Aruba

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-Disease, die-off of sea urchin populations, and coral bleaching. Local stressors, like coastal water pollution and eutrophication, have amplified this decline. The ecosystem services of coral reefs offer opportunities for tourism, recreation, employment and biodiversity. In Aruba, coral cover is naturally low due to a high abundance of sand, leaving less benthic area available for coral growth. The outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease in Aruba in December 2022 presented a new threat for local coral reef communities. Assessment of coral cover is necessary to devise methods to mitigate the stressors that corals in Aruba face. In this study, 12 sites were identified that reflect the heterogeneous status of Aruba’s coral reefs for investigation to examine coral health and the development of the ecosystem since 2019. While on average, coral cover remained constant, almost half of the surveyed sites showed an increase in (macro)algae cover coupled with a decrease in coral cover, indicating stress on coral reefs. Five out of 12 sites showed a degrading ecosystem trend within the last four years. By assessing the spread of stony coral tissue loss from the surveyed data, a metric for the development of Aruba’s coral reefs was determined. We found that nine coral species, including important reef-building coral species such as Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella annularis and Orbicella faveolata have been infected by the disease. About six months after the outbreak of the disease,  13 % of all coral showed signs of the disease. This number is expected to increase, indicating strong changes for Aruba’s coral reefs in the near future.

Abstract

Robert L. Norton encountered a Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) approximately 60 km NNW of Aruba, providing Aruba’s first record of this species. Given the pelagic distribution of this species during the non-breeding season, and nine antecedent records from Bonaire and Curaçao, additional records seem likely for Aruba, especially given an increase in reports of seabirds from cruise ships off Aruba

Abstract

Red-billed Tropicbirds have historically been considered rare visitors to the waters around the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire in the southern Caribbean. However, in recent years there has been an increase in documented records. We summarize all known Red-billed Tropicbird records for the region and review broader regional population and movement data to place this increase in records in context. We recommend continued careful documentation of Red-billed Tropicbird records on and around the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire and the implementation of a standardized monitoring pro-gram across the Caribbean range for the species to better understand the species' population status, trends, and breeding and at-sea distribution

ABSTRACT

Based on Sen’s capabilities approach, the UNDP’s Human Development Index is commonly used to measure development beyond income alone and includes indicators for other social aspects like health and education. In this thesis, I estimate HDI for Aruba based on Human Development Report Outlook Technical Notes, and explore the directional relationship between HD and EG. I use a VAR model and Granger causality test to establish the relationship in the context of Aruba. This research finds that a strong unidirectional flow exists from HD to EG, but not the other way around. In addition, I provide insights into the possible reasons for the results. Although this relationship is unstable over the studied period, and HDI does not capture all aspects of wellbeing, this study’s results are important for its implications for Aruban development policies and stakeholders interested in achieving sustainable economic growth and development in SIDS. The findings imply a focus on HD is essential to achieving sustained EG in the future.

ABSTRACT A new species of small cone shell, in the conilithine genus Jaspidiconus, has been discovered from off the Malmok area of Aruba. The new species, Jaspidiconus hendrikae, is morphologically-closest to another Aruban endemic cone, Jaspidiconus vantwoudti Petuch, Berschauer, and Poremski, 2015, which was found at Arashi Beach, Noord District, Aruba.

Abstract

This research identifies opportunities to accelerate the SET towards a 100% RE based on Aruba. This thesis is structured in three parts: 1) a literature review to assess the main relevant theories. 2) A conceptual framework combining the Strategic Niche Management and the Multi-level Perspective is developed to analyse and compare case studies of RE technologies (Solar PV Rooftops, Electric Vehicle and Wind Turbines), including the external factors enabling or constraining this SET. 3) Finally, a roadmap is provided to accelerate the SET on the island of Aruba. Data collection is through literature review, desk research and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the actors’ group (government, market and society).

The main research question: What is constraining the SET on the island of Aruba, and how can this be accelerated?
To accelerate the SET: at the regime level, the government should introduce an independent entity and an energy policy where the network-related is aligned to support the targets and expectations. At the niche level, utility managers should implement energy storage and intelligent infrastructure to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and enable demand-side management to create more room for RE penetration. At the landscape level, raising awareness, organise town hall meetings with pilot projects and demonstrations is necessary for society. Due to the limited space and land on the island, environmental impact assessments are required to mitigate the impact during the development process and avoid social resistance.
The education system should be upgraded to create new experiences, knowledge and information for local society. Hence, introducing a technical university is required but generally to change the teaching practice locally. The government’s responsibility is to stimulate more research, create more RE demonstrations, and create funds.
The research conducted by the universities, local and international, could ultimately improve regulatory measures. Utility and RE companies’ managers should consider that new business models will be necessary to survive in the new RE business environment. Other RET should also be explored, primarily because the current RET outcomes are unknown. The SET can be accelerated towards a 100% RE-based island by adopting these measures.

A bird checklist is a snapshot in time. A checklist becomes outdated the moment a new species is registered. This checklist is based on seven sources that were cross checked. The oldest work used in this research dates back to 1983 and is from Professor Voous who presented 179 species of birds for Aruba back then. Of course, the number of species in subsequent lists increases with time. We also found that some authors had one or more observations than others did. Cross checking the sources has been a valuable instrument in the analysis process. From 2010 to date, 16 new observations for Aruba have been made. These have been added to the checklist, rendering the number of species observed at this time in Aruba at 252 species.
 

A visit to Aruba during April 2013 yielded three species previously unrecorded there: Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Swainson’s Flycatcher (Myiarchus swainsoni), and Veery (Catharus fuscescens). Seven other species with fewer than five an- tecedent records from the island were detected plus another not seen since 1980. All documentation and photographs are on file at the University of Amsterdam, Department of Zoology. 

ABSTRACT Two new members of the Caribbean Province endemic conid genus Tenorioconus Petuch and Drolshagen, 2011 are described from the Netherlands Antilles island of Aruba. One of the new species, Tenorioconus monicae n. sp., was found to belong to the Tenorioconus mappa species complex and is most similar to the Venezuelan coastal species T. sanguineus (Kiener, 1850) and T. caracanus (Hwass, 1792). The other new species, T. rosi n. sp., was found to belong to the T. aurantius species complex and is most similar to the Aruban endemic T. curassaviensis (Hwass, 1792) and the Curacao and Bonaire endemic T. aurantius (Hwass, 1792). The discovery of these two new taxa demonstrates that three distinct, endemic species of Tenorioconus occur in shallow water areas around Aruba. 

Established in 1982, the Aruba Island rattlesnake Crotalus unicolor Species Survival Plan (SSP) is the longest continual functioning snake conservation effort of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). The captive population has been maintained as an assurance population for the most threatened snake on Aruba. Over the last 26 years, 27 potential founders were imported for assimilation into the SSP to maintain genetic diversity. By 2014, the gene diversity in the captive population was over 94%. In 1986, the SSP began working in partner- ship with Arubans to aid the conservation of the rattle- snake and its ecosystem on the Island. This in situ programme has included ecological research, training, management recommendations, capacity building, workshops, public relations and education. These efforts have been integrated into a holistic long-term project that has resulted in many significant conservation suc- cesses. The extensive efforts made by the AZA and SSP to ensure the continued survival of C. unicolor are a model for zoo-based conservation efforts involving reptiles.