Citizen science

ABSTRACT

SISSTEM “Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” is a higher educational programme created in 2019 at the University of Aruba in response to the need for engineering education and research in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In this contribution, the SISSTEM programme is introduced, and how SISSTEM equips engineering students with hard and soft skills while addressing local sustainability challenges is showcased through two case studies.  The first case study presents a bachelor course that combines sustainability theory with a teamwork project in which students conduct an energy audit to a local institution. With this course, students acquire skills to support the energy transition in Aruba. The second case study focuses on the involvement of university students in the creation of a citizen science mobile phone app to tackle waste challenges. This case study presents how students can become agents of change to contribute solving waste management challenges on the island. Overall, these two case studies showcase how by combining theory and project-based education, students learn to integrate STEM knowledge into multidisciplinary solutions to complex sustainability challenges. In fact, given the cross-cutting nature of sustainability transitions, educating students in integrating the natural environment, technical, social, and economic aspects in engineering solutions is key to increase resilience of islands. As such, at SISSTEM, students acquire hard skills related to their engineering specialisation, as well as soft skills such as integration of disciplines, contextualization, and collaboration.   

Abstract

Of   the   boreal-  and   Arctic-    breeding North     American shorebirds that   migrate south through the   Caribbean, most    individuals continue farther south.     However, for   many species, some    individuals remain beyond the   southbound migration period (i.e., throughout the   temperate winter and/or summer). This   variation among individuals adds   complexity to  observation data,    obscures migration patterns, and   could    preventthe   examination of  the   use   of  different Caribbean regions by  various shorebird species during     migration and   in  the   nonmigratory seasons. Here,    we   present a  novel    method that   leverages a  well-   established statistical approach (generalized additive models) to systematically identify migration phenology even    for   complex passage migrant spe -cies   with    individuals that   remain beyond migration. Our   method identifies the   active migration period    using    derivatives of  a  fitted    GAM   and   then   calculates phenology metrics   based    on  quantiles of  that   migration period. We   also   developed indices to  quantify oversummering and   overwintering patterns with    respect to  migration. We   analyzed eBird    data    for   16  North    American shorebird species as  they    traveled South    through the   insular Caribbean, identifying separate migratory patterns for   Cuba,    Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and   Trinidad and   Tobago. Our   results confirm past   reports and   provide additional detail    on   shorebird migration in  the   Caribbean, and   identify several previously unpublished regional patterns. Despite Puerto Rico being    farther north    and   closer    to  continental North    America, most  species reached Puerto Rico   later    than    other    regions, supporting a  long-   standing hypothesis that   mi -gration strategy (transcontinental vs.   transoceanic) leads    to  geographic differences in  migration timing. We   also   found  distinct patterns of  migration curves, with    some regions and   species consistently having either    symmetrical or  skewed curves; these differences in  migration curve    shape    reflect     different migration processes. Our   novel  method proved reliable and   adaptable for   most    species and   serves     as  a  valuable tool for   identifying phenological patterns in  complex migration data,    potentially unlocking previously intractable data.

Dutch, Papiamentu and Papiamento below

Since 2018 Wageningen University & Research and Carmabi cooperate in bringing together historical and recent data on vegetation composition and plant species distribution on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. Plant observations from this CACTUS database are now online available through the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD) website (http://speciesdistribution.dcbd.nl). The website has been launched on Aruba in the first week of December. 

The CACTUS database consists of about 2500 digitized vegetation relevés, resulting in about almost 40,000 plant species observations. These have been complemented by about 10,000 plant records from digital photos, citizen science databases, GBIF, inventory reports and additional field records. For more than 80% of the occurring total of native and naturalised non-native vascular plant species on the six islands some observations are now available, mainly covering the period 1950-2022. Currently, an NLBIF project is carried out aiming at digitizing additional historical herbarium records for all six islands.  

