources Comparison of growth of the reef fish species Haemulon flavolineatum (French grunt) between seagrass beds, mangroves and the coral reef, as a test for the nursery hypothesis

Juvenile French grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum) were caught, measured in length and weight and introduced in cages for 6 to 8 weeks to grow in their...
Other resources The population dynamics of the Caribbean flamingo on Bonaire

Since 2018, increasing number of dead juvenile flamingos were found on Bonaire. This study aims to determine what reproduction rate is required to...
Scientific article Occurrence of Vibrio Species in Marine Sources Surroundings Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

ABSTRACT There is a lack of information on presence of vibrios in the marine environment in the Caribbean. The aim of this study was to determine the...
Research report Marine Area Survey: an inventory of the natural and cultural marine resources of St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles

The purpose of this survey was to describe and map the natural and cultural resources of the marine environment with a view to sustainable...
Research report Species Management Plan: Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot, Amazona barbadensis, Dutch Caribbean

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Threat mitigation Boost population growth rate and address nest site limitation Reduce poaching Habitat protection Grow...
Other resources Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) as a potential bioindicator species of sedimentation stress in coral reef environments of Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

The effect of land-based pollution on Bonaire’s coral reef ecosystem has not been well-quantified. Observations of the coral reefs of Bonaire show a...
Other resources 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...
Media EPIC Continues: Restoration Project

EPIC Continues Restoration Project – Focus on restoration of native forest, increasing biodiversity and environmental education Earlier this summer...
Media BioNews archive

DCNA produces BioNews*, a free monthly digital newsletter featuring recent nature related news-items about the Dutch Caribbean as well as overviews...
Scientific article First records of Odonata from Sint Eustatius, Dutch Lesser Antilles

Six species of dragonflies are recorded for the island of Sint Eustatius, Lesser Antilles. Breeding records are established for four out of the six...
Research report Coral bleaching in the Bonaire National Marine Park 2016-2020

STINAPA report Mass coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and widespread and poses a major threat to coral reefs worldwide. Mass coral bleaching...
Research report 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...
Scientific article Find me if you can: Pre- and Post-hurricane Densities of the Red-bellied Racer (Alsophis rufiventris) on St. Eustatius, and a review of the genus in the Caribbean

Abstract We estimated population densities of the red-bellied racer (Alsophis rufiventris) on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius in 2011, 2018 and...
Scientific article A Post-hurricane Quantitative Assessment of the Red-bellied Racer (Alsophis rufiventris) on Saba and Comparison with St. Eustatius

We estimated occupancy, abundance (lambda), detection probability, density/ha and abundance of a regionally endemic snake in the Colubrid family on...
Research report Benthic community composition of the reef on the leeward side of Bonaire; A comparison of water quality with benthic community

MSc internship report The health and abundance of coral reefs are declining worldwide. Coastal development, terrestrial runoff, the temperature rise...
Other resources The distribution of black band disease on Bonaire corals in relation to environmental factors

In the 1970s, black band disease (BBD) emerged as a mass coral killer and caught the attention of scientists. Although BBD has been studied for more...
Media Dutch Caribbean Species Register

On December 5, 2017, the launch of the Dutch Caribbean Species Register took place: www. dutchcaribbeanspecies.org. This website is intended to...
Scientific article The Role of Tourism and Recreation in the Spread of Non-Native Species: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Managing the pathways by which non-native species are introduced and spread is consid- ered the most effective way of preventing species invasions....
Scientific article e evolution of the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM): 20 years of the Regional Multidimensional Program for Strengthening MPA Practitioners

In 1997, the United Nations Environment’s Caribbean Environment Program (UNEP-CEP) convened a meeting of 50 MPA managers from which CaMPAM was born....
Research report Sponge density increases with depth throughout the Caribbean

Mesophotic coral reefs (MCEs) are ecologically unique components of coral reef ecosystems that occur at depths from ~30 to 150 m where they support a...
Other resources Coral Bleaching in the Bonaire National Marine Park 2016-2020

Abstract Mass coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and widespread and poses a major threat to coral reefs worldwide. Mass coral bleaching is a...
Scientific article Hurricane-induced population decrease in a Critically Endangered long-lived reptile

ABSTRACT Catastrophic events, like hurricanes, bring lethal conditions that can have population-altering effects. The threatened Caribbean dry forest...
Other resources Coastal region and small island papers 3: Saba, Netherlands Antilles

In comparison to other CARICOMP sites, the tiny island of Saba, in the Windward Islands arc of the Lesser Antilles, can be described as atypical in...
Scientific article Native Predators Do Not Influence Invasion Success of Pacific Lionfish on Caribbean Reefs

Abstract: Biotic resistance, the process by which new colonists are excluded from a community by predation from and/or competition with resident...
Scientific article 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....
Other resources Runoff and erosion on the Cultuurvlakte of St. Eustatius

Msc. Thesis Erosion can cause large problems for ecosystems on and around tropical islands. On site, erosion leads to a decrease of available...
Scientific article Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems: A Geoacoustically Derived Proxy for Habitat and Relative Diversity for the Leeward Shelf of Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Current trends demonstrate coral reef health in serious decline worldwide. Some of the most well-preserved coral reefs in the Caribbean basin are...
Other resources Impact of Increased Nutrient Input on Coral Reefs on Bonaire and Curacao

Coral reefs are one of the most sensitive ecosystems and are under enormous human pressure. Since a relative short period of time the impact of...
Scientific article Archaeal and Bacterial Communities Associated with the Surface Mucus of Caribbean Corals Differ in Their Degree of Host Specificity and Community Turnover Over Reefs

Comparative studies on the distribution of archaeal versus bacterial communities associ- ated with the surface mucus layer of corals have rarely...
Research report The influence of terrestrial erosion on Acropora palmata occurrence on Saba, Dutch Caribbean

A high influx of sediment resulting from terrestrial erosion, imposes a major threat on coral reef ecosystems worldwide by inducing sedimentation and...
Other resources Determining the health status of coral reefs: a case-study of the Saba Bank in the Dutch Caribbean

Student Report Coral reefs are impacted by temperature rise, ocean acidification and various local anthropogenic stressors, causing global...
Scientific article Phytomyxid infection in the non-native seagrass Halophila stipulacea in St Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

Highlights • First record of phytomyxid infection in H. stipulacea in the Caribbean. • Morphological changes to leaves, roots and internodes in...
Scientific article 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-...
Scientific article A post-hurricane rapid assessment of reefs in the Windward Netherlands Antilles (stony corals, algae and fishes)

Reefs of the windward Netherlands Antilles (Saba, Saba Bank, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten) were assessed at 24 sites in the late 1999. The...
Other resources Determining the health status of coral reefs: a case-study of the Saba Bank in the Dutch Caribbean

Student Report Abstract Coral reefs are impacted by temperature rise, ocean acidification and various local anthropogenic stressors, causing global...
Research report Fisheries Baseline Assessment of Statia Marine Park, St Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles

Abstract: St. Eustatius Marine Park was established in 1996 and became actively managed in 1997 to conserve and protect the marine environment. It...
Scientific article Interaction of Physical and Biological Factors in the Large-Scale Distribution of Juvenile Queen Conch in Seagrass Meadows

Large-scale distribution of a large, commercially significant gastropod, Strombus gigas (queen conch), was investigated in a II ,OOO-haregion of the...
Research report An Assessment of Nesting Seabirds within San Nicolas Bay, Aruba, 2009

Executive Summary: The eleventh field season of the Aruba Tern Project was completed in 2009. The study continued its stated aim of producing a...
Scientific article Antigonon leptopus invasion is associated with plant community disassembly in a Caribbean island ecosystem

Abstract Invasions by non-native plant species are widely recognized as a major driver of biodiversity loss. Globally, (sub-)tropical islands form...
Scientific article Isolation by oceanic distance and spatial genetic structure in an overharvested international fishery, Diversity and Distributions

Abstract Aim A detailed understanding of spatial genetic structure (SGS) and the factors driving contemporary patterns of gene flow and genetic...
Scientific article Seascape continuity plays an important role in determining patterns of spatial genetic structure in a coral reef fish

Detecting patterns of spatial genetic structure (SGS) can help identify intrinsic and extrinsic barriers to gene flow within metapopulations. For...
Other resources Saba and St. Eustatius (Statia)

Saba and St. Eustatius/Sint Eustatius (Statia) represent geologically young (less than a million years) Pleistocene island arc volcanoes that rise at...
Other resources The salinas of Bonaire: how does bird activity impact epi- and infaunal communities?

Predators can play an important role in shaping prey community structure and function through direct and indirect top-down effects. Bird predators in...
Scientific article Assisted gene flow using cryopreserved sperm in critically endangered coral

Assisted gene flow (AGF) is a conservation intervention to accelerate species adaptation to climate change by importing genetic diversity into at-...
Scientific article Chemical defenses and resource trade-offs structure sponge communities on Caribbean coral reefs

Abstract: Ecological studies have rarely been performed at the community level across a large biogeographic region. Sponges are now the primary...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article Organic Matter Degradation Drives Benthic Cyanobacterial Mat Abundance on Caribbean Coral Reefs

Abstract Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) are impacting coral reefs worldwide. However, the factors and mechanisms driving their proliferation are...
Media New beetles discovered in the Dutch Caribbean

Nederlands below Two recently published studies document 35 new beetle species for the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius. Even with these latest...
Other resources Benthic Habitat Mapping in the coastal waters of Saba Dutch Caribbean

In this research benthic habitats of the Saba Marine Park were mapped. There were several reasons for an updated benthic habitat map: (1) to compare...
Media Three new exotic gecko species identified on Curaçao

As part of the Caribbean Island Biogeography meets the Anthropocene project, researchers initiated their surveys for exotic reptile and amphibian...
Other resources Evolutionary ecology of sea turtles

Summary PHD Thesis The genetic diversity and structure of natural populations is the product of past and present ecological and evolutionary ...
Research report Cruise report RV Pelagia 64PE430 : Bottom topography, groundwater discharge and cyanobacterial mats of mesophotic reefs, 25 January - 2 February 2018Curaçao-Bonaire-Aruba (NICO expedition leg 3)

The Caribbean is well known for its tropical islands fringed by beautiful coral reefs. However, reefs nowadays shift from coral dominance to...
Research report 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...
Other resources Goat keeping, useful management practices for smallholders

Goats are important in many regions because they provide people with valuable food and or income. They supply animal protein in the form of milk and...
Scientific article The Lesser Antillean Iguana on St. Eustatius: A 2012 population status update and cause for concern

To assess the status and current population densities of the endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) on the island of St. Eustatius...
Scientific article Sound production by red hind Epinephelus guttatus in spatially segregated spawning aggregations

Abstract: Many fishes, including groupers, produce sounds associated with mating behavior; recording and analyzing the occurrence of these sounds can...
Research report The infauna habitat of invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea on the Dutch Caribbean island of St Eustatius.

Student Report Since the opening of the 160km long Suez canal on November 17, 1869, it was possible for large ships to navigate between the...
Scientific article Assessment of an unprotected red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) spawning aggregation on Saba Bank in the Netherlands Antilles

Although little fisheries data exist for red hind, Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus, 1758) on the Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, spawning aggregation...
Other resources Antibacterial effects of three Caribbean sponges from areas of varying pollution

Sponges are sessile marine organisms that have developed efficient defense mechanisms against microbial pathogens. These organisms are one of the...
Other resources Physis XII - 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...
Scientific article Important foraging areas of seabirds from Anguilla,Caribbean: Implications for marine spatial planning

Marine spatial planning(MSP) has become an important tool to balance the needs of commercial,economical and recreational users of the marine...
Scientific article Effects of "swim with the turtles" tourist attractions on green sea turtle (chelonia mydas) health in Barbados, West Indies

Along the West Coast of Barbados a unique relationship has developed between endangered green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and humans. Fishermen...
Other resources Does an increasing gradient in population create a bottom-up effect on the intertidal community in Kralendijk, Bonaire?

