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Researchers from University of Amsterdam and CARMBABI Foundation implemented 3-dimensional reef surveying techniques to improve representation of...
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Eels play an important role in coral reef ecosystems as part of nuclear hunting groups and as top predators. They are often underrepresented in fish...
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Student Thesis
Coral reef ecosystems are considered the most productive and diverse of all marine systems. However, these are being dramatically...
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A brief inventory of the current fishing capacity (frame survey) of the insular fishing fleet of Curacao was conducted. Curacao is part of the...
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With the in-water monitoring activities, STCB collects data on the following CITES species:
(a) green turtles; (b) hawksbill turtles; (c) loggerhead...
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Summary:
In November 2013 aerial surveys were conducted for the first time in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire to evaluate...
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Dutch and Papiamentu below
Kralendijk, Bonaire – 10th of November – In 2018 , Naturalis Biodiversity Center conducted the first mosquito survey for...
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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...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) has worked tirelessly since 1991 to protect Bonaire’s sea turtle population and to ensure a safe, protected...
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Surveying subaqueous beach profiles and features beyond wading depths can be a costly process, requiring use of expensive equipment and boats. This...
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During the spring of 2006, hydrographic survey vessel HNLMS “Snellius” ran an extensive multibeam and sidescan survey of the Saba bank, a large...
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The current status of elasmobranch populations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean remains generally poorly known (Fowler et al. 2005). There is...
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Abstract
Surveying subaqueous beach profiles and features beyond wading depths can be a costly process, requiring use of expensive equipment and...
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Abstract:
The REEF/TNC Fish Survey Project is a volunteer fish monitoring program developed by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)...
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Elasmobranch populations (sharks, rays and skates) worldwide have declined drastically over the past decades and the situation in the Dutch Caribbean...
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Saba Bank is a large and completely submerged carbonate platform in the northeastern Caribbean Sea located approximately 4 km southwest of Saba...
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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...
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Hydrographical survey of Bonaire in x,y,z points: latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], depth [meters].
The survey was done...
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Hydrographical survey of Curacao in x,y,z points: latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], depth [meters].
The survey was done...
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Abstract:
In 1999 a survey was carried out (Lott, 2000) to estimate the conch population and determine the status of the seagrass beds in Lac Bay,...
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Hydrographical survey of Aruba in x,y,z points: latitude [decimal degrees], longitude [decimal degrees], depth [meters].
The survey was done...
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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...
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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...
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Abstract
A paramount challenge in coral reef ecology is to estimate the abundance and composition of the communities residing in such complex...
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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...
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The advent of next-generation sequencing tools has made it possible to conduct fine-scale surveys of population differentiation and genome-wide scans...
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Recently, observations of black spot syndrome (BSS) in Caribbean fishes have been linked to infection by a digenean trematode parasite, ...
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ABSTRACT: Effectiveness of a marine protected area (MPA) in supporting fisheries productivity depends upon replenishment patterns, both in supplying...
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In 2004, as part of a GEF funded project entitled “Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building” (CRTR), to assess the current status and...
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This deskstudy gives a review of small pelagic fish species and fisheries in the Dutch Caribbean, specifically species which distributions exceed the...
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Chronic stressors such as water pollution, overfishing, and ocean warming are major threats to the resilience of coral reefs as they influence...
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Historical Data and Background
The first known qualitative seagrass survey in Lac Bay was conducted in 1969. Sincethen, additional quantitative...
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As part of the Caribbean Island Biogeography meets the Anthropocene project, researchers initiated their surveys for exotic reptile and amphibian...
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Three photographic surveys were conducted during the period; 2010 to 2011, 2013 and 2014, and supplemented by physical sampling for a one-week period...
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Seven sea turtles species inhabit the world’s oceans today and have a unique evolutionary lineage that dates back at least 110 million years.Sea...
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Abstract The Bonaire Marine Biodiversity Expedition (2019) was organized by Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden (the national museum of natural...
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Findings
The main conclusion from this study is that the Saba Bank has little modern material/ sediment deposited in relation to present sea level....
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Student Report & Data
This report is about the beach profile survey on St. Eustatius. The objective of this study is to start up a beach profile...
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Abstract
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s monitoring and mitigation program during an academic seismic study in April–June 2004 was the largest...
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Two years ago we shared the worrying news that the Bridled Quail-dove population had suffered a significant decline on St. Eustatius (Statia)...
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Abstract:
Organisations designed to manage and maintain Protected Areas are often faced with limited financial resources to maintain and monitor...
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In view of their ecological importance and the abundance of threats on a developing Caribbean island, we surveyed the bats of Curaçao, Netherlands...
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Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), known locally as Wedrego on Saba and St. Eustatius, is a medium-sized seabird species that feeds at sea...
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The CARI’MAM project
More than 30 species of marine mammals inhabit the waters of the Caribbean,which makes it a world hotspot. These highly mobile...
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The CARI’MAM project
More than 30 species of marine mammals inhabit the waters of the Caribbean,which makes it a world hotspot. These highly mobile...
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Environmental Protection In the Caribbean (EPIC) carried out breeding seabird research in the Lesser Antilles between February and June 2009, to...
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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....
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The purpose of this survey was to describe and map the natural and cultural resources of the marine environment with a view to sustainable...
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The Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) recently conducted surveys of free-roaming livestock on St. Eustatius, highlighting population...
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Aerial survey by the DCNA recording data and taking photos of almost 30 bait balls. Species observed include: skipjack tuna, various seabirds,...
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Abstract:
The queen conch (Lobatus gigas) is under pressure and has decreased in distribution and abundance as a result of fisheries in the Caribbean...
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The Statia Marine Biodiversity Expedition (2015) was organized by Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden (the national museum of natural history of...
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The Littler’s team [including Barrett Brooks, Don Hurlbert, Barbara Watanabe and Larry Gorenflo (Conservation International)] traveled to the island...
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Historical Data
A study conducted in 1969 by Hummelinck and Roosgave the first qualitative data forqueen conch general distribution throughout Lac...
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Abstract
Aim: To evaluate how the spatial distribution of a heavily exploited marine gastropod (i.e. Queen conch) varies in response to a number of...
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Abstract:
The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
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Abstract:
The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
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Abstract:
The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
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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...
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Shark are in serious decline in the Caribbean due to fishing pressure and slow reproductive life-history. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Policy Plan in...
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A new survey technique provides insight into Queen Conch populations off the islands of Anguilla, St. Eustatius and within the Saba Bank. This...
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To follow the health of the coral reefs of Bonaire and Curacao a number of locations on each island are photographed each year since 1973. At each...
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Raw observation data of the Red bellied racer on St.Eustatius from 2017-2018, including: location, length, elevation and weather conditions....
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A 2004-2005 study led by a researcher from the California Academy of Science worked to catalog arachnid species (such as spiders and scorpions) on...
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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...
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To follow the health of the coral reefs of Bonaire and Curacao a number of locations on each island are photographed each year since 1973. At each...
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To better protect Audubon’s Shearwaters, Adam Brownfrom Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), in partnership with the Saba Conservation...
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Autopsy records (1936-66) show esophageal cancer to be the most common tumor for both men and women among the locally-born negroid population of...
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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...
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Findings:
The main conclusion from this study is that at the moment tourists and locals use Lac Bay and its catchment area at levels and in ways that...
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We document 29 butterfly species for the island of Aruba and 32 for Bonaire. We also document five new records for Curaçao, increasing the total to...
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Findings:
The main conclusion of this study is that the shallow, warm and saline back-water habitat which is continuing to increase in importance...