Data are presented on a 1×1 km grid resolution on the website (figure 1). Geographically more detailed data are available upon request, for scientific and conservation purposes. The website allows the selection of observations within time periods, which enables trend analysis of distribution patterns of species, (figure 2), especially in cases that the data availability is similar in compared periods. Trend analysis are an essential tool for constructing Red Lists of endangered species. Furthermore, it is possible to see data gaps for specific species, which may encourage enthusiastic plant hunters to provide new observation records of these plants.

Figure 1. On the species distribution website you have to choose an island and the scientific name of a plant species. In the map the distribution of the columnar cactus Stenocereus griseus on the island of Aruba is shown, based on the available observation data.

Figure 2. Distribution on Saba of the non-native orchid Oeceoclades maculata in the period 1990-2000 (left; no observations are known from before 1990) and after 2000 (right). An increase of occurrences of this species is also known from other Caribbean islands.

The amount of observations per island differs strongly, with by far the most records (56%) coming from Curaçao, followed by Aruba (13%) and Bonaire (11%). For Sint Maarten data are still relatively scarce. New records are added on a regular basis, after which the presented data on the DCBD website are updated.  

The non-native orchid Oeceoclades maculata in flower (photo by Michiel Boeken).

A shoco (Athene cunicularia arubensis) sitting on the columnar cactus Stenocereus griseus (photo by John Janssen).

Text: John Janssen, André van Proosdij, Stephan Hennekens (Wageningen Environmental Research) and Erik Houtepen (Carmabi Foundation, Curaçao). 

Verspreiding van plantensoorten op de Nederlands Caribische eilanden nu online

Sinds 2018 werken Wageningen University & Research en Carmabi samen in het samenbrengen van historische en recente data over vegetatiesamenstelling en verspreiding van plantensoorten op de zes Nederlands Caribische eilanden. Plantwaarnemingen uit deze CACTUS-database zijn nu online beschikbaar via de Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD)-website (http://speciesdistribution.dcbd.nl). De website werd in de eerste week van december op Aruba gelanceerd.  

De CACTUS-database bestaat uit ongeveer 2500 gedigitaliseerde vegetatie relevés, resulterend in ongeveer 40.000 waarnemingen van plantensoorten. Deze zijn aangevuld met ongeveer 10.000 plantwaarnemingen van digitale foto’s, burger wetenschappelijke databases, GBIF, inventarisrapporten en aanvullende veldwaarnemingen. Voor meer dan 80% van het totaal aantal voorkomende inheemse en genaturaliseerde uitheemse vaatplantensoorten op de zes eilanden zijn nu enkele waarnemingen beschikbaar, voornamelijk voor de periode 1950-2022. Momenteel wordt een NLBIF-project uitgevoerd dat gericht is op het digitaliseren van aanvullende historische herbariumarchieven voor alle zes de eilanden. 

Gegevens worden gepresenteerd op de website op een rasterresolutie van 1×1 km (Figuur 1). Geografisch meer gedetailleerde gegevens zijn op verzoek beschikbaar, voor wetenschappelijke en conservatiedoeleinden. De website staat de selectie van waarnemingen binnen tijdsperioden toe, wat trendanalyse van verspreidingspatronen van soorten mogelijk maakt (Figuur 2), vooral in gevallen waarin de beschikbaarheid van gegevens in vergeleken periodes vergelijkbaar is. Trendanalyse is een essentieel hulpmiddel voor het opstellen van Rode Lijsten van bedreigde diersoorten. Bovendien is het mogelijk om gegevenshiaten voor specifieke soorten te zien, wat enthousiaste plantenjagers kan aanmoedigen om nieuwe waarnemingsgegevens van deze planten te verstrekken. 

Figuur 1. Op de soortenverspreidingswebsite kiest u een eiland en de wetenschappelijke naam van een plantensoort. Op de kaart is de verspreiding van de zuilcactus Stenocereus griseus op het eiland Aruba weergegeven, gebaseerd op de beschikbare waarnemingsgegevens.