In the microbial loop, heterotrophic bacteria utilize dissolved organic matter (DOM) as an energy source. DOM becomes remineralized into inorganic...
Research report Lac Bonaire - Restoration Action Spear Points, September 2010

Lac Bay, Bonaire is the most important mangrove and seagrass area of Bonaire and has been undergoing steady ecological decline in the last decades....
Research report 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...
Scientific article Reproductive Success of Red-Billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) on St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

Abstract The daily nest-survival rates of Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) were estimated over six breeding seasons on St. Eustatius in...
Other resources RAMSAR soft law is not soft at all

Netherlands Crown Decision of 11 September 2007 in the case lodged by Competent Authority for the Island of Bonaire on the annulment of two of its...
Scientific article The Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) on St. Eustatius: genetically depauperate and threatened by ongoing hybridization.

The Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) is an endangered species threatened by habitat loss and hybridization with non-native Green...
Scientific article Field Evaluation of DNA Based Biodiversity Monitoring of Caribbean Mosquitoes

Mosquito borne diseases pose a threat to human health worldwide. Disease risk is primarily determined by presence and abundance of vector species. A...
Media Innovative Techniques could be key for Sea Urchin Recovery

Nederlands below. Researchers from Van Hall Larenstein, Wageningen University and Wageningen Marine Research have developed a new approach to assist...
Research report The impacts of climate change on Bonaire (2022-present)

Small islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their fragile ecosystems, small economies, and often extensive, low-lying...
Other resources Spawning behaviour of the stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma Viride Bonnaterre, on Bonaire and Saba (Netherlands Antilles)

Student Report- University of Groningen The reproductive behaviour of the stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride Bonnaterre, was studied on two...
Research report St. Eustatius GCRMN Caribbean Final report 2017

Twenty sites across four monitoring zones of St. Eustatius’s marine ecosystem were assessed using the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network Caribbean...
Research report 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...
Research report Pilot study on behaviour of sharks around Saba using acoustic telemetry

Worldwide many shark populations are in strong decline mainly due to fisheries. Population status of sharks in the Caribbean is still poorly known....
Scientific article Migratory destinations and timing of humpback whales in the southeastern Caribbean differ from those off the Dominican Republic

Humpback whales wintering in the entire West Indies chain are widely treated as comprising a single breeding population. However, most areas outside...
Research report Local scale hydrodynamics and oxygen fluctuations near coral reefs

Summary Coral reefs are a vital part of Curaçao’s economy, providing revenue from ecotourism and fisheries, as well as providing shoreline protection...
Media Blue Marine Foundation launches new partnership with Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Nederlands, Papiamentu and Papiamento below Ocean charity makes initial grant of $90,000 to marine parks on six Dutch Caribbean islands. Award will...
Research report 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...
Other resources Bonaire National Marine Park Management Plan 2022-2028

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Bonaire National Marine Park was established in 1979. The marine park protects 2,700 hectares of coral reefs, seagrass beds and...
Other resources Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Curaçao

Curaçao’s five IBAs—the island’s international priority sites for bird conservation—cover 16,280 ha (including marine areas) and c.24% of the land...
Research report Research and Monitoring Report 2012 - Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire proudly presents its 2012 Bonaire Sea Turtle Research and Monitoring Report. In this report you will read about...
Media Crowned Slaty Flycatcher: another new bird for Bonaire and for the Kingdom of the Netherlands

In BioNews 11 (2017) an article was dedicated to the eight bird species that in 2016 and 2017 were added to the Bonaire-bird list. One of these, Pied...
Research report Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire - Progress Report 2005

2005 was a very successful year for Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire as we built upon the accomplishments of 2004. In all the program areas, staff and...
Research report 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...
Media Citizen Scientists Needed to Identify Local Manta and Devil Rays

DCNA is partnering with the Caribbean Islands Manta Conservation Program, an affiliate project of the Manta Trust, and Observation.org to track local...
Scientific article 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...
Other resources Natuurbeleidsplan Bonaire 1999 -2004

Bonaire staat internationaal bekend om de schitterende natuur. Het Bonaire Marine Park en het Washington-Slagbaai Park worden hoog gewaardeerd door...
Media St. Maarten: Post Hurricane Coral Assessment

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation scientifically researched the impacts of Hurricane Irma on St. Maarten coral reefs using Global Coral Reef...
Other resources First indication of the abundance and distribution of protected seagrass associated species in the introduced Halophila stipulacea meadows on Sint Eustatius

Student Report The present study investigated the abundance and distribution of protected seagrass associated species within the introduced Halophila...
Research report Biological Inventory of St. Maarten

St. Maarten is one of the islands forming the inner arc of the Lesser Antilles. It is older than Saba and St. Eustatius. The oldest rock strata date...
Research report Draft Business Plan for U.S. Coral Reefs

The Coral Reef Ecosystem business plan describes a comprehensive 10 year strategy to guide NFWF’s conservation investments to achieve measurable...
Other resources 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...
Media State Secretary Her Excellency Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen receives an urgent message regarding nature protection in the Dutch Caribbean.

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below. On Saturday, June 18th 2022, State Secretary Her Excellency Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen visited the ...
Other resources 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...
Media Aruba Shoco Conservation Project

The Dutch Caribbean Islands are a treasure trove of rare and endemic (sub) species. Island endemic (sub) species, that is (sub) species restricted to...
Media Uncovering the mystery of tiger shark reproduction in the eastern Caribbean

Much of the lives of the most iconic shark species – including the tiger shark – remains a secret, even to shark researchers. This is because these...
Other resources A comparison between two methods for surveying reef fish in St. Eustatius

Student Thesis Coral reef ecosystems are considered the most productive and diverse of all marine systems. However, these are being dramatically...
Scientific article Shell Lip Thickness Is the Most Reliable Proxy to Sexual Maturity in Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas) of Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Belize

Queen conch (Lobatus gigas) is an important food source and export product for Belize, where extraction is regulated by shell length (SL) and market...
Media First official record of Least Gecko on Saba in 60 years

Dutch below The Least Gecko was just recorded on Saba for the first time in 60 years. Identified by researchers from the University of California...
Media 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...
Media Statian invasions

This news-item was published in the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute Annual Report 2017 Introduced predators such as cats, dogs, and rats are ...
Research report Flamingos on Bonaire and in Venezuela

Results of a three year study (1975-1978) of Flamingos on Bonaire and in Venezuela, including population size, food availability, migration and...
Research report Biodiversity in a globalized world: The journey of exotic species from origin to impact

Abstract Invasive alien species (IAS) are species that have been introduced to locations outside of their distributional range via human transport....
Media Expedition on the Saba Bank to Enhance Tiger Shark Protection

Starting August 1, 2021 a team of researchers will spend a week on the Saba Bank investigating the life-cycle of tiger sharks. Researchers will...
Research report Funding Protected Areas in the Wider Caribbean. A Guide for Managers and Conservation Organizations

Abstract: This document is an orientation to sources of funding for protected areas and biodiversity conservation. It is designed to serve as a...
Media The struggle is real for the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius

Two years ago we shared the worrying news that the Bridled Quail-dove population had suffered a significant decline on St. Eustatius (Statia)...
Research report Monitoring Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas. A practical guide on how monitoring can support effective management of MPAs

Abstract: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an important tool for marine conservation and management; monitoring plays a critical role in managing...
Other resources 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...
Media 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...
Other resources Caribbean coastal marine productivity program: 1993-2003.

The Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity (CARICOMP) Program is a regional scientific effort to study land-sea interaction processes, to monitor for...
Media The role of creeks for tidal exchange in the mangrove forest of Lac Bay, Bonaire

Nederlands below. The mangrove forest of Lac Bay, Bonaire, is experiencing a die-off of trees in its northern area. Increasing the tidal exchange by...
Media 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...
Research report Naturalised and invasive alien plant species in the Caribbean Netherlands: status, distribution, threats, priorities and recommendations

Abstract: The Netherlands are signatories of the international Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This implies that the nation will protect...
Research report A Case Study in the Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): the Islands of Bonaire and Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean

The islands of Bonaire and Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean, were both mapped along their leeward coasts for dominant coral community and other benthic cover...
Research report 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...
Media Invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea discovered on Saba

Park ranger Jelle van der Velde has identified the presence of Halophila stipulaceaat the Queen B. II mooring east of Fort Bay. The discovery, made...
Media Two new birds recorded on Bonaire in 2020

In 1983, when the second edition of ‘Birds of The Netherlands Antilles’ by Dr. K.H. Voous was published, the number of birds recorded on Bonaire...
Media Sea Turtle Conservation on Bonaire in 2020

Bonaire might have been on lockdown in 2020, but that didn’t keep Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire from working hard. Their recently published annual...
Media The beetles of the Dutch Caribbean

Last December, a beetle catalogue for the Dutch Caribbean was published. This voluminous paper provides the first critical review of the beetle...
Media Shark Handling Techniques

Hi everyone, my name is Giancarlo Nunes and I’m the Research and Conservation manager for Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba. I can be considered a jack...
Media Obituary – Dr. Walter (Wòti) Bakhuis, Carmabi/Stinapa director 1981-2006

On the 25th of March this year, Dr. Walter L. (Wòti) Bakhuis passed away at the ripe old age of 80 in Maarssen, The Netherlands. With his passing,...
Media Keys to Building Resilience in the Dutch Caribbean

Dutch below Two new position papers presented to the Dutch Parliament, by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and Wageningen University and Research...
Other resources The Mystery of the Mass Sea Urchin Die off Unraveled

Dutch below Long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) help maintain healthy coral reefs by grazing on algae. In 2022, there was a die-off of long-...
Media 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....
Media DCNA Junior Ranger Exchange Event 2022

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) is excited to announce the 2022 Junior Ranger Exchange...
Other resources 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....
Media 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...
Media Invasive Alien Species in the Dutch Caribbean

Dutch below More than 210 invasive alien species have been documented in the wild within the Dutch Caribbean. These species can have major...
Other resources The Impacts of Climate Change on Bonaire - Synthesis Report

Part of the larger report available here. Executive summary Small islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their fragile...
Media 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...
Media 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...
Other resources Mogelijke beheersvormen voor particuliere natuurgebieden en conserveringsgebieden op de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba

Deze studie werd gedaan in opdracht van Wereld Natuur Fonds Nederland door EcoVision N.V. Curaçao. Juni 1999. Het doel van de studie is in de eerste...
Media How does ecosystem functioning change now sea turtles are returning?