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Well coordinates for the hydrological study on Bonaire.
See this report for more information.
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Findings:
The main conclusion from this study is that the combined levels of anthropogenic impact on the bay currently exceed sustainable levels. Lac...
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Aruba invokes the image of a Caribbean tropical island paradise, with white sandy beaches and palm trees waving in the wind. The interior of the...
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We estimated the population sizes of the three species of columnar cacti that grow on the island of Curaçao using ground and aerial transects, and we...
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Student Report
Species composition, distribution, and relative abundance
Elasmobranchs are suffering from habitat loss and are declining at a rapid...
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Abundance estimates based on adequate survey design and count methodology are needed for population monitoring and modelling, and for assessing the...
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Abstract:
Biodiversity surveys were conducted on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, to assess ichthyofaunal richness and to compare with published...
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The Red-bellied Racer (Alsophis rufiventris) is a harmless snake species that is native to the St. Christopher and Saba Banks. Today, it...
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Abstract:
In December 2012 IMARES conducted workshops on the identification of whales & dolphins in the Caribbean on the islands of Sint Maarten...
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Abstract:
The aim of the present project–commissioned by the management of the Washington-Slagbaai Park (WSP)- was to set-up a more strategic...
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Abstract:
The St Eustatius Sea Turtle Conservation Programme was initiated in 2001 due to concerns that the island’s sea turtle populations were...
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CNSI continues to monitor the vulnerable ecosystems of St. Eustatius coordinated by Data Monitoring Officer (DMO) Kimani Kitson-Walters. Coral reef...
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Worth Its Salt: Bonaire’s Cargill Salt Ponds Designated a Shorebird Site of Regional Significance
Imagine a vast expanse of rectangular saline ponds...
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Sint Eustatius (Statia) is a 21 km2 island situated in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The most recent published sources of information on that...
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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...
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Nesting animals select sites for reproduction based on adaptive behaviors that have evolved to improve reproductive success and the survival rates of...
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This dataset contains underwater hyperspectral imagery that can be used by researchers in the domains of computer vision, machine learning, remote...
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Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles has one of the healthiest coral reef systems in terms of fish species richness and live coral cover in the Caribbean....
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4. Discussion and Recommendations
Seagrass
Overall, there has been a decrease in the native species of T. testudinum and an increase in...
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Research on the order Zoantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) has a long history in the Caribbean Sea, with the first species, Zoanthus...
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We observed green turtles and hawksbills along the west coast of Bonaire, around Klein
Bonaire, and adjacent to Lac during snorkel surveys. Green...
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Student Report
The Monkey Management Project was developed by the Nature Foundation St. Maarten and funded by Resources for Community Resilience (...
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Abstract
Assessing mosquito biodiversity is important for disease surveillance and ecosystem health assessments. Such studies are particularly needed...
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Abstract:
This paper provides a context for the results of recent biodiversity surveys of Saba Bank.
Recent biological surveys of corals, fishes, and...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) was initiated in the early 1990s to protect the island’s marine turtle populations. Our current research and...
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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...
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Quantification of the benefits humans obtain from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) supports decision-makers by elucidating the link between the...
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Abstract:
Globally, arachnids are considered to be one of the less documented classes of animals on our planet. Worldwide distribution comprises all...
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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...
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A small submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was used to explore mid-depth habitats of Saba Bank – a submerged carbonate platform in the...
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The Waitt Institute prepared this Report in support of Recommendations for a Curaçao Sustainable Ocean Policy. It presents findings from community...
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Management Recommendations:
To keep collecting data for long term monitoring programs. It is fundamental for the proper management of our natural...
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Queen conch (Lobatus gigas) populations living deeper than 20 m are rarely studied, because of the limitations of conventional survey methods using...
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This article was published in the following report:
MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF ST. EUSTATIUS, DUTCH CARIBBEAN 2015 by Naturalis Biodiversity...
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Abstract:
The endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima, is an emblematic species for the island of St. Eustatius and in Caribbean...
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Recent investigations of Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, have sought to develop inventories of marine biodiversity from this large, submerged coral...
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Abstract
The vegetation database CACTUS (registered in GIVD under SA-00-004) aims to bring together all plot-based relevés from the Dutch Caribbean...
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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...
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Abstract
Background: Saba Bank Atoll, Netherlands Antilles, is one of the three largest atolls on Earth and provides habitat for an extensive coral...
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Abstract:
All species of sea turtles in the Caribbean have come under threat in recent years due to a multitude of factors. Habitat destruction and...
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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...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire proudly presents its 2012 Bonaire Sea Turtle Research and Monitoring Report.
In this report you will read about...
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Consumer-mediated indirect effects at the community level are difficult to demonstrate empirically. Here, we show an explicit indirect effect of...
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Since 10 October 2010 Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius (Statia) are part of the Netherlands. These three islands are referred to as the Caribbean...
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Abstract
Observations of Black Spot Syndrome (BSS), a pigmented dermatopathy in marine fishes, have been increasingly reported in important grazers...
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Abstract:
The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) sampling strategy is designed to collect both descriptive and quantitative information...
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Executive Summary
This report provides a comprehensive coverage of accomplishments completed to date by Environics for the Lac Bay queen conch (...
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The Waitt Institute and Dr. Stuart Sandin’s laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography collaborated to organize an expedition to conduct a...
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About 210 resident and migratory bird species are found on the island of Bonaire. More than half of these species are landbirds. Some of the...
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Governments around the world are taking an interest in the measurement of well-being to improve their policy decisions. Aruba has started the process...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) has been protecting sea turtles on Bonaire since 1991, so this year represents the 26th Anniversary of our...
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Recovery of the Caribbean long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum from the pathogen-induced mass mortality event of 1983 has been slow and variable...
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Abstract
Free-roaming livestock constitute a major threat to the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of St. Eustatius. In anticipation of a government-...
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The Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima is the largest extant native land vertebrate of St. Eustatius and was recently lost (~1990s) from...
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Virtually all marine conservation planning and management models in place or proposed have in common the need for improved scientific rigour in...
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Abstract:
Queen Conch, Lobatus gigas, is a large, herbivorous, marine gastropod found primarily in the Western Atlantic Caribbean region. Adult conch...
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Twenty sites across four monitoring zones of St. Eustatius’s marine ecosystem were assessed using the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network Caribbean...
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Abstract:
The Saba Bank is a large submerged carbonate platform of approximately 2,200 km2 in the Caribbean Sea which lies partially within the...
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From cutting edge 3D models to innovative management techniques, 2022 poses to be an exciting year for St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (...
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Between 2015 and 2020, researchers from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center updated the local ant species lists for the Dutch Caribbean. A large number...
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In the December 2017 edition of BioNews, we provided an overview of the results of two population assessments of the Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon...
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Abstract:
According to previous studies and anecdotal evidence there are a lot of lost lobster traps at the Saba Bank. One study estimated the loss...
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The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program champions coral reef conservation and empowers those who protect these diverse ecosystems...
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Lionfish were first spotted off the coast of Bonaire back in 2009. Since then, STINAPA has been working alongside a cast of dedicated volunteers to...
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Dutch, Papiamento and Papiamentu below
A new DCNA project “Monitoring for Bird Biodiversity Conservation in the Dutch Caribbean” has officially...
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Although algology deals with a large group of plants, widespread and of great morphological diversity, the history of this branch of botany is fairly...
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The shallow marine habitats surrounding St. Eustatius fulfil critical ecosystem services in terms of fishery production, recreation, dive tourism and...
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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...