Figuur 2. Verspreiding van de uitheemse orchidee Oeceoclades maculata op Saba in de periode 1990-2000 (links: geen waarnemingen bekend van voor 1990; en rechts: na 2000). Een toename in het voorkomen van deze soort is ook bekend van andere Caribische eilanden.  

Het aantal waarnemingen per eiland verschilt sterk, met verreweg de meeste op Curaçao (56%), gevolgd door Aruba (13%) en Bonaire (11%). Voor Sint Maarten zijn gegevens nog relatief schaars. Nieuwe waarnemingen worden regelmatig toegevoegd, waarna de gepresenteerde data op de DCBD-website worden bijgewerkt. 

Staat de uitheemse orchidee Oeceoclades maculata in bloei (foto credit: Michiel Boeken).

Een shoco (Athene cunicularia arubensis) zittend op de zuilcactus Stenocereus griseus (foto credit: John Janssen).

Tekst: John Janssen, André van Proosdij, Stephan Hennekens (Wageningen Environmental Research) en Erik Houtepen (Carmabi Foundation, Curaçao). 

Plamamentu di espesie di mata riba e islanan hulanda karibense ta online awor akí

For di 2018 Wageningen University & Research i Carmabi ta traha huntu pa trese informashon históriko i informashon resien tokante komposishon di vegetashon i plamamentu di espesie di mata na e seis islanan hulanda karibense huntu. Awor akí opservashon di mata for di e CACTUS-database akí ta disponibel online via wèpsait di DCBD (http://speciesdistribution.dcbd.nl). Den e promé siman di desèmber a lansa e wèpsait na Aruba (potrèt 1).  

E CACTUS-database ta konsistí di mas òf ménos 2500 parsela di vegetashon digitalisá, loke ta resultá den mas òf ménos 40.000 opservashon di espesie di mata. A komplementá esakinan ku mas òf ménos 10.000 registrashon di mata for di potrèt digital, database di siensia kaminda suidadanonan ta hunga un ròl aktivo, GBIF, rapòrt di inventarisashon i registrashon adishonal di vèlt. Pa mas ku 80% di e kantidat total di espesie di mata vaskular indígeno i eksótiko naturalisá ku ta presente riba e seis islanan, awor akí tin algun opservashon disponibel, ku prinsipalmente ta kubri e periodo di 1950 – 2022. Aktualmente ta ehekutando un proyekto di NLBIF ku ta enfoká riba digitalisashon di registrashonnan di herbario históriko adishonal pa tur e seis islanan. 

Ta presentá e informashonnan riba un resolushon di roster di 1×1 km riba e wèpsait (figura 1). Informashon geográfiko mas detayá ta disponibel riba petishon, pa metanan sientífiko i di konservashon. E wépsait ta hasi  selekshon di opservashon dentro di periodonan di tempu posibel, loke ta hasi análisis di tendensia di patronchi di plamamentu di espesie posibel (figura 2), prinsipalmente den kasonan kaminda disponibilidat di informashon ta komparabel den e periodonan ku a kompará. Análisis di tendensia ta un instrumento esensial pa formulashon di Lista Kòrá di espesie di bestia menasá. Ademas ta posibel pa mira kaminda tin bashí den informashon pa espesienan spesífiko, loke por enkurashá yagdó di mata entusiasmá pa duna informashon nobo di opservashon di e matanan akí.  

Figura 1. Riba e wèpsait di plamamentu di espesie bo tin ku skohe un isla i e nòmber sientífiko di un espesie di mata. Riba e mapa a ilustrá plamamentu di e kadushi Stenocereus griseus na Aruba, basá riba e informashonnan di opservashon ku ta disponibel. Riba potrèt 2 por mira un shoko (Athene cunicularia arubensis) sintá riba e tipo di kadushi akí (potrèt di John Janssen).  

Figura 2. Plamamentu na Saba di e orkidia eksótiko Oeceoclades maculata den periodo di 1990 – 2000 (na man robes: no tin opservashon konosí di promé ku 1990) i despues di aña 2000 (na man drechi). Un oumento di presensia di e espesie akí ta konosí tambe di otro islanan karibense. Riba potrèt 3 e orkidia akí ta floriando (potrèt di Michiel Boeken).  