Dutch below Sea turtles have been overharvested in the past, resulting in their endangered population status. But since two decades, their...
Other resources 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,...
Other resources Werkbezoek Caribisch Nederland

Doel en achtergrond werkbezoek Sinds 10 oktober 2010 maken Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba deel uit van Nederland. Rijkswaterstaat heeft wettelijke...
Research report The Saba Bank- A large atoll in the northeastern Caribbean

Findings Abundant coral growth within the Saba Bank is restricted mainly to the two large windward reefs. These two reefs carry a very rich reef...
Scientific article Indo-Pacific lionfish are larger and more abundant on invaded reefs: a comparison of Kenyan and Bahamian lionfish populations

The invasion by Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) of the western Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico is emerging as a major...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article Rapid Assessment of Octocoral Diversity and Habitat on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles

Saba Bank is a large submerged platform (~2200 km2), average depth 30 m, located 4 km southwest of Saba Island in Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean Sea...
Scientific article Diversity and spatial heterogeneity of mangrove associated sponges of Curaçao and Aruba

Abstract: Sponges are major epibionts of mangrove roots in the Caribbean. Mangrove sponge communities in the Caribbean mainly consist of species that...
Maps and Charts Important Bird Areas map of St. Eustatius (GIS)

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas of St. Eustatius See Bird life international website for program description
Scientific article The Superior Colonizing Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia on Curaçao: Conservation Implications for the Native Gecko Phyllodactylus martini

ABSTRACT We used nightly surveys to monitor the status of building-dwelling gecko species on the southern Caribbean island, Curac ̧ ao. Two gecko...
Scientific article The genus Paragiopagurus Lemaitre, 1996 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Paguroidea, Parapaguridae): A worldwide review and summary, with descriptions of five new species

A review of the deep-water hermit crab species of the genus Paragiopagurus Lemaitre, 1996 from the world oceans is presented. The core specimen base...
Other resources Cruise report RV Pelagia 64PE414 Saba Bank

This research expedition is part of the project “Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems”, funded within NWO’s Caribbean Research Program. This project...
Other resources 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...
Other resources Sponge abundance and the prevalence of disease on scleractinian coral in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Sponges are important to reef health, fulfilling a number of structural and functional roles. Despite the wide range of functions they provide,...
Other resources Is larval fish diversity connected to ecosystem level diversity? A case study in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Greater ecosystem diversity generally results in greater fish diversity. It follows that areas of greater ecosystem diversity would also exhibit...
Other resources Color matching during shadow stalking by the West Atlantic Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus

This study examines the importance of color in camouflage of the West Atlantic Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus during shadow stalking behavior....
Media Coral Reef Rehabilitation in the Dutch Caribbean

The Dutch Caribbean islands are recognized worldwide for their healthy reefs and outstanding dive sites. Nevertheless, while these reefs are showing...
Other resources The lionfish culling program in Sint Eustatius island, dutch caribbean

Msc. thesis Research questions: → Does the culling program significantly reduce the lionfish population in St Eustatius? The aims of this question...
Research report An insight into Saba's heritage properties for the purpose of World Heritage nomination

In 2011, the Saban government submitted the tentative list for nomination of the UNESCO World Heritage list. On this tentative list, the whole island...
Research report Investigating Variation in Coral Reef Morphology with Photomosaics and Analysis of Percent Cover

Coral reefs serve as an important component of tropical marine ecosystems’ functionality and composition. However, coral cover in the Caribbean reefs...
Scientific article Terrestrial degradation impacts on coral reef health: Evidence from the Caribbean

Coral reefs are in decline worldwide. While coral reef managers are limited in their ability to tackle global challenges, such as ocean warming,...
Media BioNews 8-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 8-2017 includes the following news-items: Status of Saba Bank’s reefs Economic value of Sharks Annual Shark Conference of the European...
Media News item: Hyperspectral Coral Reef Classification (HCRC)

The Dutch Caribbean island Bonaire has protected its marine resources for more than 35 years and has been ranked as one of the Caribbean’s top dive...
Research report Description of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Proposed Marine Nomination Properties of the Bonaire and Curaçao Marine Parks (BCMP

This report describes the possible Outstanding Universal Value of the potential World Heritage nomination that combines the Bonaire National Marine...
Scientific article Preliminary Study to identify Filamentous Fungi in Sands of Three Beaches of the Caribbean

The Caribbean has several white sand beaches visited by many tourists, especially during the summer. The beaches of Copacabana in Barbados Bridgetown...
Other resources Fokprogramma’s voor geiten op Bonaire

Power Point Breeding programmes for goats on Bonaire
Research report Sinkhole expedition Luymes bank, Saba bank

The Saba Bank is a large (ca 2400 km2 ) submerged carbonate platform of 15-40m depth rising up from 800-1000m depth and fringed with coral reefs. It...
Scientific article User fees as sustainable financing mechanisms for marine protected areas: An application to the Bonaire National Marine Park

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have proliferated globally in the past three decades. However, inadequate funding often prevents these management...
Scientific article Widespread Occurrence of a Rarely Known Association between the Hydrocorals Stylaster roseus and Millepora alcicornis at Bonaire, Southern Caribbean

Among symbiotic associations, cases of pseudo-auto-epizoism, in which a species uses a resembling but not directly related species as substrate, are...
Scientific article Disentangling the effects of plant species invasion and urban development on arthropod community composition

Abstract Urban development and species invasion are two major global threats to biodiversity. These threats often co-occur, as developed areas are...
Media Assisted natural recovery of sea urchin populations around Saba and St. Eustatius

Diadema sea-urchins play a vital role in maintaining a balanced coral reef ecosystem by grazing away algae and creating bare substrate for coral...
Monitoring protocol Monitoring protocol Field Guide

This document can act as a guideline in the field. It can be used to check back on the exact methodology for each of the measurements. It is a part...
Scientific article A new species of Chromis damselfish from the tropical western Atlantic (Teleostei, Pomacentridae)

Initially described in 1882, Chromis enchrysurus, the Yellowtail Reeffish, was redescribed in 1982 to account for an observed color morph that...
Research report Quantifying the state of the coral reef ecosystem in relation to biophysical benthic and pelagic indicators and biological drivers of change in the Saba National Marine Park, Dutch Caribbean

Student Report Coral reefs are experiencing large scale degradation. Motivated by the need for regular data monitoring and for quantification of the...
Scientific article Distribution and ontogenetic habitat shifts of reef associated shark species in the northeastern Caribbean

Understanding how reef-associated sharks utilise coastal reef habitats throughout their ontogeny is essential for their effective management. In this...
Scientific article Animal-borne video reveals atypical behaviour in provisioned green turtles: A global perspective of a widespread tourist activity

Abstract Feeding wildlife as a tourist activity is a growing industry around the world. However,providing alternative food sources can affect...
Media State of the World’s Mangroves 2021

The Global Mangrove Alliance’s recent report on the State of the World’s mangroves served as a call to action for mangrove conservation and...
Scientific article The influence of sponge-dwelling gobies (Elacatinus horsti) on pumping rates of Caribbean sponge hosts, Aplysina lacunosa and Aplysina archeri

Mutualistic associations between benthic marine invertebrates and reef taxa are common. Sponge-dwelling gobies benefit from protection within sponge...
Scientific article Geological reconnaissance survey of Saba Bank, Caribbean Sea

Findings The main conclusion from this study is that the Saba Bank has little modern material/ sediment deposited in relation to present sea level....
Research report 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,...
Scientific article Caribbean-wide decline in carbonate production threatens coral reef growth

Global-scale deteriorations in coral reef health have caused major shifts in species composition. One projected consequence is a lowering of reef...
Scientific article Mapping ecosystem functions to the valuation of ecosystem services: implications of species–habitat associations for coastal land-use decisions

Abstract: The reefs surrounding Bonaire have long been renowned for their high abundance and diversity of scleractinian corals and for their long-...
Research report Activity budget of the princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus): a comparison between daylight and sunset periods

Abstract: Most animals are active either during the day, night, or twilight, and transition periods between these times exhibit interesting behavior...
Media BioNews 9 - October 2013

This month’s issue focuses attention on a very important species group – butterflies. Due to their sensitivity to environmental conditions,...
Maps and Charts Vulnerable marine areas of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba

Vulnerable marine areas of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (GIS). Based on RAMSAR sites, important Bird Areas and Marine Park boundaries. See this...
Other resources 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...
Research report Multivariate Analysis of Gorgonian Habitats on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles

The second Saba Bank Expedition in October 2008 aimed at improving the knowledge of the gorgonacea by generating a comprehensive species list for...
Scientific article Multiple purple spots in the Caribbean sea fan Gorgonia ventalina caused by parasitic copepods at St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean

Symbiotic Copepoda comprise a widespread, diverse, and abundant ecological group of small crustaceans associat- ed with various invertebrates,...
Other resources An analysis of abundance, ecology and life history of the lettuce sea slug Elysia crispata on the island of Bonaire

With the exception of Elysia crispata, shell-less Sacoglossa species (Order: Mollusca), have been widely studied. Within the Caribbean, these small...
Other resources Examining the effect of different grazers on algal biomass

Herbivory drives ecosystem dynamics in both terrestrial and marine habitats, controlling type and biomass of vegetation. In tropical coral reefs,...
Other resources Are damselfish detrimental to Bonaire’s coral reefs?

Damselfish are small herbivores that cultivate algal gardens on coral heads throughout Caribbean reefs. These gardens are used to grow specific types...
Scientific article 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...
Media BioNews 6-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 6-2017 includes the following news-items: Saba: hurricane impacts St. Eustatius: rat control program Fieldwork on seagrass ecosystem services...
Media Hurricane Impacts on Bridled Quail-doves in St. Eustatius

An immediate concern after hurricanes Irma and Maria fell to the Bridled Quail-dove, a species that forages for fruits and seeds on the forest floor...
Media BioNews 10-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 10-2017 includes the following news-items: Ecological Restoration Lac Bay and South Coast, Bonaire Bonaire: Roi Sango (EU BEST 2.0) Status of...
Other resources Summary of Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas) research undertaken in Anguilla and the implications for current management practices

Prior to 2014 little research had been conducted on the Anguilla conch fishery aside from indirect data collected by the Department of Fisheries and...
Scientific article Somatic growth dynamics of West Atlantic hawksbill sea turtles: a spatio-temporal perspective.

Somatic growth dynamics are an integrated response to environmental conditions. Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are long-lived, major...
Raw data Bats Bonaire

As pollinators of the typical dry forest cacti, bats are a keystone species. Dry tropical forests are the most threatened type of forest in the Dutch...
Scientific article LONG-TERM DECLINES IN CORAL COVER AT BONAIRE, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

The reefs surrounding Bonaire have long been renowned for their high abundance and diversity of scleractinian corals and for their long-time status...
Scientific article Managing Recovery Resilience in Coral Reefs Against Climate-Induced Bleaching and Hurricanes: A 15 Year Case Study From Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Coral reefs are among the world’s most endangered ecosystems. Coral mortality can result from ocean warming or other climate-related events such as...
Research report Brief biological inventory of Bolivia, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

The lands of the former Bolivia Plantation amount to about three-thousand three-hundred (3,300) hectares of wildlands and basically constitute the...
Research report 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...
Media Drastic effects of coralita on the biodiversity of insects and spiders

A study by researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam shows that the invasive plant coralita and urban development have led to large, distinct...
Media 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...
Scientific article An integrated assessment of environmental, economic, social and technological parameters of source separated and conventional sanitation concepts: A contribution to sustainability analysis

Resource recovery and reuse from domestic wastewater has become an important subject for the current development of sanitation technologies and...
Scientific article Results of an entomological collecting trip to St. Eustatius (Coleoptera)

In February and March 2020 the second author visited St. Eustatius to collect various insect groups. The beetles collected during this trip were...
Research report 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...
Research report Household resilience to climate change vulnerabilities -a case study of Bonaire

Abstract Small Islands (SIs) often have a small capacity to resist or recover from the increasing impacts of climate change and, therefore,...
Scientific article Status of the Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) on and around the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire

Abstract Red-billed Tropicbirds have historically been considered rare visitors to the waters around the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire in...
Research report AN ANALYSIS ON CHLOROPHYLL A AND TURBIDITY IN SABA

MSc internship report The project Restoration of resilience of nature and society in the Caribbean Netherlands aims to improve the resilience of the...
Research report In-No-Plastic End of year report 2022

In-No-Plastic (Innovative approaches towards prevention, removal and reuse of marine plastic litter) is a project with the goal to develop and...
Scientific article Marine Macroalgal Diversity Assessment of Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles

Background: Located in the Dutch Windward Islands, Saba Bank is a flat-topped seamount (20–45 m deep in the shallower regions). The primary goals of...
Scientific article First record of Fraser’s dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei for the Dutch Caribbean

A dead dolphin found on Bonaire in August 2011 is identified as adult Fraser’s dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei, a new species for the Dutch Caribbean. A...
Scientific article Controls of Caribbean surface hydrology during the mid- to late Holocene: insights from monthly resolved coral records

Several proxy-based and modeling studies have investigated long-term changes in Caribbean climate during the Holocene, however, very little is known...
Other resources Striated or Green Herons in the South Caribbean Islands?