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This month’s issue focuses on the Audubon’s Shearwater. Despite its resounding and unique call, this threatened bird often goes unnoticed on our...
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Abstract:
Annual spawning aggregations of red hind Epinephelus guttatus form at predictable times and locations and have historically succumbed to...
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The bat population of the island of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, was surveyed in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 survey concentrated mostly on caves, which...
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Bioindicator species have been used to determine changes in water quality and the effect of pollution at sites of environmental concern. Increasingly...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
The tourism industry is an important pillar of the economy of St Eustatius. This is recognized by the Strategic...
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Free-roaming livestock constitute a major threat to the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of St. Eustatius. In anticipation of a government-led...
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Coral reef surveys in 2021 at the leeward side of Curacao (Duthc Caribbean) yielded the discoery of a new worm snail for the Atlantic. With the help...
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ABSTRACT: Abundance estimates corrected for changes in detection are needed to assess population trends. We used transect-count surveys and N-mixture...
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An encrusting red alga (Ramicrusta sp., Peyssonneliaceae) present in Lac Bay, Bonaire, overgrows and kills corals and other sessile organisms. Living...
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Reef fish have a pelagic larval stage and settle onto the reef before transitioning to their juvenile or adult morphologies. Settlement can be...
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Many marine organisms use mucus to catch food, clean themselves, or for protection from predators. Some species of parrotfish (Family Scaridae) use...
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The Caribbean coral reefs showed drastic degradation over the last decades. As most Caribbean islands, Saba is economical dependent on their...
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In December 2009, we sampled 62 6-minute random-systematic counting points (k) to estimate the density and population size of yellow-shouldered...
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Abstract:
Recent surveys for the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin reveal that the species is no longer a resident on the island...
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On the evening of the 29th September 2016 Hurricane Matthew passed north of Bonaire by approximately 240km, with maximum sustained wind speeds over...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
Sint Eustatius, or as the local population calls it, Statia, has beautiful dive spots,
a rich historical and...
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After news was received that the Netherlands Antilles' largest and as yet
almost unspoiled lagoon would be involved in development plans, a...
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The intensity of major storm events generated within the Atlantic Basin is projected to rise with the warming of the oceans, which is likely to...
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Bonaire might have been on lockdown in 2020, but that didn’t keep Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire from working hard. Their recently published annual...
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Dutch below
A collaborative study, led by the University of Texas at Austin, deployed 102 specialized fish monitoring structures across six locations...
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Summary
Habitat mapping is crucial for understanding habitat connectivity and for spatial planning, environmental management, conservation, and...
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As previously mentioned, a new wave of long-spiced sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) die-offs are happening throughout the Caribbean, including...
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The 1983-1984 die-off of the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum stands out as a catastrophic marine event because of its detrimental effectson...
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Many environmental variables may influence fish assemblage structures in terms of abundance, biomass and mean size. The aim of this study is to...
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his thesis is part of the project ‘What is Saba’s nature worth?’ a collaboration between the IVM, VU University Amsterdam and Wolfs Company. The aim...
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Abstract
Marine community datasets are key to the effective management and conservation of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, which are...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) is a non-governmental, non-profit, research and conservation organization that began in 1991. Our mission is...
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Abstract
Accumulation of marine (plastic) debris from local land-based and distal marine-based sources along coastlines is a pressing modern issue....
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Colorful feather stars (comatulid crinoids, Phylum Echinodermata) were plentiful on the reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire in the late 1960s when David...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
Bonairean ecosystems support touristic activities that depend on the quality of the natural environment, such as diving...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
Local people call Saba ‘The Unspoiled Queen’, showing how proud Saban residents are of their history and the ‘unspoiled...
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Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean: online information system.
A free iPhone/iPad/iPod touch application, provides tools to identify and record...
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Apicomplexa is a group of obligate intracellular parasites that includes the causative agents of human diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis....
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Abstract The vegetation database CACTUS (registered in GIVD under SA-00-004) aims to bring together all plot-based relevés from the Dutch Caribbean...
-
Management Recommendations:
To keep collecting data for long term monitoring programs. It is fundamental for the proper management of our natural...
-
Abstract:
Saba Island (Caribbean Netherlands) is one of the northernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles. It is only 13 square kilometers but contains...
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Abstract
We estimated population densities of the red-bellied racer (Alsophis rufiventris) on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius in 2011, 2018 and...
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To develop our knowledge about Dutch biodiversity in the overseas territories, we performed a barcoding project embedded in the baseline biodiversity...
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Coral reefs are threatened globally and their trajectories of decline are very similar worldwide. In the Caribbean coral cover has declined by 80%...
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Bonairean ecosystems support touristic activities that depend on the quality of the natural environment, such as diving, snorkelling, kayaking,...
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St Eustatius, is a small island in the Caribbean and a special municipality of the Netherlands. As many other small islands, St Eustatius’ marine and...
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Sea level rise (SLR) and disturbances from increased storm activity are expected to diminish coastal ecosystems available to nesting species by...
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Abstract. Reptiles often display substantial intraspecific variation in dorsal colouration and pattern. Such variation is often, but not always,...
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ABSTRACT
Catastrophic events, like hurricanes, bring lethal conditions that can have population-altering effects. The threatened Caribbean dry forest...
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Apicomplexa is a group of obligate intracellular parasites that includes the causative agents of human diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis....
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
The tourism industry is the most important source of income for Saba, which is marketed as “the Unspoiled Queen” of the...
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Smalls islands are especially vulnerable to climate change and land use changes due to the competing needs for limited resources. To support...
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Highlights
• Study presents the first economic valuation of a Caribbean island coastal lagoon.
• A choice experiment embedded in a larger household...
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Nederlands and Papiamento below.
Researchers from the Florida Atlantic University and University of California recently discovered a new species of...
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Trying to understand the extent to which anthropogenic stressors impact coral reefs globally has led to an increase in studies which analyze the...
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The second Saba Bank Expedition in October 2008 aimed at improving the knowledge of the gorgonacea by generating a comprehensive species list for...
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This study is part of the project “What is Saba’s Nature Worth?” The project is part of the encompassing project The Economics of Ecosystems and...
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Coral reefs are undergoing phase shifts becoming dominated by algae rather than live coral. Algae on reefs is greatly impacted by herbivores such as...
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Caribbean dry forests are among the most endangered tropical ecosystems on earth. Several studies exist on their floristic composition and their...
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Increased and targeted fishing pressure has led to the collapse of shark populations around the world. According to worldwide estimates, a staggering...
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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...
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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...
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Abstract
Hard coral cover throughout the Caribbean has been in decline for at least fifty years due to large-scale disturbances such as White-Band-...
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Student Report
Introduction
The main goal of this research report is to shed light on the problems surrounding dust on Bonaire, and to give...
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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...
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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...
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With increasing stressors to coral reefs, defining tools that evaluate their dynamics and resilience is important to interpret system trajectories...
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Abstract
Human activities can degrade the quality of coral reefs, cause a decline in fish species richness and functional diversity and an erosion of...
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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...
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Similar to many other Caribbean coastal wetlands, the Simpson Bay Lagoon suffers from heavy development, wastewater pollution, and overexploitation....
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In the past, diseases and infections have had dramatic impacts on Caribbean coral reef ecosystems (e.g. white band disease in corals (Pantos and...
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Abstract:
Marine reserves, in which exploitation of marine organisms and other human activities are restricted or prohibited, can be valuable tools...
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Abstract
1. Biodiversity inventories and monitoring techniques for marine fishes often over-look small (<5 cm), bottom-associated (‘...