E kantidat di opservashon ta diferensiá hopi pa kada isla, kaminda un  mayoria grandi di opservashon (56%) ta prosedente di Kòrsou, siguí pa Aruba (13%) i Boneiru (11%). Pa Sint Maarten ainda informashon ta relativamente skars. Regularmente ta añadí registrashon nobo, despues di kua ta aktualisá e informashonnan presentá riba wèpsait di DCBD.   

A shoco (Athene cunicularia arubensis) sitting on the columnar cactus Stenocereus griseus (photo by John Janssen).

The non-native orchid Oeceoclades maculata in flower (photo by Michiel Boeken).

Teksto: John Janssen, André van Proosdij, Stephan Hennekens (Wageningen Environmental Research) i Erik Houtepen (Carmabi Foundation, Kòrsou). 

DISTRIBUCION DI ESPECIE DI MATA NA E ISLANAN DI CARIBE HULANDES AWOR ONLINE

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA, 5 DECEMBER 2022 – 2018 Wageningen University y Research y Carmabi ta traha hunto pa colecciona dato historico y reciente tocante composicion di vegetacion y distribucion di cierto especie di mata na e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes.  Observacionnan di mata di e database CACTUS aki awor ta disponibel online a traves di e website di DCBD (http://speciesdistribution.dcbd.nl). A lansa e website na  Aruba den e prome siman di december (potret 1). 

E database  CACTUS ta consisti di alrededor di 2500 releves di vegetacion digitalisa, resultando den casi 40.000 observacion di especie di mata. Esakinan a keda complementa pa casi 10.000 registro di mata di potret digital, database di cientifica di ciudadano, GBIF, reportahe di inventario y registracion adicional di veld. Pa mas di 80% di e total di e especienan di mata vascular nativo y no nativo presente na e seis islanan, awor ta dispone di algun observacion, cu ta cubri principalmente e periodo di 1950 pa 2022. Actualmente ta ehecutando un proyecto NLBIF cu meta pa digitalisa registro di herbario historico adicional pa tur e seis islanan. 

E datonan ta presenta riba un resolucion cuadra di 1×1 km den e website (figura 1). E datonan geograficamente mas detaya ta disponibel riba peticion, cu meta cientifico y di conservacion. E website ta permiti seleccion di observacion dentro di temporada di aña, unda ta permiti analisis di tendencia di distribuicion di cierto especie (figura 2), specialmente den caso di datonan ta similar den e periodo compara. E analisis di tendencia ta un herment esencial pa construi lista cora di especie den peliger di extincion. Ademas ta posibel pa mira gap di data pa especienan specifico, loke por anima e jaagdonan di mata entusiasma pa provee registro di observacion nobo di e matanan aki. 

Figura 1. Den e website di distribucion di e especienan, mester scoge un isla y e nomber cientifico di un especie di mata. Riba e mapa ta mustra e distribucion di cadushi Stenocereus griseus riba e isla di Aruba, y ta basa nan mes riba e datonan di observacion disponibel. Riba potret 2, un shoco (Athene cunicularia arubensis) posando riba e especie aki di cadushi (potret di John Janssen). 

Figura 2. Distribucion na Saba di e orkidia no nativa Oeceoclades maculata den e periodo di 1990-2000 (na banda robes; no tin observacion conoci di prome cu 1990) y despues di 2000 (na banda drechi). Tambe ta conoce un aumento di e ocurencianan di e especie aki na e otro islanan di Caribe. Potret 3 ta mustra e orkidia floriando (potret di Michiel Boeken). 

E cantidad di observacion pa isla ta diferencia hopi, cu mayoria di e registronan (56 %) ta bini di Corsou, sigui pa Aruba (13 %) y Boneiro (11 %). Pa Sint Maarten, e datonan ainda ta relativamente scars. Ta agrega registro nobo riba base regular, despues di cua ta actualisa e data presenta den e website di DCBD. 