Abstract: Of 123 adult and semi-adult Little Herons Butorides striatus examined from the South Caribbean Islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire,...
Scientific article Nederlandse vlinders op tropisch eiland

Sinds 10 oktober 2010 maken de eilanden Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba onderdeel uit van het Nederlandse staatsbestel. Met deze tropische eilanden...
Research report Activity budget of the princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus): a comparison between daylight and sunset periods

Abstract: Most animals are active either during the day, night, or twilight, and transition periods between these times exhibit interesting behavior...
Media BioNews 10 - November 2013

This month’s issue highlights the Saba Bank Expedition that took place from 19 to 27 October. As a follow up to the Saba Bank survey in 2011, an...
Research report Combatting oil pollution in vulnerable areas

This report contains an explanation of the vulnerability charts that were drawn up for the Caribbean Netherlands (the islands of Bonaire, Sint...
Other resources Goat Excluder Project in the Quill National Park Year 2

The presence of feral goats (Capra hircus) can have detrimental effects to island ecosystems where native plants have evolved in the absence of these...
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article High dissolved organic carbon release by benthic cyanobacterial mats in a Caribbean reef ecosystem.

Abstract Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) are increasing in abundance on coral reefs worldwide. However, their impacts on biogeochemical cycling in...
Scientific article The effect of recreational SCUBA divers on the structural complexity and benthic assemblage of a Caribbean coral reef, Biodiversity and Conservation

Abstract The effect of recreational SCUBA diving on coral reefs is likely secondary to many of the commonly cited stressors that threaten the long-...
Other resources Effects of structural complexity on Sharpnose Pufferfish, Canthigaster rostrata (Tetraodontidae), abundance and size in the shallows of Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

The Sharpnose Pufferfish, Canthigaster rostrata, as well as other species within the Tetraodontidae family are common reef fish found in tropical and...
Other resources The effect of predation and competition on the slow population return of Diadema antillarum

Populations of Diadema antillarum have had low densities ever since its mass mortality event in 1983. A slow population density increase has resulted...
Other resources Physical and behavioral differences between the three color morphologies of Aulostomus maculatus

Behavioral and physical differences are sometimes the result of a particular color morphology of a species. Aulostomus maculatus, the west Atlantic...
Other resources Use of trophic structure as an indicator of reef fish assemblages in areas open and closed to fishing

The change in the mean trophic level of fish assemblages can be used as an indicator of fishing pressure. To gain a more detailed understanding of...
Research report 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...
Scientific article Trends in element incorporation in hyaline and porcelaneous foraminifera as a function of pCO2

Abstract In this study we analyzed the impact of seawater carbonate chemistry on the incorporation of elements in both hyaline and porcelaneous...
Scientific article Ecological regime shift drives declining growth rates of sea turtles throughout the West Atlantic

Somatic growth is an integrated, individual-based response to environmental conditions, especially in ectotherms. Growth dynamics of large, mobile...
Media BioNews 4-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 4-2017 includes the following news-items: Status of Curaçao’s Reefs Researchers discover that the three known flamingo tongue snail species...
Media Saba: Hurricane Impacts

Since the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria through the windward islands, the staff of the dive operators on Saba, comprising Saba Divers, Sea...
Media BioNews 7-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 7-2017 includes the following news-items: Status of St. Maarten’s Reef St. Maarten: Impact Hurricane Irma on Nature EPIC...
Scientific article The Curious Case of the Left-Sided Dewlap: Directional Asymmetry In the Curaçao Anole, Anolis lineatus.

We examined asymmetry in the color of the dewlap of Anolis lineatus from Curaçao. We confirmed previous reports that one side of the dewlap appears...
Scientific article Bird Communities of Contrasting Secondary Habitats of Bonaire, in the Arid South-Eastern Caribbean

We studied the bird communities of five contrasting semi-natural habitats of Lac Bay, Bonaire, South- eastern Caribbean, during the fall of 2011. A...
Scientific article Invasive house (Rattus rattus) and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) threaten the viability of red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) in Abrolhos National Park, Brazil.

Destruction of nests and predation by introduced species are among the main factors responsible for seabird declines.The red-billed tropicbird (...
Media NICO Expedition: Mapping the Sea Bottom

Researchers aboard the Pelagia research vessel have been collecting invaluable data on marine biomes in the Caribbean since January as part of the “...
Scientific article Preservation of in situ reef framework in regions of low hurricane frequency: Pleistocene of Curaçao and Bonaire, southern Caribbean

Luxuriant fringing reefs along the southwestern shores of the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire (12°N), located outside the most frequent...
Scientific article Sabalpalm (Sabal antillensis) Recovery Over 40 Years: Lessons for Successful Palm Conservation.

Sabal antillensis is endemic to the Dutch Caribbean islands of Curagao and Bonaire. Both island populations were thoroughly assessed in 1979, and...
Research report Een natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek gericht op het behoud van het Lac op Bonaire

After news was received that the Netherlands Antilles' largest and as yet almost unspoiled lagoon would be involved in development plans, a...
Research report Impact of terrestrial erosion on coral reef health at Bonaire: a plea for nature-inclusive “watershed-to-reef” based coastal management

Coral reefs are rapidly degrading worldwide, due to a combination of global and local stressors. While gloal stressors, such as ocean warming,...
Scientific article A comparison of fish communities of subtidal seagrass beds and sandy seabeds in 13 marine embayments of a Caribbean island, based on species, families, size distribution and functional groups

Differences in fish community structure between different estuaries, lagoons and bays can be very large, and generalisations are complicated by the...
Scientific article A centuries-old manmade reef in the Caribbean does not substitute natural reefs in terms of species assemblages and interspecific competition

ABSTRACT With increasing maritime activities in the proximity of coral reefs, a growing number of manmade structures are becoming available for...
Scientific article Two small beetle collections from Saba (Coleoptera)

In January and February 2009 the third and fourth authors visited Saba to sample the invertebrate fauna of tank bromeliads. They also collected a...
Scientific article A deep transfer learning-based damage assessment on post-event very high-resolution orthophotos

Abstract Post-disaster building damage assessment is an important application of remote sensing. The increasing resolution of remote sensing imaging...
Raw data Household resilience to climate change vulnerabilities -a case study of Bonaire - RAW DATA SET

Abstract Small Islands (SIs) often have a small capacity to resist or recover from the increasing impacts of climate change and, therefore,...
Media Bionews Diadema Special Edition - Background and Current State

As previously mentioned, a new wave of long-spiced sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) die-offs are happening throughout the Caribbean, including...
Scientific article FORAGING ECOLOGY OF RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD PHAETHON AETHEREUS IN THE CARIBBEAN DURING EARLY CHICK REARING REVEALED BY GPS TRACKING

Investigating the foraging patterns of tropical seabirds can provide important information about their ocean habitat affinities as well as prey...
Scientific article Evidence for microbially-mediated tradeoffs between growth and defense throughout coral evolution

Abstract Evolutionary tradeoffs between life-history strategies are central to animal evolution. However, because microbes can influence...
Scientific article A baseline assessment of beach debris and tar contamination in Bonaire, Southeastern Caribbean

Data on beach debris and tar contamination is provided for 21 natural beach sites in Bonaire, Southeastern Caribbean. Transects amounting to a...
Research report Monitoring program for waterbirds inhabiting the saliñas located on the northwest of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Year report 2008

Management Recommendations: The boundaries of the WSNP should be expended to include all the salinas included in this survey. This expansion will not...
Research report Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire - Progress Report 2008

Our 2008 work plan focused on the following objectives to help us achieve our mission: Science - Improved understanding of sea turtle biology through...
Media BioNews 11 - December 2013

This month’s issue focuses on the Audubon’s Shearwater. Despite its resounding and unique call, this threatened bird often goes unnoticed on our...
Scientific article Negative effects of gardening damselfish Stegastes planifrons on coral health depend on predator abundance

On Bonaire, we studied the effects of predator abundance and habitat availability on the abundance of the threespot damselfish Stegastes planifrons,...
Research report Status and Trends of Bonaire's Coral Reefs in 2015: Slow but steady signs of resilience

Bonaire’s coral reefs remain among the healthiest in the Caribbean. Although the island’s reefs have suffered bleaching disturbances similar to those...
Scientific article Coral reef fish and benthic community structure of Bonaire and Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

Coral reefs throughout the Caribbean have suffered the effects of human activities, including overfishing, nutrient pollution, and global climate...
Scientific article Somatic growth dynamics of West Atlantic hawksbill sea turtles: a spatio-temporal perspective

Somatic growth dynamics are an integrated response to environmental conditions. Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are long-lived, major...
Research report 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...
Other resources 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...
Other resources Hydrocarbons on coral reefs: An analysis of the presence of anthropogenic PAHs in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

Phototoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been welldocumented as major marine pollutants. While PAHs are known to have negative...
Other resources Client choice, competition, and cleaner dependence pressure cleaner fish to cooperate in mutualistic symbiosis

Mutualistic symbiosis is a finely tuned relationship between two species in which each receives a service that increases its own fitness in exchange...
Other resources The relationship between algae, depth, and abundance of terminal and initial phase parrotfish (Sparisoma viride and Scarus taeniopterus)

Coral reefs are undergoing phase shifts becoming dominated by algae rather than live coral. Algae on reefs is greatly impacted by herbivores such as...
Other resources Sponges (Porifera) of St. Eustatius

This article was published in the following report: MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF ST. EUSTATIUS, DUTCH CARIBBEAN 2015 by Naturalis Biodiversity...
Scientific article Caribbean Audubon's shearwaters puffinus Lherminieri choose nesting locations that improve male and female pre-laying exodus foraging strategies

This study aims to better understand how the nesting distribution of Audubon’s Shearwaters Puffinus lherminieri in the Caribbean is associated with...
Media Annual Shark Conference of the European Elasmobranch Association

For three days in October 2017, Amsterdam became the shark capitol of Europe, as 150 scientists, policymakers and nature conservationists from all...
Book What works in conservation (2015)

This book has been created to help you make decisions about practical conservation management by providing an assessment, from the available...
Scientific article Outcompeted by an invader? Interference and exploitative competition between tropical house gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) and Barbados leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus pulcher) for diurnal refuges in anthropogenic coastal habitats.

House geckos in the genus Hemidactylus are highly successful colonizers of regions beyond their native range, with colonization often resulting in...
Scientific article Assessment of the Distribution of Seed Plants Endemic to the Lesser Antilles in Terms of Habitat, Elevation, and Conservation Status

Abstract - The Lesser Antilles is part of the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot and a priorityfor conservation of its flora is its endemic taxa. Using...
Media BioNews special: Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary

The Dutch Caribbean is an important area for marine mammals, sharks and rays. More than twenty marine mammal and thirty shark and ray species are...
Maps and Charts Bathymetry survey Bonaire

Hydrographical survey of Bonaire in x,y,z points: latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], depth [meters]. The survey was done...
Media 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...
Research report Restoration of Resilience of Nature and Society in the Caribbean Netherlands

The project "Resilience Restoration of Nature and Society in the Caribbean Netherlands" contributes to halting the decline of the coral reefs in the...
Scientific article Fish grazing enhanced by nutrient enrichment may limit invasive seagrass expansion

The success of invasive macrophytes can depend on local nutrient availability and consumer pressure, which may interact. We therefore experimentally...
Research report Quantifying the state of the coral reef ecosystem in relation to biophysical benthic and pelagic indicators and biological drivers of change in the Saba National Marine Park, Dutch Caribbean

Abstract Coral reefsare experiencing large scale degradation. Motivated by the need for regular data monitoring and forquantification of the state...
Research report Coastal water quality of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba during a period of restricted tourism

The traveling restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 created a unique possibility to measure water quality parameters along the...
Scientific article Community extinction: the groundwater (stygo‑)fauna of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

Abstract The research aimed to recollect specimens from Curaçao of the genus Halosbaena belonging to the rare crustacean order Thermosbaenacea, a...
Media BioNews 59

BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
Scientific article Resource Partitioning by Corallivorous Snails on Bonaire (Southern Caribbean)

Abstract: A biodiversity survey on three corallivorous snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) was performed at 28 sites around the island of Bonaire to assess...
Research report Exploring Coral Reefs with Interactive Geospatial Visualizations