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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...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) was initiated in the early 1990s to protect the island’s marine turtle populations. Our current research and...
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Summary:
Information on the distribution, abundance and ecology of marine mammal in the Wider Caribbean Region is scarce. This report aims at...
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Tourism is an important source of income for most Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including Saba. This study aims to value the services...
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Student Report - University Groningen
Tropical coastal bays often border coral reefs and host connected ecosystems such as seagrass beds and mangrove...
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Following governments’ policies to tackle global climate change, the development of offshore renewable energy sites is likely to increase...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) was formed in 1991 in order to protect the island’s marine turtle populations. In 2002 we standardized our...
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Every year on Bonaire, dozens of dedicated volunteers wake up before dawn with one simple but important mission: count as many yellow-shouldered...
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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...
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NICO expedition: eddies
Rising ocean temperatures associated with global warming are changing our oceans and are projected to have a considerable...
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Abstracts:
TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN: CHALLENGES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES & CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS (Sponsored by CORALINA & GCFI)
Kyne...
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Abstract
The Pacific Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) was introduced to the Atlantic Ocean in the 1980’s. Since their introduction the lionfish have...
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Dutch below
In their 2019 paper, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) used sea turtle data collected between 2003 and 2018 to estimate abundance...
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Prior to 2014 little research had been conducted on the Anguilla conch fishery aside from indirect data collected by the Department of Fisheries and...
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A recent report released by STINAPA notes the occurrence of coral bleaching on Bonaire between 2016 and 2020. During this study, coral bleaching was...
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Twenty-two sites across four monitoring zones of St. Eustatius’s marine ecosystem were assessed using the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network...
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A new study by Wageningen Marine Research, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation and Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute highlights the need...
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Twenty-two sites across four monitoring zones of St. Eustatius’ marine ecosystem within the national marine park were assessed using the Global Coral...
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A new coral disease, Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease, is spreading throughout the Wider Caribbean region and causing high mortality amongst a number...
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A recent report describes, for the first time in its history, the critically endangered Bonaire Palm. Although first documented in 1979, it took...
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Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) is proud to be hosting its first Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop this week, together with trainers – marine...
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Abstract
On the island Bonaire, eutrophication is a point of serious concern, affecting the coral reefs in the marine park. Eutrophication can cause...
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December 13th marked the beginning of an incredibly exciting and ambitious research expedition organized by the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea...
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Based on traditional knowledge of the Saban fishermen, a spawning aggregation area (SPAG) for the Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) and the Queen...
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Summary
Based on traditional knowledge of the Saban fishermen, a spawning aggregation area (SPAG) for the Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) and the...
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The Lesser Antillean Iguana is an endangered endemic reptile found in the Lesser Antilles whose population is rapidly decreasing. Although once also...
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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...
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Cruise Background
Many islands in the Caribbean sea are fringed by coral reefs and/or coral veneers, which produce CaCO3 for their skeletons. Not...
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Abstract:
The Netherlands Antilles consists of five Caribbean islands. The leeward islands are Curaçao and Bonaire, close to the mainland of...
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Abstract:
Based on the goals set forth in the Dutch Biodiversity Policy Programme, The Netherlands has a traditionally strong commitment to protect...
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Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the three Dutch Caribbean islands Bonaire, Saba and St....
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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...
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Management Recommendations:
To keep collecting data for long term monitoring programs. It is fundamental for the proper management of our natural...
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The Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles [Bennett, 1828]: Family Scorpaenidae) are the first nonnative marine...
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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...
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Abstract:
Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) are cavity-nesting seabirds with important nesting colonies on Saba and Sint Eustatius in the...
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Geomorphology map (GIS) based on historical paper maps, updated from field surveys.
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The geological (Younger Cenzoic) map of Bonaire was surveyed in 1956, 1959 and 1960 and includes geological sections at seroe grandi, grita kabai and...
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Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean, is home to three species of gall crabs belonging to Cryptochiridae, a family obligatorily associated with a wide range of...
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This research expedition is part of the project “Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems”, funded within NWO’s Caribbean Research Program. This project...
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Mimetic behavior signifies organisms evolving to share behaviors and a common resemblance despite different phylogeny. Relationships in mimicry rely...
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In order to demonstrate how scleractinian corals contribute to marine biodiversity by their host function, information on associated fauna was...
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In February 2015, the Government of Curaçao and the Waitt Institute signed a memorandum of understanding to launch Blue Halo Curaçao (BHC), a...
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This report deals with Anthozoa (Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia), Hydrozoa, Decapoda and Polychaeta in the waters around St. Eustatius. No written...
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From 19-27 October 2013, IMARES (Wageningen UR) organized a research expedition to the Saba Bank, to investigate the ecological functioning of the...
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Protecting Marine Life Through Education, Service, and Research
REEF was founded in 1990, out of growing concern about the health of the marine...
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The St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) established the Sea Turtle Conservation Program following concerns that the island’s sea turtle...
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Aerial photographs of Bonaire. The photographs are scanned from paper. Photographs are in their original obligue position and still need to be...
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Excavating sponges are among the most important macro-eroders of carbonate substrates in marine systems. Their capacity to remove substantial amounts...
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Sabal antillensis is endemic to the Dutch Caribbean islands of Curagao and Bonaire. Both island populations were thoroughly assessed in 1979, and...
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This review of copepod crustaceans associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, sponges and echinoderms of the Greater Caribbean is based on published...
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Abstract: Drifting and wrack seaweeds may originate from the detachment of natural populations and transport by currents until reaching the coast....
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Abstract:
The presence of associated endofauna can have an impact on the health of corals. Duringfieldwork on the southern Caribbean island of...
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Coralita is an invasive plant species, rapidly spreading across St. Eustatius. A recently published report highlighted the ability to use satellite...
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Abstract
The economies of small tropical islands often benefit from large-scale tourism, attracted by the guarantee of beach facilities, sun and...
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Abstract: The economies of small tropical islands often benefit from large-scale tourism, attracted by
the guarantee of beach facilities, sun and...
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Summary
Ti Whale An Nou is a collaborative program launched in 2021, dedicated to the research, education, and conservation of whales and dolphins in...
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Management Recommendations:
The boundaries of the WSNP should be expended to include all the salinas included in this survey. This expansion will...
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Abstract:
Very little information exists about the cetaceans of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire (ABC Islands), in the southern Caribbean. During the first...
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Abstract:
This report presents the findings of an assessment of capacity building needs for the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the...
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Reef slope coral communities were surveyed for long-term (20 years) changes in scleractinian coral cover, numbers of coral colonies and species...
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Historical land capability and land use map of Bonaire at a scale of 1:40.000. Based on aerial photographs of 1949 and a field survey from 1952-1953...
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In May 2012, the St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research was contracted to carry out an excavation on the NuStar property locally known as ‘...
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Aim
Coral assemblages on Caribbean reefs have largely been considered to be biogeographically homogeneous at a regional scale. We reassess this in...
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In a survey of the bathyal echinoderms of the Bahama Islands region using manned submersibles, approximately 200 species of echinoderms were...
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Interspecific relationships of invasive species hosting a native associated species are noteworthy, particularly if the invasive does not have a...
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The goal of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), an operational network of ICRI, the International Coral Reef Initiative, is to improve...
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The use of color is seen throughout the animal kingdom. In coral reef ecosystems, organism colorations are suggested to assist in behaviors such as...
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Raw data of turtle observations, both nesting and in-water surveys. Information includes: nest identification, species, weather, moonphase, size of...