A shoco (Athene cunicularia arubensis) sitting on the columnar cactus Stenocereus griseus (photo by John Janssen).

The non-native orchid Oeceoclades maculata in flower (photo by Michiel Boeken).

Texto: John Janssen, Andre van Proosdij, Stephan Hennekens (Wageningen Environmental Research) y Erik Houtepen (Fundacion Carmabi, Corsou). 

Published in BioNews 60

Chaetopteridae forms a monophyletic clade showing an uncertain position within Annelida. The family has 75 ubiquitous species within four genera that cluster in two well-supported clades (Chaetopterus–Mesochaetopterus and Spiochaetopterus–Phyllochaetopterus) and includes several cryptic species complexes. Based on integrative taxonomy and supported by citizen science, here we describe one new and two unnamed species of Caribbean chaetopterids. Partial sequences from the nuclear 18S rRNA and mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I genes of all known chaetopterid genera allowed us to (1) discuss the phylogeny of the family and (2) assign the three species into Mesochaetopterus (two) and Phyllochaetopterus (one). Mesochaetopterus stinapa, sp. nov. clearly diverged from all species of the genus, whereas Mesochaetopterus aff. xerecus forms a separate clade with Mesochaetopterus rogeri (Europe) and Mesochaetopterus xerecus (Brazil). Phyllochaetopterus aff. verrilli forms a separate clade with Phyllochaetopterus arabicus (Red Sea) and the closely related sequences from Hawai’i, Australia and French Polynesia attributed to Phyllochaetopterus verrilli (or cf. verrilli). Despite observing differences in morphology (e.g. palp colour pattern, presence or absence of eyespots, chaetal morphology and arrangement) and biogeographical distributions, only the erection of M. stinapa as a new species is well supported by the genetic distance, barcoding gap and species discrimination analyses. Our results emphasise the existence of cryptic species complexes within Mesochaetopterus and Phyllochaetopterus, whose taxonomy will require further morphological, biogeographical and molecular data to be resolved.

Request full text here: https://www.publish.csiro.au/IS/IS21081

Correspondence to: dani@ceab.csic.es

DCNA is partnering with the Caribbean Islands Manta Conservation Program, an affiliate project of the Manta Trust, and Observation.org to track local manta rays and devil rays within the Dutch Caribbean. Through individuals reporting their (old and new) sightings and interactions with mantas and devil rays, researchers are hoping to learn more about local populations to shed light on this mysterious species.

Manta Rays and devil rays

Manta and devil rays are highly charismatic and have some of the largest brains of all fish species. Although they can be found throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate waters worldwide, they are highly threatened, often victims of fishing. Whether caught as bycatch or targeted for their gill plates, which are valuable on the black market and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, populations of this species are dwindling, leaving them endangered.

Mantas and devil rays are some of the largest of the ray family, reaching sizes of up to 7 meters wide. Until only a few years ago, manta rays were thought to be a single species of their own genus, but they are now considered to be part of the mobulid genus, along with the devil rays.  Two distinct species of manta ray have been identified, yet a third is likely. Oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) are the largest mobulids and are found worldwide, typically in open ocean water.  Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are found in the Indian and West Pacific Oceans, more commonly along coastlines and coral reefs. A third species of manta ray, the Caribbean manta ray or Mobula c.f. birostris has been proposed, and scientists are working to confirm the distinct species.  Caribbean manta rays are likely sympatric to the oceanic manta ray and found in the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

All mobula species are filter feeders, swimming along with their mouths open, sieving out zooplankton and krill from the water. They’re known to use creative techniques involving repeated somersaults to create a cyclone effect, trapping their food in the water column.  Unlike stingrays, they have no stinger or barb in their tail and are completely harmless to humans.  Manta rays and devil rays will always be on the move through the water, as they are ram-ventilators and must continuously swim to run water over their gills.  They can swim very quickly but they can also be quite curious about divers and will often circle around to investigate, especially when divers or snorkelers are calm in the water.