Abstract This project uses geospatial data to generate custom polygons in an interactive setting to represent the size and location of coral reefs to...
Research report Monitoring program for waterbirds inhabiting the saliñas located on the northwest of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Year report 2009

Management Recommendations: Include all the area of Salina Goto and salina Frans inside the borders of WSNP. This expansion will not only benefit the...
Portal Plants of the Eastern Caribbean - Online Database

The aim of this website is to serve as an accessible resource for identifying the plants of the archipelago and to provide a forum for sharing...
Scientific article Vectored dispersal of Symbiodinium by larvae of a Caribbean gorgonian octocoral

Abstract: The ability of coral reefs to recover from natural and anthropogenic disturbance is difficult to predict, in part due to uncertainty...
Research report Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire - Progress Report 2007

We focused our 2007 work on six objectives designed to help us achieve our mission: Science - Improved understanding of sea turtle biology through...
Media BioNews 12 - January 2014

Very exciting news this month from St. Eustatius where the ongoing study of the island’s flora led to the discovery of a plant species new to science...
Other resources A self-financing marine park: the Saba case

Short case study prepared for the CANARI Workshop on Revenue Generation for Protected Areas, Saba, Netherlands Antilles, June 5-9, 1995. The Saba...
Other resources The Biology and Distribution of Iguana delicatissima on St. Eustatius

The Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) is native to the Lesser Antilles, a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. The species is in...
Other resources 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...
Other resources Impacts of cleaner shrimp, Ancylomenes pedersoni, density at cleaning stations on cleaner and client behavior

Mutualisms and symbiotic relationships are common in the marine environment. Relationships between cleaner species, their hosts, and their client...
Other resources Physical and spatial differences between the three color morphologies of the Atlantic trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculates

Mimetism allows organisms to blend into the environment and avoid detection by both predators and prey. The Atlantic trumpetfish, Aulostomus...
Other resources Competition for space in benthic environments: the allelopathic and overgrowth responses of native sponges and a non-native ascidian on a coral reef in Bonaire, NA

This study explores the competitive and allelopathic interactions of native sponges and the non-native ascidian, Trididemnum solidum, in the space-...
Other resources Juvenile French Angelfish Exhibit Cleaning Activity in Bonaire

Juvenile french angelfish, Pomacanthus paru, are known to be cleaner fish. Cleaning is an interesting mutualistic behavior between 2 individuals...
Scientific article Extreme mitochondrial variation in the Atlantic gall crab Opecarcinus hypostegus (Decapoda: Cryptochiridae) reveals adaptive genetic divergence over Agaricia coral hosts

The effectiveness of migration in marine species exhibiting a pelagic larval stage is determined by various factors, such as ocean currents, pelagic...
Media Great news for shark and ray conservation in the Caribbean (SPAW-STAC)

The first cross-border protective management in a Wider Caribbean context for elasmobranch species. In March 2017 it was officially decided to...
Scientific article Predicting the impact of sea‐level rise on Caribbean Sea turtle nesting habitat

The projected rise in sea level is likely to increase the vulnerability of coastal zones in the Caribbean, which are already under pressure from a...
Media BioNews 5-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 5-2017 includes the following news-items: Status Of St. Eustatius’s Reef Nature on St. Eustatius Hit Hard by Hurricanes BRUV Work In The...
Other resources Physis VIII - Journal of marine research

As part of CIEE's Bonaire semester programs, each student conducts an independent research project on a topic of their choice. The projects...
Other resources Support to improve and harmonize the scientific approaches required to inform sustainable management of queen conch (Strombus gigas) by CARIFORUM States

This report describes the activities and outputs of the project to improve and harmonize scientific approaches required for the sustainable...
Scientific article Climate change impact on Balearic shearwater through a trophic cascade

A recent study showed that a critically endangered migratory predator species, the Balearic shear- water Puffinus mauretanicus, rapidly expanded...
Media BioNews 13-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter PRINT

BioNews* is a free digital newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) featuring recent nature related news-items about the...
Maps and Charts Bathymetry survey Curacao

Hydrographical survey of Curacao in x,y,z points: latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], depth [meters]. The survey was done...
Scientific article Damages caused by hurricane Irma in the human-degraded mangroves of Saint Martin (Caribbean)

In early September 2017, Irma was the most powerful hurricane that struck the northern Caribbean over the last 100 years. In the 21stcentury, the...
Research report SE FL ECA Reef-building-coral Disease Intervention and Preparation for Restoration: Progress Report

Stoney coral tissue loss disease Final summary report by Brian Walker on Southeast Florida’s reef-building coral response to amoxicillin...
Research report 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...
Media Evaluation of vegetation development on the Dutch Caribbean islands

In November 2019, vegetation scientists from Wageningen Environmental Research and Carmabi visited Bonaire, to study the succession of the vegetation...
Maps and Charts Land use map of Bonaire

Land use map Bonaire at 2x2 m2 resolution, based on a classified Pleiades composite orthophoto the Bonaire vegetation survey and field observations...
Research report 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...
Research report Modelling Mangrove growth and salinity: a semi-arid case study

of the mangrove forest in Lac Bay, Bonaire is an environmental issue. Mangrove forests surround Lac Bay. Lac Bay has a status as RAMSAR site (RAMSAR...
Research report On the spatial-temporal distribution of the minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata and B. bonaerensis) in the Wider Caribbean Region and adjacent western tropical North Atlantic

Abstract Until recently, minke whale sightings in the northern Atlantic Ocean (NA) were thought to belong exclusively to the common species...
Scientific article Assessing the preservation of biogenic strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) in the pars petrosa ossis temporalis of unburnt human skeletal remains: A case study from Saba

Rationale:Strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analysis of skeletal remains has become apowerful tool in archaeological studies of human migration and...
Scientific article Quantifying phenological landmarks of migration shows nonuniform use of the Caribbean by shorebirds

Abstract Of the boreal- and Arctic- breeding North American shorebirds that migrate...
Media BioNews 13 - February 2014

This month’s issue profiles several scientific discoveries with new implications for conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. On St. Eustatius, the first...
Research report Bonaire deep reef expedition I

The deep reef of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, was explored with the aid of the “Curasub” submarine of Substation Curaçao. The shallow reefs of the...
Other resources Bonaire National Marine Park—Algal Survey and Inventory

The Littler’s team [including Barrett Brooks, Don Hurlbert, Barbara Watanabe and Larry Gorenflo (Conservation International)] traveled to the island...
Scientific article Molecular and Morphological Species Boundaries in the Gorgonian Octocoral Genus Pterogorgia (Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae)

Abstract Most gorgonian octocoral species are described using diagnostic characteristics of their sclerites (microscopic skeletal components)....
Research report A Report on the Status of the Coral Reefs of Bonaire in 2007 with Results from Monitoring 2003 – 2007

Bonaire’s reefs remain among the best in the Caribbean. However, our monitoring has revealed some potentially troubling trends that may require...
Scientific article Does Slow and Variable Recovery of Diadema antillarum on Caribbean Fore-Reefs Reflect Density-Dependent Habitat Selection?

Recovery of the Caribbean long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum from the pathogen-induced mass mortality event of 1983 has been slow and variable...
Other resources Bonaire National Marine Park Hurricane Matthew – Reef Damage Assessment

On the evening of the 29th September 2016 Hurricane Matthew passed north of Bonaire by approximately 240km, with maximum sustained wind speeds over...
Other resources Reef fish assemblage and invertebrate cover in relationship to the degree of artificial reef isolation

Reef fishes and invertebrates are quickly losing their habitats due to widespread coral degradation. Artificial reefs are entering the spotlight as...
Other resources Are different feeding strategies utilized by the bar jack (Caranx ruber) related to foraging success in coral reef habitats?

Foraging success is affected by choice of feeding association, color phase, and habitat type. Bar jacks (Caranx ruber) exhibit a number of feeding...
Other resources Size Distribution of Spirobranchus gianteus in Bonaire: Is There a Benefit of Recruitment to Live Coral?

Spirobranchus giganteus is a tube-dwelling polychaete more commonly known as the Christmas tree worm. S. giganteus larvae are planktonic, which is...
Media Island biogeography meets the Anthropocene - The first expedition.

Many modern human activities result in environmental problems such as pollution, overfishing and deforestation, which have a considerable impact on...
Media Alarm bells ring as turtle growth rates decline

An unprecedented regional study of turtle growth rates by Bjorndal et al, compiled scientific data on hawksbill turtle growth rates collected over a...
Scientific article The foraminifera of the Saba Bank Expedition

Bottom samples obtained by means of a Van Veen grab during the 1972 Saba Bank Expedition ( CICAR cruises 34 and 35) appeared to comprise many samples...
Other resources 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...
Media Status of St. Eustatius’s Reef

Five major studies of St. Eustatius’ coral reefs have taken place over the past five years and have shed light on the rapid decline of the island’s...
Media BioNews 9-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 9-2017 includes the following news-items: Bad News For Green Sea Turtles In An Age Of Warming Seas: warmer oceans drive declining growth...
Other resources Physis IX - 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...
Media St. Eustatius: Nature Awareness Project

In October 2016, a two-year project to increase awareness and understanding of nature on St. Eustatius commenced, funded by the Ministry of Economic...
Raw data 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),...
Book Antillean Fish Guide

This booklet is meant as a guide to identify the fishes and turtles of the reefs of the Netherlands Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St....
Scientific article A review of the sponge increase hypothesis for Caribbean mesophotic reefs

Sponges are major components of benthic ecosystems, particularly on Caribbean reefs, where their importance in carbon cycling and ecosystem function...
Scientific article Assessment of the Distribution of Seed Plants Endemic to the Lesser Antilles in Terms of Habitat, Elevation, and Conservation Status

The Lesser Antilles is part of the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot and a priority for conservation of its flora is its endemic taxa. Using data from...
Scientific article Geographic distances and ocean currents influence Caribbean Acropora palmata population connectivity in the Lesser Antilles

The critically endangered coral species Acropora palmata used to dominate shallow Caribbean reefs but since the early 1980s, populations have...
Scientific article A widespread coral-infecting apicomplexan with chlorophyll biosynthesis genes

Apicomplexa is a group of obligate intracellular parasites that includes the causative agents of human diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis....
Maps and Charts Bathymetry survey Aruba

Hydrographical survey of Aruba in x,y,z points: latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], depth [meters]. The survey was done...
Scientific article A review of Caribbean Copepoda associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, echinoderms and sponges

This review of copepod crustaceans associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, sponges and echinoderms of the Greater Caribbean is based on published...
Scientific article Discovery of the Leeward Blindsnake, Antillotyphlops geotomus (Thomas, 1966), on St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

The Leeward Blindsnake (Antillotyphlops geotomus) is a near threatened species according to the IUCN Red list (Powell et al., 2016), and was known...
Other resources 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...
Media 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...
Research report The vegetation of the Netherlands Antilles

This vegetation survey is the outcome of an investigation of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles carried out under the auspices of the Foundation...
Research report Factors that Influence Red-billed Tropicbird Survival on Pilot Hill, Sint Eustatius

Red-billed Tropicbirds breeding on Pilot Hill on the island of Sint Eustatius have been exhibiting an average survival rate of between 30-40%. The...
Scientific article Community structure of coral microbiomes is dependent on host morphology

Abstract Background: The importance of symbiosis has long been recognized on coral reefs, where the photosynthetic dinof lagellates of corals (...
Scientific article Electronic Supplementary Material 1

This supplementary data belongs to the article: Hoeksema, B.W., van der Loos, L.M., van Moorsel, G.W.N.M., 2022. Coral diversity matches marine park...
Other resources The Quill/Boven National Park and Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden Management Plan 2009

This document will clearly define the V ision, Mission and Goals of The Quill/Boven National Park and Botanical Garden, and s tate the management s...
Research report 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...
Other resources Physis XI - 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...
Scientific article Coastal stratigraphies of eastern Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles): New insights into the palaeo-tsunami history of the southern Caribbean

Abstract: A sediment record of three alluvial sites along the east- and northeast-oriented shore of Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) provides evidence...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article First Specimen Record of the Barn Owl Tyto alba in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

The cosmopolitan Barn Owl Tyto alba (Scopoli) lives on many Caribbean islands, where a number of morphologically distinct forms have evolved. Some of...
Scientific article Extirpation of the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin, West Indies

Abstract: Recent surveys for the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin reveal that the species is no longer a resident on the island...
Maps and Charts Archaeological Predictive Map Sint Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

In 2013 ARGEOgraph created the Archaeological Predictive Map of Sint Eustatius for the Dutch ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This map has...
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article Effect of light availability on dissolved organic carbon release by Caribbean reef algae and corals

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release of three algal and two coral species was determined at three light intensities (0, 30–80, and 200–400 μmol...
Scientific article Fish species utilization of Contrasting sub-Habitats Distributed Along an Ocean-to-Land Environmental Gradient in a Tropical Mangrove and Seagrass Lagoon

Abstract The importance of mangrove and seagrass lagoonal habitats as nursery areas for many reef-associated fish species is well established in the...
Scientific article Wrangelia gordoniae, a new species of Rhodophyta (Ceramiales, Wrangeliaceae) from the tropical western Atlantic

Abstract On the basis of comparative morphological and molecular analyses, a new red algal species in the genus Wrangelia(Wrangeliaceae, Ceramiales...
Other resources Effects of differences in hole size of artificial reef units on coral reef fish abundance and species richness

The biodiversity of coral reefs will decline as the global degradation of reefs continues, pushing the science of restoration techniques such as the...
Other resources A comparison of cleaning stations operated by the cleaner shrimp Periclemenes pedersoni on host anemones Condylactis gigantea and Bartholomea annulata

Cleaner shrimp are commonly found throughout Caribbean coral reefs and can effectively reduce parasite loads on reef fish resulting in increased...
Media Where have all the crinoids gone?