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We use extensive geographical sampling and surveys of nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA loci to investigate the phylogeographic structure...
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Lac Goto is a saliña of importance for the Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) on Bonaire due to its hydrological conditions. These...
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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...
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The global environment is in a relatively bad state and there is growing awareness of its importance to human wellbeing. This study aims to shed...
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Since the first sightings of the lionfish in the Caribbean, the local marine ecosystems have experienced severe problems due to predation and...
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Large-scale distribution of a large, commercially significant gastropod, Strombus gigas (queen conch), was investigated in a II ,OOO-haregion of the...
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Based on a field survey and review of published records, I report the occurrence of 13 species of fishes in fresh waters of Curacao. Seven species...
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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...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire’s mission is to ensure that Bonaire’s sea turtles have a secure future, and to connect people to sea turtle...
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In November 2019, vegetation scientists from Wageningen Environmental Research and Carmabi visited Bonaire, to study the succession of the vegetation...
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Abstract
The genus Alsophis used to be very abundant in the Lesser Antilles. Numbers have declined ascribed to anthropogenic causes and the...
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The use of moored fish aggregating devices (MFADs) has greatly expanded in the Caribbean region in recent decades.
States vary widely in the size,...
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This report describes a field visit to the Caribbean island of Bonaire aiming at collection of field data on the arid vegetation, which consists...
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Understanding how reef-associated sharks utilise coastal reef habitats throughout their ontogeny is essential for their effective management. In this...
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Abstract
Parrotfishes and surgeonfishes are major Caribbean herbivores that primarily graze reef algae and thereby play an important functional role...
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The distribution is presented in 1 km-grids, based on vegetation relevés and digitized data from herbarium specimen, photos, literature and...
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Research conducted by the Saba Bank Management Unit and Wageningen University and Research documented the third incidence of rapid lionfish...
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Abstract [en]
By addressing the study's two research questions, what impact tourism destination development strategies might have on visitor behavior...
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Abstract
Management of reef fish populations requires insight in their resilience to anthropogenic stressors. Studies on temporal variations in reef...
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Masters' Thesis Univeristy of Utrecht
The coral reef in Curaçao is facing a critical threat, with consequences ranging from increased flood...
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Reefs of the windward Netherlands Antilles (Saba, Saba Bank, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten) were assessed at 24 sites in the late 1999. The...
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established the Coral Reef Ecosystem Integrated Observing System (CREIOS) to provide...
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1. Effective conservation management requires a solid understanding of social and economic factors, in addition to biological factors affecting what...
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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...
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Abstract:
The introduction of mammals to islands is one of the leading causes of extirpation of native biota worldwide. Data gaps in the introduction...
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This month’s issue profiles several scientific discoveries with new implications for conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. On St. Eustatius, the first...
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Orthophoto mosaic of aerial photographs of Saba with a 20 cm resolution.
For more information read the report 'Production of Digital Terrain Models...
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Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, islands in the Caribbean, became Dutch municipalities in October 2010. These islands are considered hotspots of...
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Iguana delicatissima sightings on St. Eustatius, supported by RAVON (Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish Research Netherlands), STENAPA and the MSc...
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The commercial fishery of Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, was assessed for six months from June 1 through November 30, 2007, by conducting port...
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A greater understanding of coralbased communities must be achieved in order to maximize reef conservation efforts. While a multitude of studies have...
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Biodiversity of coral reef fish species is often related to the structural complexity and diversity of their habitats. This study explores the...
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During the Statia Marine Expedition species-habitat relations of algal communities were explored to identify biodiversity patterns, to assess whether...
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The research goal was to collect symbiotic copepods from most scleractinian species and to inspect common species of octocorals, sponges and...
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Research Aim
We compared the following two methods for creating a map of the current distribution of Coralita:
1) Observer/Expert-based ground survey...
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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...
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Policy Brief:
This study is part of the “Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Netherlands” (TEEB NL) study.
It is being conducted for the...
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This vegetation survey is the outcome of an investigation of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles carried out under the auspices of the Foundation...
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The genus Alsophis used to be very abundant in the Lesser Antilles. Numbers have declined ascribed to anthropogenic causes and the introduction of...
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Several mechanisms have been shown to influence species richness among island ecosystems, yet most studies limit their focus to a few predictor...
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BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
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In February 2015, the Government of Curaçao and the Waitt Institute signed a memorandum of understanding to launch Blue Halo Curaçao (BHC), a...
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We estimated occupancy, abundance (lambda), detection probability, density/ha and abundance of a regionally endemic snake in the Colubrid family on...
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Abstract
Small Islands (SIs) often have a small capacity to resist or recover from the increasing impacts of climate change and, therefore,...
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Abstract: A biodiversity survey on three corallivorous snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) was performed at 28 sites around the island of Bonaire to assess...
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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...
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1. BackgroundInvertebrates play a critica
l role in maintaining a resilient and healthy environment. These speciesare one of the most globally...
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The Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is recently being reported from multiple islands across the Lesser Antilles: Antigua, Dominica, St....
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Abstract:
Biotic resistance, the process by which new colonists are excluded from a community by predation from and/or competition with resident...
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Abstract:
Ecological studies have rarely been performed at the community level across a large biogeographic region. Sponges are now the primary...
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Assessment of the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) at the Pilot Hill site on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation...
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Soil map of St. Eustatius (GIS) based on historical paper maps, updated from field surveys.
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Mosaic of orthophotographs from 1991 with a 20 cm resolution. Orthophotographs are corrected for effects of elevation.
See this report for more info...
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Here we report on damage caused by tropical storm Bret, passing south of the island of Curacao at a distance of 110-145 km in August 1993. Damage on...
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Knowledge on the density, distribution and occurrence of whales and dolphins in the Caribbean Netherlands is sparse. This knowledge is needed as...
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A unique and novel stereotypic ‘smearing’ behavior and the formation of an odoriferous dorsal patch have been recently described in two species of...
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Environmental changes and deterioration have increased coral disease outbreaks, creating a Caribbean hot spot of high disease prevalence and...
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Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems found on earth, and are home to many habitat-specific fish. The Gobiidae family is known to be one...
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Tubastrea coccinea is an invasive coral species found on the reefs of Bonaire. These corals are typically seen at various densities (up to 80% m-2)...
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This article was published in the following report:
MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF ST. EUSTATIUS, DUTCH CARIBBEAN 2015 by Naturalis Biodiversity...
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We examine the effects of different biogeographic histories on assemblage composition in three major marine habitats in two biogeographically...
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The University of Wageningen (IMARES) has participated in research voyages to the Saba Bank in 2011, 2013 and 2015. Monitoring of coral reefs has...
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During a recent reef coral survey at the submarine Saba Bank (Eastern Caribbean), an uncommon and diverse assemblage of unattached scleractinian...
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Due to well-documented declines in many shark populations there is increasing pressure to implement new management and rebuilding strategies at the...
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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...
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The northwest coast of Curaçao is characterized by a series of Pleistocene-age reef terraces at four discrete elevations with dissolutional caves...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
How important is the unique Caribbean environment for the Dutch citizen? How does one value the worth of these islands’...
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Long-term monitoring of in-water life history stages of the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is essential for...
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Octocorals have increased in abundance on a number of Caribbean reefs, but this trend has largely been reported with functional group or genus...
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Island ecosystems are recognised as high priority for biodiversity conservation, with invasive species a significant threat. To investigate...
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Highlights
• We identified up to 161 human-derived conflicts which are related to marine turtle conservation initiatives.
• We found that each...
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The reefs surrounding Bonaire have long been renowned for their high abundance and diversity of scleractinian corals and for their long-time status...
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This review of copepod crustaceans associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, sponges and echinoderms of the Greater Caribbean is based on published...
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Green turtles Chelonia mydas and hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata are neg- atively impacted by natural and anthropogenic disturbances....
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Goats were introduced to the Caribbean islands almost five centuries ago resulting in direct and indirect changes in terrestrial and surrounding...
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Abstract: Bioerosion caused by boring mussels (Mytilidae: Lithophaginae) can negatively impact coral reef health. During biodiversity surveys of...
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Last December, a beetle catalogue for the Dutch Caribbean was published. This voluminous paper provides the first critical review of the beetle...
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Abstract
Small Islands (SIs) often have a small capacity to resist or recover from the increasing impacts of climate change and, therefore,...
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Raw data of terrestrial bird monitoring and vegetation description on Curacao collected for the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and Carmabi. ...
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Abstract. The Indo-Pacific octocoral Xenia sp. has been reported as a successful invasive species of the Venezuelan coral reefs (Southeastern...
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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...
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Global-scale deteriorations in coral reef health have caused major shifts in species composition. One projected consequence is a lowering of reef...
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As part of CIEE's Bonaire semester programs, each student conducts an independent research project on a topic of their choice. The projects...
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In 2010, we completed our 8th year of systematic research on the sea turtles of Bonaire. In this report you will read about the methods and results...
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Abstract:
We conducted an ichthyological survey during the dry season of 2006 on the semi-arid islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao to provide...
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Summary:
Shark populations have steeply declined worldwide due to unsustainable overexploitation and in this the Caribbean region is no exception....
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Geological map of Bonaire (GIS) based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys
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Geomorphological map of Saba (GIS), based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys.
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This field guide includes all the orchid species located during the orchid survey conducted between winter of 2002 to date of publication. In keeping...
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Abstract
Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) are impacting coral reefs worldwide. However, the factors and mechanisms driving their proliferation are...
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ABSTRACT
We used nightly surveys to monitor the status of building-dwelling gecko species on the southern Caribbean island, Curac ̧ ao. Two gecko...
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The occurrence of basking sharks in the Caribbean Sea is only recently documented by satellite tagging studies, which show that some individuals...
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Serranidae, the grouper family, are common carnivorous fish that inhabit Bonaire’s coral reefs. Smaller grouper species are commonly spotted along...
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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...
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The Scientific Committee (SC) of the IAC meets annually to discuss the annual reports of the member countries, and threats and impacts on sea turtles...
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This article was published in the following report:
MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF ST. EUSTATIUS, DUTCH CARIBBEAN 2015 by Naturalis Biodiversity...
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The anemone shrimp Periclimenes rathbunae Schmitt, 1924 (family Palaemonidae), is a common associate of shallow- water anthozoans in the tropical...
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Coral reefs serve as an important component of tropical marine ecosystems’ functionality and composition. However, coral cover in the Caribbean reefs...
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A baseline record of the marine fauna of St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands, was established during the Statia Marine Biodiversity Expedition in...
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Coral cover at lower mesophotic depths (particular- ly >75 m) by zooxanthellate scleractinians is usually very scarce, largely due to the...
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The honeycomb cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonius Poey, 1876 (Ostraciidae) is easily distinguishable from other Caribbean coral reef fish. Both...
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Student Report
The Simpson Bay Lagoon provides an important ecological value, as well as numerous ecosystem services to the community of Saint Martin...
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The launch of the Dutch Caribbean Species Register by Naturalis Biodiversity Center (2017)—https://www.dutchcaribbeanspecies.org/—raised the question...
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Scans of paper topographical maps of all of Bonaire.
6 paper maps have been stitched together and projected for use in GIS.
Year of publication is...
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Predictions for coral spawning events in the Southern Caribbean for 2020
Based on Carmabi’s surveys, a prediction is available of expected times and...
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Caribbean Christmas tree worms (Annelida: Polychaeta: Serpulidae: Spirobranchus) are considered host generalists in their associations with anthozoan...
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Land use map Bonaire at 2x2 m2 resolution, based on a classified Pleiades composite orthophoto the Bonaire vegetation survey and field observations...
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STINAPA report
Mass coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and widespread and poses a major threat to coral reefs worldwide. Mass coral bleaching...
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This vegetation survey is the outcome of an investigation of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles carried out under the auspices of the Foundation...
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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...
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Wageningen Marine Research and Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute released an updated report on the fishery trends for St. Eustatius between...
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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...
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Raw data of terrestrial bird monitoring on Bonaire.
Methodology: DCNA’s Bird Monitoring Handbook: An Introductory Guide to Monitoring Birds (Delnevo...
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MSc internship report
The health and abundance of coral reefs are declining worldwide. Coastal development, terrestrial runoff, the temperature rise...
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Abstract Evolutionary tradeoffs between life-history strategies are central to animal evolution. However, because microbes can influence...
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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...
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We assessed the status of coral reef benthic communities at Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, in December 2008 and January 2009 through ~5 km of photo...
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Abstract:
Artificial reefs are increasingly used worldwide as a method for managing recreational diving since they have the potential to satisfy both...
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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...
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Abstract:
Sponges are major epibionts of mangrove roots in the Caribbean. Mangrove sponge communities in the Caribbean mainly consist of species that...
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Soil map of Bonaire (GIS) based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys.
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Geological map of Saba (GIS) based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys
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We assessed the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation at the nest. We...
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Coral-associated invertebrates form a major part of the diversity on reefs, but their distribution and occurrence patterns are virtually unstudied....
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Stenorhynchus seticornis (Yellowline arrow crab) is a decapod crustacean native to the Western Atlantic in tropical and subtropical climates....
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Hermodice carunculata the bearded fireworm is abundant in Bonaire‘s coral reefs. The corallivorous fireworm is a voracious eater, and a generalist...
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This study investigated the reproductive behavior of the Caribbean Sergeant Major, Abudefduf saxatilis. The aim was to identify the possible...
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Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) are a dominant component of Caribbean coral communities. There can be up to 60 octocoral species on a single...
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This article was published in the following report:
MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF ST. EUSTATIUS, DUTCH CARIBBEAN 2015 by Naturalis Biodiversity...
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Researchers from the University of Wageningen under the leadership of sheries biologist Dr. Martin de Graaf and Twan Stoffers, have been working for...
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The ANEMOON Foundation is a Dutch volunteer organization of citizen scientists who are interested in sea life. The Foundation has started a project...
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Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) has been protecting sea turtles on Bonaire since 1991, so this year represents the 25th Anniversary of our...
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The authors adopt the name bonairensis for the Central Clade because the island of Bonaire has been sampled.
Abstract
We use extensive geographical...
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In the era of “Anthropocene defaunation,” large species are often no longer detected in habitats where they formerly occurred. However, it is unclear...
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Fringing reefs along the southwestern shores of the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire (12°N), located outside the most frequent hurricane...
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Mesophotic coral ecosystems, which occur at depths of ~40 to 150 m, have received recent scientific attention as potential refugia for organisms...
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Coral reefs are among the most valuable and threatened ecosystems on Earth. Lower species diversity, and subsequently reduced resilience, make...
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Locations (lat/lon) of sightings of Iguana recorded in:
2015, 191 sightings
2016, 89 sightings
2017, 114 sightings
2018, 70 sightings
No dates or...
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Recent exploratory research on poorly studied deep reefs in the Caribbean Sea has yielded substantial new information about the diversity of deep-...