Colorful feather stars (comatulid crinoids, Phylum Echinodermata) were plentiful on the reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire in the late 1960s when David...
Media Coral Reef Mapping using hyperspectral imagery

The Dutch Caribbean island Bonaire has been protecting its marine resources for more than 35 years and is ranked as one of the Caribbean’s top dive...
Media 69th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Cayman Islands

7 November 2016 - 11 November 2016 The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) is a non-profit organization that promotes the exchange of...
Other resources Expedition Discovers Marine Treasures

An underwater mountain that forms the world's third-largest atoll has some of the richest diversity of marine life ever found in the Caribbean,...
Research report Frame Survey Curaçao’s fishing fleet 2016

A brief inventory of the current fishing capacity (frame survey) of the insular fishing fleet of Curacao was conducted. Curacao is part of the...
Media Nature on St. Eustatius Hit Hard by Hurricanes

Nature on St. Eustatius has been heavily affected by hurricane Irma and Maria that struck the island in the early morning of Wednesday 6 September...
Media Marine Protected Areas - a new interactive online map

The Dutch Caribbean has a new way to access marine protected area (MPA) information focused on ease of use for boaters, fishermen, and the public....
Other resources Physis XVII - 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...
Book Habitat utilization and migration in juvenile sea turtles.

Sea turtles are basically creatures that spend their entire lives in marine or estuarine habitats.Their only remaining reptilian ties to terrestrial...
Maps and Charts Hyperspectral coral reef classification

Coral reef map of Bonaire based on 2013 1x1 meter resolution hyperspectral mapping (101 channels) and a 2016 diving campaign to collect in-situ...
Other resources Papers Ecology Conference on Flamingos, Oil Pollution and Reefs, Bonaire, 1975

Contents Introduction - by the Editors. Address - by M. A. POURIER, Minister of Economic Development. Address- by Mr. A. R. W. SINT JAGO, Lieutenant...
Other resources Socioeconomic monitoring guidelines for coastal managers in the Caribbean SOCMON Caribbean

SocMon Caribbean and its companion, the GCRMN Socioeconomic Manual for Coral Reef Management (GCRMN Manual), developed from a need for a greater...
Media BioNews 16-2018 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....
Research report Studies on the flora of Curacao and other Caribbean Islands

This vegetation survey is the outcome of an investigation of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles carried out under the auspices of the Foundation...
Media BioNews 23- 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....
Media Innovative Artificial Reef Structures “IntelliReefs” to Improve Denuded Coral Reefs

Beginning of February 2020, the Ocean Science Team of Reef Life Foundation was on Sint Maarten to assess and research the 14 month performance of the...
Raw data Taxonomically annotated underwater hyperspectral and color images of coral reef transects from Curaçao

This dataset contains underwater hyperspectral imagery that can be used by researchers in the domains of computer vision, machine learning, remote...
Scientific article Some Notes on Charophyta Collected in The Netherlands West Indies, North Venezuela and Colombia

In 1930 Mr. P. Wagenaar Hummelinck made an excursion to Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire with the main object of studying the land and freshwater fauna....
Other resources Landsbesluit: Nieuwe aanwijzing domeingronden als natuurreservaat

In overweging genomen hebbende: Dat het wenselijk is een aantal domeingronden aan te wijzen als natuurreservaat in de zin van artikel 10 van de...
Research report Improving water circulation into backlands of Lac Bay through channel management

Lac Bay is the lagoon of Bonaire; in that lagoon a mangrove forest of red and black mangroves grows. The mangrove forest of Lac provides birds and...
Scientific article Phenological trajectories of Caribbean very dry tropical forests diverge under different geologic formations

Abstract Tropical dry forests experience pronounced seasonal changes in precipitation mani- fested in varied plant phenologies. At landscape scales...
Media Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance is Preparing Dutch Caribbean Conservation Organizations to Withstand External Shocks

Kralendijk – The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance’s (DCNA) bi-annual board meeting took place during the recent convention held in Curaçao. Their...
Research report Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire 2021 Annual Report

As I compose this message in 2022, reflecting on Reef Renewal Bonaire’s accomplishments during 2021, and during its first ten years of operation – I...
Media Powerpoint- https://www.dcbd.nl/document/%E2%80%98nature-based-solutions%E2%80%99-zijn-noodzakelijk-om-caribische-nederland-te-behoeden-voor-de

Veerkracht tegen klimaatverandering verloren door stapeling van drukfactoren - stijgingen in de lucht - en zeewatertemperatuur - zeespiegelstijging...
Scientific article Foraging ecology of red-billed tropicbrid phaethon aethereus in the Caribbean during early chick rearing revealed by GPS tracking

Investigating the foraging patterns of tropical seabirds can provide important information about their ocean habitat affinities as well as prey...
Scientific article 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...
Monitoring protocol Monitoring Tropicbirds, an introductory guide

This manual emphasises on practical methods, and some methods which (though highly accurate) are too labour-intensive or time-consuming for general...
Research report Population Assessment of Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, in the St. Eustatius Marine Park, Netherlands Antilles

Abstract: Queen Conch, Lobatus gigas, is a large, herbivorous, marine gastropod found primarily in the Western Atlantic Caribbean region. Adult conch...
Scientific article Population structure of Symbiodinium sp. associated with the common sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina, in the Florida Keys across distance, depth, and time

Abstract: Numerous marine invertebrates form endosymbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. However, few studies have...
Maps and Charts Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) map of Bonaire

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) map of Bonaire (GIS). See Bird life international website for program description
Maps and Charts Archaeological Predictive Map Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

In 2015 ARGEOgraph created the Archaeological Predictive Map of Saba for the Dutch ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This map has been made...
Other resources Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP): a Smithsonian-substation Curacao collaboration

Scientists have studied shallow Caribbean reefs for more than a century. In contrast tropical mesophotic and deep reefs, which are below the depths...
Scientific article Decline of crinoids on the reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Abstract Since 1996 at the latest, comatulid crinoids on the leeward reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire have declined drastically in population size and...
Scientific article A new transcriptome and transcriptome profiling of adult and larval tissue in the box jellyfish Alatina alata: an emerging model for studying venom, vision and sex

Cubozoans (box jellyfish) are cnidarians that have evolved a number of distinguishing features. Many cubozoans have a particularly potent sting,...
Raw data Raw data of turtle in-water-catch monitoring on Bonaire by STCB

Raw data of sea turtle in-water-catch monitoring on Bonaire, including locations, species, carapace size, diseases, parasites, etc. Please contact ...
Other resources Fluorescent patterns, size, and abundance of the bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata in the intertidal zone on Bonaire

Hermodice carunculata, commonly known as the Bearded Fireworm, is a corallivorous Polychaete found throughout the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean...
Other resources Cascading effects of nutrients on macroalgae and herbivorous fish on coral reefs in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

The island of Bonaire has significant contamination from anthropogenic sources such as sewage and landfills, which can cause excess nutrients in...
Other resources Causative agent for dark spots in ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus tractus)

Coral reef ecosystems provide a number of important ecological services, such as nurseries and protection from storms. This makes their health of...
Other resources 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...
Other resources A comparative study of the feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Caribbean

Invasive species are often a detriment to the environment due to the lack of parasites, disease and natural predators in the invaded environment,...
Other resources Habitat use, nocturnal behavior, and differences between phases of five common parrotfish species in Bonaire, N.A.

Parrotfish are a common and important component of the fringing reefs ecosystem surrounding Bonaire, N.A. In the reef environment, large herbivores...
Other resources Gross anatomical findings from the fall 2008 Bonaire moray eel mortalities

Unexplained moray eel mortalities have been occurring in Bonaire since July 2008. The number of mortalities increased over time, peaking in October...
Media The Humpbacks are Back!

We have some wonderful news to share! The magnificent humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have returned for their four-to five-month long stay...
Media BRUV Work In The Dutch Caribbean

Data collection with stereo Baited Remote Underwater Videos (sBRUV) deployed throughout the islands of the Dutch Caribbean over the past few years is...
Other resources Physis XXI - 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...
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article Abundance and population structure of queen conch inside and outside a marine protected area: repeat surveys show significant declines

ABSTRACT: Effectiveness of a marine protected area (MPA) in supporting fisheries productivity depends upon replenishment patterns, both in supplying...
Other resources The Construction and Deployment of Deep Water Fish Aggregating Devices in the Island of Curacao

Abstract Three deepwater fish aggregating devices (FADs) were built, two of which have been deployed along the South coast of Curacao. the objective...
Other resources Fokprogramma voor geiten op Bonaire

Power Point Breeding program for goats on Bonaire
Scientific article A review of Caribbean Copepoda associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, echinoderms and sponges

This review of copepod crustaceans associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, sponges and echinoderms of the Greater Caribbean is based on published...
Scientific article Monitoring of terrestrial avifauna in six habitats on St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands, 2009–2017

The Caribbean is a biodiversity hotspot due to its rich biodiversity and wholesale loss of primary vegetation. Yet, there is a paucity of studies on...
Other resources The narratives behind heritage trails

The main objective of this research is to explore the issues and politics associated with formal designing of landscape narratives on Statia. To...
Media Unlocking the Evolutionary Secrets of Local Amphibians and Lizards

Two new research projects were set out to map the evolution and historical geographical migration of key amphibian and reptile species within the...
Other resources Occurrence of deep water Cyanobacterial Mats surrounding Bonaire

Student Report The abundance of CyanoBacterial Mats (CBMs) at a depth of 50-90m was mapped along the west coast of Bonaire. Simultaneously local...
Scientific article Monitoring benthic habitats using Lyzenga model features from Landsat multi-temporal images in Google Earth Engine

Benthic habitats have conventionally been monitored through physical site visits by diving. This requires the use of expensive resources and time to...
Other resources Significance of boulder shape for the transport of boulders by tsunamis

Physical experiments and numerical models support investigations on the transport of boulders by tsunamis, and based on this, on hydrodynamic...
Scientific article Artificial reefs in the Caribbean: A need for comprehensive monitoring and integration into marine management plans

Caribbean coral reefs are in decline and the deployment of artificial reefs, structures on the sea bottom that mimic one or more characteristics of a...
Scientific article Diversity of drift macroalgae in Aruba, Netherland Antilles, Caribbean Sea, including the rarely reported deep-water species Dasya puertoricensis and Cottoniella filamentosa (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta)