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The photo-geological observations and land capability's land use survey of the island of Bonaire shows
1. topographical features and land use data...
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A series of recent surveys worked to highlight the important relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms. Studies were...
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Abstract
Mass coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and widespread and poses a major threat to coral reefs worldwide. Mass coral bleaching is a...
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Abstract
The Invasive Alien Green Iguana (IAGI), Iguana iguana, has spread worldwide via the pet trade, as stowaways and via other means and has...
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BioNews 47- Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and...
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Raw data of terrestrial bird monitoring on Saba collected for the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and Saba Conservation Foundation. ...
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MSc internship report
The Lesser Antilles hosts a high diversity of cetacean species, which are essential top marine predators whose abundance...
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Abstract:
St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) is the only environmental non-governmental organization on St Eustatius. In 1996, the...
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Abstract:
The reefs surrounding Bonaire have long been renowned for their high abundance and diversity of scleractinian corals and for their long-...
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Abstract:
We assessed the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation at...
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This month’s issue focuses attention on a very important species group – butterflies. Due to their sensitivity to environmental conditions,...
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Geomorphological map of Bonaire (GIS), based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys.
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Soil map of Saba (GIS) based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys.
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Background
The Caribbean pillar coral Dendrogyra cylindrus was recently listed as a threatened species under the United States Endangered Species Act...
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We assessed the breeding success of red-billed tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) at Pilot Hill on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation...
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Processes affecting reef ecosystems have three levels of organization: macroscale, mesoscale and microscale. These processes are conducive to...
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One of the most promising solutions to the growing shortage of potable water is the tapping of the oceans through desalination. Until recently the...
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In 2012 France established a marine mammal sanctuary, named Agoa after “Maï d’Agoa”, Mother or Spirit of the Water in Amerindian mythology. The Agoa...
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Orthopteran species on the Lesser Antilles islands of St Eustatius and Saba are poorly known. Recent field surveys and examinations of museum...
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Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves are critical to Bonairean society. In the last decades, various local and global developments...
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The St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) established the Sea Turtle Conservation Program following concerns that the island’s sea turtle...
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House geckos in the genus Hemidactylus are highly successful colonizers of regions beyond their native range, with colonization often resulting in...
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In 1997, the United Nations Environment’s Caribbean Environment Program (UNEP-CEP) convened a meeting of 50 MPA managers from which CaMPAM was born....
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The study of exposed carbonate platforms provides observational constraints on regional tectonics and sea-level history. In this work Miocene-aged...
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This report describes the activities undertaken by Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao (STCC) in 2017. While STCC officially became an NGO in May of 2017...
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Based on last year’s surveys, a prediction is now available of expected times and dates that some of the more abundant Caribbean coral species will...
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We utilize a high-resolution marine seismic dataset off leeward Bonaire in the South Caribbean to show sedimentary pathways between terrigenous and...
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In 1911, J. Smeulders & Co. at The Hague published the “Topographic map of Curaçao” in 18 pages, measuring 46 x 46 cm; nowadays known as the “...
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Based on last year’s surveys, a prediction is now available of expected times and dates that some of the more abundant Caribbean coral species will...
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Structural vegetation damage and food limitation are important effects of major hurricanes, particularly
for fruit/seed-eating, forest-dependent...
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Download the Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire Yearly Report 2020
Content:
introduction & backround
transect count surveys
Netting at lac bay...
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Abstract
The Lesser Antilles, in the Eastern Caribbean, is inhabited by three Iguana species: the Lesser Antillean iguana Iguana delicatissima,...
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Raw data of terrestrial bird monitoring on St.Eustatius by St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) and Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (...
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Excavating sponges are among the most important macro-eroders of carbonate substrates in marine systems. Their capacity to remove substantial amounts...
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Sponges are known to host a variety of invertebrates, including polychaete worms (Koukouras et al. 1996). Host sponges offer space and can serve...
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Management of reef fish populations requires insight in their resilience to anthropogenic stressors. Studies on temporal variations in reef fish...
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Dutch below
Two researchers from Wageningen University and Research surveyed the steep inner slopes of the Quill Volcano. The field work is part of...
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The Indo-Pacific lionfish species [Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) and P. miles (Bennett, 1828): Family Scorpaenidae] are the first nonnative...
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Abstract:
Based on a field survey and review of published records, I report the occurrence of 13 species of fishes in fresh waters of Curaçao. Seven...
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Abstract:
This study presents a comprehensive genetic analysis of stock structure for leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), combining 17...
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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...
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Abstract:
To investigate a potential relationship between financial and marine resource use decisions, we conducted a time preference experiment with...
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Geological map of St. Eustatius (GIS) based on historical paper maps updated from field surveys
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Although little fisheries data exist for red hind, Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus, 1758) on the Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, spawning aggregation...
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The composition, ecology and environmental conditions of mesophotic coral ecosystems near the lower limits of their bathymetric distributions remain...
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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...
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Seagrasses comprise 78 species and are rarely invasive. But the seagrass Halophila stipulacea, firstly recorded in the Caribbean in the year 2002,...
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Seagrass meadows provide a spectrum of anthropogenically important ecological functions. However, these ecosystems are globally declining under human...
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With the exception of Elysia crispata, shell-less Sacoglossa species (Order: Mollusca), have been widely studied. Within the Caribbean, these small...
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The island of Bonaire in the lesser Antillean islands is economically dependent on the tourism industry. A majority of tourists who visit the island...
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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...
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The hydroids of the Caribbean Sea have been the subject of a restricted number of taxonomical studies. So far, sporadic, taxonomical and/or...
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During the HNLMS 'TYDEMAN' bathymetric expedition on the Saba Bank, April - May 1996, two observers spent 7 weeks on board and to collect data on the...
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On the 6th of September powerful category five storm Hurricane Irma struck Sint Maarten with 185 MPH winds, causing widespread damage to the island...
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The St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) established the Sea Turtle Conservation Program following concerns that the island‟s sea turtle...
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Human land use causes major changes in species abundance and composition, yet native and exotic species can exhibit different responses to land use...
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Shallow marine macrophyte communities serve key roles in the tropical coastal ecosystem but are undergoing large and rapid deterioration worldwide,...
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Collective cell contractions that generate global tissue deformations are a signature feature of animal movement and morphogenesis. However, the...
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A team of researchers from Naturalis Biodiversity Center, ANEMOON Foundation, and colleagues from various intitutes, performed several bodiversity...
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BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
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Researchers from the Netherlands and Mexico studied three bays on Saint Martin to illustrate the ability of seagrass and algae fields to withstand...
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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...
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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...
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BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
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Abstract
Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are generally poorly studied, and our knowledge of lower MCEs (below 60 m depth) is largely limited to...
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Quantitative habitat mapping and description form the basis for understanding the provisioning of ecosystem services and habitat connectivity, and...
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ABSTRACT
The seismic network NA (Caribbean Netherlands Seismic Network) in the Caribbean Netherlands is deployed by the Royal Netherlands...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves are critical to Bonairean society. In the last decades, various...
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Abstract:
St. Eustatius Marine Park was established in 1996 and became actively managed in 1997 to conserve and protect the marine environment. It...
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Sponges are major components of benthic ecosystems, particularly on Caribbean reefs, where their importance in carbon cycling and ecosystem function...
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Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (ABC Islands) are located at the southern margin of the Caribbean Plate, just north of South America. Little is known of...
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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...
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Parrotfishes are important Caribbean herbivores that are believed to indirectly benefit corals by grazing algae; yet, some species also feed on live...