Abstract: Drifting and wrack seaweeds may originate from the detachment of natural populations and transport by currents until reaching the coast....
Scientific article Nieuwe gegevens over de land- en zoetwatermollusken van Sint Maarten (Nederlandse Antillen)

New data on the land and freshwater mollusks of St. Martin (Lesser Antilles) Summary. In follow-up of a species list of St. Martin, Anguilla and St....
Scientific article Feeding on Feces: The nutritional value of fish feces to Caribbean Parrotfishes

Parrotfishes can often be observed consuming fish feces on coral reefs. Our recent study highlights the nutritional value of these feces to...
Media BioNews 41 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter

BioNews 41 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and...
Media Research Expedition for Lesser Antillean Sperm Whales

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL) are proud to support Caribbean Cetacean Society’s (CCS...
Media New Research Improves on Traditional Reef Survey Techniques

Researchers from University of Amsterdam and CARMBABI Foundation implemented 3-dimensional reef surveying techniques to improve representation of...
Media BioNews 61

BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
Scientific article Feeding on Feces: The Nutritional Value of Fish Feces to Caribbean Parrotfishes

Parrotfishes can often be observed consuming fish feces on coral reefs. Our recent study highlights the nutritional value of these feces to...
Research report Erosiebestrijding en natuurherstel

Een gezond koraalrif is cruciaal voor Bonaire. De economie is voor 80% afhankelijk van het toerisme. De twee grootste bedreigingen voor het koraalrif...
Other resources Distribution, substrate preference and possible host benefits of the tropical polychaete Spirobranchus giganteus on a reef in Bonaire

The Christmas Tree worm, Spirobranchus giganteus, is a sessile polychaete found on coral reefs worldwide. Its larvae display photopositive behavior...
Other resources Restoring the dry ecosystem of Bonaire

The dry forest ecosystem of Bonaire has been decimated over the last 500 years by human intervention. Uncontrolled deforestation by early European...
Research report Environmental Impact Report for Off Road Driving (ORD) in Parke Nacional Arikok

Aruba has overstretched its resources beyond sustainable levels (ATA 2018). One of numerous factors putting pressure on Aruba’s natural resources is...
Other resources Application Form for Area of Importance for Bat Conservation (AICOM) Washington - Slagbaai

The Island of Bonaire has a system of natural caves that probably exceeds 150 in number. Those caves house at least five species of bats:...
Scientific article Using standardized fish-specific autonomous reef monitoring structures (FARMS) to quantify cryptobenthic fish communities

Abstract 1. Biodiversity inventories and monitoring techniques for marine fishes often over-look small (<5 cm), bottom-associated (‘...
Research report The effects of resource availability on the growth and distribution of a heterotrophic coral species, Madracis mirabilis, across Curaçao

Abstract Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse yet threatened ecosystems on the planet. Our understanding of what contributes to a coral reef’s...
Media Combating Erosion and Nature Restoration on Bonaire

Erosion and resulting sediment run-off are big environmental concerns throughout the Caribbean Region and for good reason. Not only does the removal...
Media 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...
Other resources 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...
Media 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...
Scientific article The marine mammals of the Dutch Caribbean: a comparison between EEZ sectors, contrasts and concerns

We here provide a synoptic overview and preliminary update of the marine mammals of the Dutch Caribbean EEZ based on 279 cetacean sighting and...
Media Saba: Goat Buy Back Project

The 2013-2017 Nature Policy for the Caribbean Netherlands flagged the threat of invasive species as a high priority, with recent inventories...
Scientific article 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...
Scientific article Land Cover and Forest Formation Distributions for St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustatius, Grenada and Barbados from Decision Tree Classification of Cloud-Cleared Satellite Imagery

Satellite image-based mapping of tropical forests is vital to conservation planning. Standard methods for automated image classification, however,...
Media Status of St. Maarten’s Reef

Last September, major category 5+ Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage to St. Maarten. This was a strong reminder of the urgency to preserve the...
Other resources Trends in the Caribbean Netherlands 2017

How large was the population of Bonaire, Saba, and St Eustatius on 1 January 2017? How did the economy of each island develop in 2015? What were the...
Scientific article Effectiveness of lionfish removal efforts in the southern Caribbean

Abstract: Lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) have spread rapidly throughout the Caribbean Sea since 1985, where they negatively impact native...
Media DCNA Organizes Junior Ranger Exchange Week 2022

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below. The Junior Rangers just wrapped up their annual exchange event. Youngsters from the islands got...
Scientific article Diving behaviour of hawksbill turtles during the inter-nesting interval: Strategies to conserve energy

Abstract: Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting in Barbados were outfitted with time-depth recorders (TDRs) with temperature sensors...
Media Bad News For Green Sea Turtles In An Age Of Warming Seas: warmer oceans drive declining growth rates

A number of studies have investigated the effect of climate change on sea turtles, such as the loss of nesting beaches from sea level rise (Fish et ...
Media Status of Saba Bank’s reefs

The Saba Bank remained an unexplored and mysterious offshore submerged carbonate platform until very recently. Research on the Saba Bank was first...
Other resources 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...
Scientific article Megaherbivores may impact expansion of invasive seagrass in the Caribbean

1.Our knowledge of the functional role of large herbivores is rapidly expanding, and the impact of grazing on species co‐existence and non‐native...
Media Disappearance of St. Maarten’s Snails

Nederlands Below Land and freshwater mollusks were surveyed over the course of three visits in 2015, 2020 and 2021 on the Dutch and French sides of...
Research report Groundwater Quality in Curaçao: A hydrochemical multi-annual assessment (1977-2021) of a Caribbean island

Abstract For this thesis a hydrochemical groundwater survey was carried out on the Caribbean island of Curaçao in 2020 as part of the NWO SEALINK...
Scientific article Genetic Connectivity among Gorgonia ventalina Linnaeus, 1758 (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) Populations in the Caribbean Sea

Abstract: The geographic partition of genetic variation, also known as population structure, is an essential attribute of a species’ biology and a...
Research report Assessing the viabiliy of the groasis waterboxx for dry forest restoration and reforestation projects.

Extensive deforestation of dry tropical forests is globally impeding the ecosystem services and functions that the forests provide, which millions of...
Other resources Vibrio communities associated with the azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea coccinea as compared to zooxanthellate shallow sea corals

A coral is made up of key associations between endosymbiotic zooxanthellae, protists, bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. These microbe-coral...
Scientific article High human influence on beach response to tropical cyclones in small islands: Saint-Martin Island, Lesser Antilles

Using multi-date satellite imagery and field observations, this paper assesses the inferred impacts of September 2017 cyclones on the beaches of...
Scientific article Biodiversity Assessment of the Fishes of Saba Bank Atoll, Netherlands Antilles

Abstract: Biodiversity surveys were conducted on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, to assess ichthyofaunal richness and to compare with published...
Scientific article Can we measure beauty? Computational evaluation of coral reef aesthetics

The natural beauty of coral reefs attracts millions of tourists worldwide resulting in substantial revenues for the adjoining economies. Although...
Research report The status and trends of the coral reefs around Saba, Dutch Caribbean, 2016

Coral reefs are of great value for millions of people, but at the same time they are facing a lot of threats of which almost all come down to human...
Media St. Eustatius: rat control program

Introduced predators such as cats, dogs, and rats can be found all over St. Eustatius and are a primary threat to the island's biodiversity. Rats,...
Research report Ocean Current Patterns and variability around Curaçao for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Msc. thesis Large-scale changes in ocean conditions caused by installing and operating Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) have not been studied...
Media 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...
Scientific article Change detection in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) over three decades on Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

The island of Bonaire is a long-established Marine Protected Area (MPA), the reefs of which were extensively mapped in the early 1980s. Satellite...
Media St. Maarten: Impact Hurricane Irma on Nature

What started out a week prior as a low pressure system off the Cape Verde Islands ended up as the first ever category 5+ hurricane to hit the...
Media 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...
Media Crowdfunding: Tortuga ‘The Survival of Humanity’

Motivation In March 2018 I went to Curaçao for six months. I have been able to take a lot of underwater shots here and have experienced the problems...
Scientific article Coprophagy in Caribbean parrotfishes

Parrotfishes are widely considered to be important grazers on coral reefs that remove autotrophic biomass from the reef substrate and create bare...
Other resources Reef fish recruitment to coral reef versus mangrove and seagrass habitats in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Recent studies show that late stage pelagic larval fish are not simply drifting with the currents as formerly believed, but are in some cases strong...
Media Fieldwork on Seagrass Ecosystem Services: Lac, Bonaire

Seagrasses are essential components of coastal zones ecosystems due to their extremely high productivity and the high biodiversity they support. ...
Scientific article Engineered substrates reveal species-specific inorganic cues for coral larval settlement

ABSTRACT: The widespread loss of stony reef-building coral populations has been compounded by the low settlement and survival of coral juveniles. To...
Research report Growth, mortality and recruitment rates of the brown alga Lobophora variegata in relation to herbivory and nutrients on Bonaire

Abstract: Declines in herbivory and increases in nutrient concentrations on tropical coral reefs are considered two of the major drivers of coral-...
Other resources Tsunami hazard assessment on Bonaire based on sedimentary traces of prehistoric high-energy waves

The Caribbean region is highly vulnerable to coastal hazards since a relatively high percentage of the population lives right at the coast. Tourism...
Scientific article Hurricane-Driven Patterns of Clonality in an Ecosystem Engineer: The Caribbean Coral Montastraea annularis

Abstract: K-selected species with low rates of sexual recruitment may utilise storage effects where low adult mortality allows a number of...
Other resources Physis VI - 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...
Research report Cruise report seabird and cetacean survey Saba bank expedition October 2011

Abstract: In October 2011 an expedition took place to the Saba Bank, on board of the ship the Caribbean Explorer II. Main aim of the expedition was...
Other resources Sargassum Management Brief

Executive Summary “In 2011, the shores of several Caribbean islands and West African countries were inundated by unprecedented quantities of pelagic...
Other resources Fish species community composition of Curacao bays and reef

Student Report - University Groningen Tropical coastal bays often border coral reefs and host connected ecosystems such as seagrass beds and mangrove...
Research report Research and Monitoring Report 2011 - Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) is a non-governmental, non-profit, research and conservation organization that began in 1991. Our mission is...
Scientific article Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Abstract Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; oxybenzone) is an ingredient in sunscreen lotions and personal-care products that protects against the damaging...
Scientific article Biochemical variability in sponges across the Caribbean basin

Abstract Sponges are a diverse phylum of sessile filter-feeding invertebrates that are abundant on Caribbean reefs and provide essential ecological...
Scientific article High Prevalence and Endemism of Trypanosomatids on a Small Caribbean Island

We describe the monoxenous trypanosomatids parasitizing true bugs and flies on the island of Curaçao. Out of 248 examined true bugs belonging to 17...
Scientific article Fast Detection of Nutrient Limitation in Macroalgae and Seagrass with Nutrient-Induced Fluorescence

Abstract: Background: Rapid determination of which nutrients limit the primary production of macroalgae and seagrasses is vital for understanding the...
Research report 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...
Media Comparative Study on Artificial Reefs of the Caribbean

University of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein and Wageningen University and Research recently conducted a comparative study of artificial reefs...
Research report Seagrass as bioindicator for eutrophication and pollution in the coastal bays of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

MSc thesis The economy of Bonaire is highly dependent on tourism. Tourists are drawn to Bonaire because of the beautiful nature and biodiversity in...
Media Coral restoration

Coral reef protection is the process of modifying human activities to avoid damage to healthy coral reefs and to help damaged reefs recover. The key...
Media Protecting Fish Proven Key in Slowing Down Invasive Seagrass

New research from Wageningen University, University of Amsterdam and Florida International University highlighted the role herbivorous fish species...
Other resources Molluscs of St. Eustatius

Molluscs are one of the largest phyla in the animal kingdom. They make up a large part of marine faunas worldwide (Appeltans et al. 2012), and have a...
Media 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...
Research report Rare and/or Endangered Land and Freshwater Molluscs of St. Martin

Rare and/or Endangered Land and Freshwater Mollusks of St. Martin. In this article, Sint Maarten means the Dutch part and Saint-Martin the French...
Scientific article The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean

Abstract: Aruba is one of the most densely populated islands in the Caribbean. However, very little is known about its cetaceans. In 2010 and 2011, a...
Other resources Cruise Report Windward Caribbean Nov 6-16, 2016

The Waitt Institute and Dr. Stuart Sandin’s laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography collaborated to organize an expedition to conduct a...
Scientific article Bridled Quail-dove Geotrygon mystacea population assessment after hurricanes Irma and Maria, St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands

Structural vegetation damage and food limitation are important effects of major hurricanes, particularly for fruit/seed-eating, forest-dependent...
Media Status of the Red-Bellied Racer on Saba and St. Eustatius

The Red-bellied Racer (Alsophis rufiventris) is a harmless snake species that is native to the St. Christopher and Saba Banks. Today, it...
Scientific article Antagonistic behavior between two honeycomb cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonius Poey, 1876, at Curaçao

The honeycomb cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonius Poey, 1876 (Ostraciidae) is easily distinguishable from other Caribbean coral reef fish. Both...
Research report Management plan for the natural resources of the EEZ of the Dutch Caribbean

On the 10th of October 2010 the governmental entity known as the Netherlands Antilles is scheduled to cease to exist. Each island will aquire a new...
Research report 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...
Research report 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...
Research report 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...
Media New field guide on invasive seagrass flowers

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that can reproduce both sexually (through flowering and subsequent seed formation) and asexually (through...
Media Fish poop: an underappreciated food source for coral reef fishes?