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Aruba has overstretched its resources beyond sustainable levels (ATA 2018). One of numerous factors putting pressure on Aruba’s natural resources is...
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Background
The Saba Bank, west of the Caribbean island of Saba, is a large (2400 km2) submerged carbonate platform of 15-40m depth rising from 800-...
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Abstract
With the transition of the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES) from the former Netherlands Antilles to special municipalities...
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This report characterizes the state of Bonaire’s reefs as of March 2005. We pay particular attention to structural and functional attributes of reefs...
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Abstract.
This dataset is a comprehensive, global compilation of published uranium–thorium (U-series) dated fossil coral records from ∼ 150 000–110...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
Healthy ecosystems such as the corals reef patches and forests on the characteristic Mount Scenery are critical to the...
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Policy Brief
The Challenge
Healthy ecosystems such as the corals reefs and the forests on the hillsides of Boven and the Quill are critical to the...
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ABSTRACT: Region-wide assessments of coral cover typically rely on meta-analyses of small- scale ecological studies which have combined different...
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This study is part of the research project “What is St Eustatius Nature Worth?”, a project that is part of The Economics of Ecosystems and...
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This study aims to value the services provided by nature to tourists on St Eustatius. The natural landscape, the coastal waters, the tranquillity and...
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The Caribbean Netherlands island of Saba is home to a unique but relatively unknown iguana population. Given the many threats faced by islands...
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Aruba’s natural capital value for tourism, culture, fishing and carbon exceeds US$ 287.3 million per year.
ARUBA, an island of 115,000 human...
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The Challenge
Healthy ecosystems such as the forests on the hillsides of the Quill on St Eustatius and Saba’s Mt Scenery or the corals reefs of...
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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...
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The Saba black iguana, Iguana (guana/melanoderma) is a Lesser Antillean endemic variety of the green iguana that is (likely) only found on...
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A semi-detailed landscape-based vegetation map (scale: 1: 37,500) is presented for the 13 km2 Lesser Antillean steep volcanic island of Saba,...
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Coral reefs in the Caribbean are degrading rapidly with a loss of ~50% in just 4 decades. The cause of this degradation is a combination of natural...
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Anthropogenically induced stressors are degrading coral reefs globally. Nutrients and bacteria present in wastewater increase the frequency and...
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Student Report
The present study investigated the abundance and distribution of protected seagrass associated species within the introduced Halophila...
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A dissertation for the degree of Doctor in Science Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya...
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Abstract:
Sea turtles are adversely affected by a range of factors, some natural and others caused by human activities, such as fishing operations....
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Findings
The main conclusion from this study is that no new fishing permits should be issued until a long-term fishery monitoring program is in place...
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Many publications on the Caribbean Flora and Fauna are accessible online.
During the last decades, biologists of Naturalis Biodiversity Center and...
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The 71st annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) was held in San Andres, (Colombia) from 5–9 November 2018. This...
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Caribbean coral reefs have been declining for decades due to a combination of anthropogenic drivers such as unsustainable fishing practises,...
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Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below
Since February 2022 there have been reports of Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema) die off from a number...
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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...
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Abstract - Due to multiple stressors, many coral reefs are degrading. Shifts from a coral
dominated system to an alternate phase are observed. For...
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Summary:
Recent inventories have documented no less than 211 exotic alien species in the wild for the Dutch Caribbean. These amount to no less than...
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Coral reefs are declining worldwide. The abundance of corals has decreased alongside the rise of filter feeders, turf and algae in response to...
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Abstract:
St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) is the only active environmental non-government organization on St. Eustatius, and was...
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Each of the six Dutch Caribbean islands have their own unique draw, enticing visitors from around the world each year. From environments ranging from...
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Coral reefs provide some of the most valuable ecosystem services for the islands. They are a driver of tourism, they protect against storms, and...
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Student thesis
Coral reefs are some of the most economically valuable and biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth. Current trends show that...
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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...
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Lac Bay, Bonaire is the most important mangrove and seagrass area of Bonaire and has been undergoing steady ecological decline in the last decades....
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Abstract
Until recently, minke whale sightings in the northern Atlantic Ocean (NA) were thought to belong
exclusively to the common species...
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Tunicates belong to the subphylum Tunicata in the phylum Chordata, which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notocords. Some tunicates...
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Caribbean flora and fauna have always coped with the destructive forces of hurricanes. However, climate change leading to an increase in their...
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Dutch below
Sint Eustatius’ once-thriving coral reefs are now mere survivors, facing a decline from 25% hard coral cover in 1999 to less than 2.5%...
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The Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima (Laurenti 1768) is a Lesser Antillean endemic (Anguilla to Martinique, with the exception of Saba...
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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 ...
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In 2015 an Expert group assessed the ten Dutch World Heritage candidate sites and advised the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science with regards...
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The Nature funding from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) (previously Ministry of Economic Affairs), has helped...
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The Dutch Caribbean Islands are a treasure trove of rare and endemic (sub) species. Island endemic (sub) species, that is (sub) species restricted to...
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There is strong link between economy and nature in the Dutch Caribbean due to our economic dependence on nature-based tourism. TEEB Aruba - The...
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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...
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A new study compared the effectiveness of three popular artificial reefs to increase fish densities around Saba and St Eustatius. The researchers...
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Summary
Over the last 10 years, the Caribbean Netherlands fisheries on Saba and St. Eustatius have been monitored and multiple assessment reports...
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Abstract:
My thesis research builds on the ‘movement’ to value nature. This movement as I call it started as early as 1970 with a theory to quantify...
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This document contains a detailed program overview
The Junior Ranger Program is an out-of-school nature education program run by STINAPA to help ...
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Tourism is an attractive development option for countries where other alternatives for development are limited. It namely creates among others...
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The Nature Conservation Network Organization the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) hosted its biannual Board Meeting on Sint Maarten between...
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Sint Eustatius was hit by two major hurricanes, Irma and Maria, during the high-intensity season of 2017. Two new studies aid our understanding of...
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The journal of the Netherlands Malacological Society, Vita Malacologica, dedicated its December 2017 edition to the malacofauna of the Dutch...
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To inform decision makers about the most effective strategies to protect the ecosystems of Bonaire, a full-scale valuation of all ecosystem services...
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Nederlands below:
Diadema sea-urchins play a vital role in maintaining a balanced coral reef ecosystem and their restoration is essential to assist...
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In exciting news for the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP), a sighting of Aegires sublaevis, a rare nudibranch, was documented at the Cliff dive...
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Each year, hawksbill and green turtles, and sometimes even leatherback turtles, come to the beaches of Statia to lay their eggs. New protocols,...
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Abstract:
The Netherlands are signatories of the international Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This implies that the nation will protect...
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The Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) hosted two “Economic Value of Nature” workshops on St. Eustatius from 3-6 April 2017. These...
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Abstract:
This document is an orientation to sources of funding for protected areas and biodiversity conservation. It is designed to serve as a...
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Non-native species pose a threat to biodiversity across the globe. The majority of modern extinctions occur on islands, and competition and predation...
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In July 2017, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) Foundation initiated a project to restore coastal and terrestrial biodiversity by...
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Approach:
Eutrophication is a common threat to the integrity of coral reefs as it can cause altered balance and integrity of the reef ecosystem. On...
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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...
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The Saba Bank is a 2200 km2 shallow bank area that lies fully within the Dutch Kingdom’s Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters. In recent...
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Content:
Chapter 1: Cranial Specializations of Parrotfishes, Genus Scarus (Scarinae, Labridae) for Scraping Reef Surfaces
By Kenneth W. Gobalet...