A new study by researchers from the University of Texas and California Polytechnic State University documented herbivorous fishes feeding on fish...
Book Saba Bank Research 2011-2016

This book will let you dive into the underwater worl of the Saba Bank and gives you an introduction to its amazing biodiversity. At the same time you...
Other resources Annual Report 2008 Nature Foundation St Maarten

Throughout 2008 the staff and board of Nature Foundation St. Maarten undertook a range of activities addressing both core management of the Marine...
Media Exciting Changes for Nature Conservation in 2022 on Saba

From big litigation to renovations for their new sea lab, 2022 promises to be a banner year for the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF). SCF recently...
Other resources St. Eustatius joins Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary

Excellent news: St. Eustatius has now become part of the “Yarari” Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary. St. Eustatius joined Bonaire and Saba when the...
Scientific article Assisted Natural Recovery: A Novel Approach to Enhance Diadema antillarum Recruitment

The massive die-off of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in 1983–1984 is one the main reasons for low coral recruitment and little coral recovery in...
Research report 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...
Research report 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...
Media Economic Value of Sharks

Shark populations around the globe have been in rapid decline for the past decades as overfishing and habitat loss have severely reduced their...
Other resources Assessment of opportunities for sustainable agriculture and fisheries on St. Eustatius

Overall conclusions Agriculture and fisheries are small sectors on St Eustatius. Nonetheless they represent important economic activities for the...
Scientific article Anthropogenic Mortality in the Critically Endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) on St. Eustatius

The Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima (Laurenti 1768) is a Lesser Antillean endemic (Anguilla to Martinique, with the exception of Saba...
Portal Plants and Lichens of St. Eustatius. A Virtual Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden

St. Eustatius, also informally known as "Statia" is an 11.8 square mile (30.6 square km) island with about 3,200 permanent inhabitants located off...
Portal Plants and Lichens of Saba. A Virtual Herbarium of The New York Botanical Garden.

Saba is a five square mile island with about 1200 permanent inhabitants located off the coast of St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles (go to map...
Research report Ecologyand Microeconomics as "Joint Products": The Bonaire Marine Park in the Caribbean

FOREWORD Many countries are strugglingwith the task of meeting ecological and economicgoals associated with the establishment and management of...
Other resources Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Improve the Accuracy and Efficiency of Managing the Invasive Pacific Red Lionfish in the Caribbean

Abstract The Pacific Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) was introduced to the Atlantic Ocean in the 1980’s. Since their introduction the lionfish have...
Media Marine biodiversity research expedition on Bonaire

An international research team will come to Bonaire from 21 October to 9 November 2019 to investigate its marine biodiversity. Although Bonaire’s...
Media Sargassum management brief

In light of recent and recurring influxes of sargassum on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance has drafted a...
Media Tiger Sharks and the Saba Bank

Hi everyone. My name is Ayumi Kuramae Izioka and I work as the as the science coordinator and daily operations manager of the Saba Bank Management...
Media Pregnant Tiger Shark Expedition 2021 is well underway!

It’s finally happening! After over a year of corona-related delays the Pregnant Tiger Shark Expedition is finally underway. We just finished our very...
Media Key Insights for Mangrove Restoration Discovered on Bonaire

Dutch below Since 2016 the Mangrove Maniacs of Bonaire have dedicated themselves to the restoration and conservation of mangroves on the island....
Media Two new nonnative reptiles identified on Saba

Wageningen University and Research and the University of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein researchers have recently identified two new nonnative...
Research report Generic ecological assessment framework for coastal ecosystems in the Caribbean Netherlands

Abstract: The aim of this study was to draft a generic ecological assessment framework for coastal systems in Caribbean Netherlands (CN) that offers...
Book The Marine Algal Vegetation of St. Martin, St. Eustatius and Saba

Although algology deals with a large group of plants, widespread and of great morphological diversity, the history of this branch of botany is fairly...
Other resources Intervention Needed to Save the endemic Sabal Palm of Bonaire

An update to a 40-year-old Sabal palm survey for the islands of Bonaire and Curaçao highlighted the striking differences between the two islands....
Research report Avifaunal and Botanical Survey of The Jan Thiel Lagoon Conservation Area, Curaçao

The Jan Thiel lagoon can be considered the most important wetland of Curaçao based on its combined value as a feeding habitat for terns. As is likely...
Media 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...
Media New Technique to Enrich Genetic Diversity of Elkhorn Corals

Using cryopreserved reproductive cells of elkhorn corals, researchers have crossbreed individuals from Florida and Puerto Rico with those of Curaçao...
Research report What is Bonaire’s Cruise Tourism Worth

The ecosystems of the island of Bonaire support a range of activities that depend on the quality of the natural environment. Tourism is one of these...
Media 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...
Media Invasive seagrass and native upside-down jellyfish are battling for space

Dutch, Papiamentu, and Papiamento below Researchers from Wageningen University & Research and the University of Amsterdam report on a fascinating...
Media Special Edition Bionews: 2022 Park Updates

The Nature Conservation Network Organization the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) hosted its biannual Board Meeting on Sint Maarten between...
Other resources Impacts of sunscreens on coral reefs

Sunscreens contain organic (chemical) and/or inorganic (mineral) UV filters that absorb, reflect or scatter UV light. They also contain inactive...
Research report Diversity, abundance, distribution and habitat use reef-associated sharks in the Dutch Caribbean

Shark are in serious decline in the Caribbean due to fishing pressure and slow reproductive life-history. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Policy Plan in...
Research report 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...
Research report 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...
Media POP Bonaire: Rural Development Program: 2014-2018

Increasing concern over Bonaire’s dependence on dive tourism and the importation of food products has led the government to push for the sustainable...
Research report Saba Bank - Special Marine Area Management Plan 2008

Findings A management plan was prepared in close consultation with a considerable number of stakeholders and stakeholder group representatives. The...
Media Exploring species and functional diversity of coral reef benthic cyanobacterial mats

Benthic cyanobacterial mats, at low cover, are an important benthic component of coral reefs, but have recently drastically proliferated on reefs...
Media International Meeting on Protection of Sharks

From November 20-24th, 2017 a group of international shark experts gathered at Captain Don’s Habitat on Bonaire to discuss measures for the...
Scientific article Western Antarctic Peninsula physical oceanography and spatio–temporal variability

This study focuses on 12 years of physical oceanography data, collected during the Palmer, Antarctica, Long-Term Ecological Research program (PAL...
Media Fishery Trends for St. Eustatius

Wageningen Marine Research and Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute released an updated report on the fishery trends for St. Eustatius between...
Media Ants of the Dutch Caribbean

Between 2015 and 2020, researchers from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center updated the local ant species lists for the Dutch Caribbean. A large number...
Media Importance of Yarari Sanctuary for Minke Whale

A new collaborative study provides new insight into how two species of minke whales utilize the Caribbean and neighboring Atlantic waters throughout...
Media 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...
Media 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...
Media Extra budget for nature in the Caribbean Netherlands

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL) are pleased...
Media Sixth Caribbean marine expedition ‘Ti Whale An Nou 2022’ taking place this month

Nederlands and Papiamentu below. Organized by CCS with the support of WWF and DCNA As of August 15th through August 30th, the sixth joint scientific...
Media New Insight for Protecting the Future of Queen Conch

A new survey technique provides insight into Queen Conch populations off the islands of Anguilla, St. Eustatius and within the Saba Bank. This...
Media Second whale and dolphin research program in the Caribbean

Nederlands and Papiamentu below The whale and dolphin research program Ti Whale An Nou started March 25, 2022 and the objective is to study the...
Media Action required to curb Statia’s invasive green iguana threat

A new study by Wageningen Marine Research, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation and Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute highlights the need...
Research report 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...
Media Two Dutch Caribbean Tagged Tiger Sharks Follow Similar Migration Patterns in the Caribbean

Two years ago the DCNA organized the first of its kind shark tagging expedition to the Saba Bank and St Maarten as part of the Dutch Postcode Lottery...
Media 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...
Research report UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers 2018 (Vol. 4)

Introduction to the fourth edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers This volume presents academic papers and personal...
Media Bonairian households not resilient to climate change vulnerabilities and action is highly needed

Nederlands and Papiamentu below. Last May, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA)‘s research intern Nina Zander requested via (social) media...
Media Coralita, we’re gonna beat ya!

Having started in 2015, Utrecht University researchers Elizabeth Haber and Jetske Vaas (a.k.a. The Coralita Girls) thought it time to discuss their...
Media 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...
Media Kingdom Report Sounds Alarm on Biodiversity Conservation in the Dutch Caribbean

Only Four of Twenty Biodiversity Targets On Track to Achieve Goals in the Dutch Caribbean A recently published report issued by the Kingdom of the...
Media NICO expedition: eddies

NICO expedition: eddies Rising ocean temperatures associated with global warming are changing our oceans and are projected to have a considerable...
Media Unraveling the Mysteries of the Saba Bank: DCNA Tiger Shark Expedition 2021

July 31st – August 7th, 2021 – For the first time on the Saba Bank, an expedition team was able to successfully assess the shark diversity by...
Media Vegetation Study informs Spatial Planning on Sint Maarten

Commissioned by Sint Maarten’s Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), a color vegetation map produced...
Research report 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...
Media Grant from the European Union to enhance nature protection and sustainable tourism

Nederlands and Papiamentu below. Lac Bay is a unique tourism hot spot which boasts a wide array of habitats from fringing coral reefs to expansive...
Research report 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...
Research report 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...
Media The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) Organise Marine Management Workshop in Aruba

Dutch, Papiamentu and Papiamento below From the 21st to the 23rd of November 2022, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) together with...
Media Bonaire Caves and Karst Nature Reserve

Bonaire has a rich and complex geological history which is reflected in its current geological landscape. While the core of the island is comprised...
Media 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...
Media Rays of Hope: Strengthening Conservation Efforts for Manta Rays

Papiamento, Papiamentu, and Dutch below. Manta rays are highly charismatic creatures that inhabit the waters of the Dutch Caribbean. In...
Other resources Parrotfish: Important Coral Reef Keepers

Dutch, Papiamentu and Papiamento below Parrotfish are more than just a pretty face. The average parrotfish spends up to 90% of its day cleaning the...
Media 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...
Media 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...

Search results: 837