Manta rays often make regular visits to the reef, particularly to known cleaning stations where smaller fish feed off larger fish, removing parasites and dead skin. Knowing these locations and tracking regular visitors can help researchers understand more about mantas’ life cycles and migration patterns.  Many of the sightings from the Dutch Caribbean have been of feeding manta rays in areas of dense plankton concentration.

Manta rays can be identified as individuals by the unique spot pattern on their ventral side or belly. Using a photograph of these spots, researchers can track individuals over time, perhaps across international borders.  Anyone with a camera can take a photo of manta ray and all images are helpful regardless of showing the mantas spot pattern.  Even images taken from land or a boat can be helpful in determining seasonal movements and aggregation sites.

Around the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, Mobula birostris and Mobula c.f. birostris as well as two species of devil ray, Mobula hypostoma and Mobula tarapacana have been identified.  Sightings appear to be infrequent and unpredictable; however, researchers are hoping to learn more with increased data and reports.

© Peter Verhoog/DutchSharkSociety/PEW

Highly Threatened

Although manta rays are long-lived, with expected life spans of 30-50 years, females are slow to sexually mature and tend to only have one pup every two to five years. Threatened by overfishing, these species have seen a drastic decrease in their numbers worldwide. Luckily since 2011, mantas have been protected within international waters by the Convention on Migratory Species as well as a variety of local conservation efforts such as the establishment of the Yarari Sanctuary in the Dutch Caribbean. Much of this has been driven by countries realizing the economic value these species can generate, as many tourists will travel from around the world to see these creatures first hand. In fact, one study estimated that a single ray could generate up to one million dollars in its lifetime.

In 2020, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) changed the status of oceanic manta rays from vulnerable to endangered, signifying that they need further conservation worldwide.  This species and the putative third species, the Caribbean Manta Ray, are the two most sighted in the Dutch Caribbean waters. It’s essential to continue researching these species to protect them and their habitats for the future.

The Project

Together with the Caribbean Islands Manta Conservation Program, an affiliate project of the Manta Trust and Observation.org, DCNA is working to catalog local manta populations and educate residents and visitors about these incredible species. By reporting sightings and interactions with mantas in the Dutch Caribbean, individuals can contribute to this database. Each sighting can be validated using either an automatic or manual method, especially with the manta conservation program staff validating species for Observation.org.

The Manta Trust collects information on manta ray sightings worldwide, and they have now recorded more than 120 encounters throughout the Dutch Caribbean. DCNA and the Caribbean Islands Manta Conservation Program are currently working to build a regional database of ID photos from citizen scientist and researchers. More than 20 individual manta rays have been identified in the Dutch Caribbean, and lucky photographers have named some of these individuals.  Recently, Caribbean manta rays from Bonaire were named Caicai (reported by Bas Tol) and Ari (reported by Arinae Scharpenberg).  In Aruba, an oceanic manta ray was named Dushi (reported by Danielle de Kool and Rudolf Ulloa). If you are the first to photograph the spot pattern of a manta ray and submit it for the database, you’ll also be given the opportunity to name the manta.

Report your sightings

Please report any sightings or photos (new or old) you have of manta rays, or any other unique species on https://dutchcaribbean.observation.org. The current goal is to increase data collection to highlight multiple sightings of individuals and to determine what areas mantas tend to revisit. With increased submissions, researchers hope to determine whether there are any aggregation sites or seasonal patterns of sightings around the Caribbean islands. Observation.org and DCNA will share your photos with Manta Trust researchers; however you can also submit your photos and videos from anywhere in the world directly to https://www.mantatrust.org/idthemanta, an international manta tracking database of the Manta Trust.

If you prefer, or for more information regarding your sighting, you can email photos or videos (make sure to include the date and location) to nicole.pelletier@mantatrust.org. Photos can also be sent through the Caribbean Islands Manta Conservation Program social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.  If uploading images to social media, particularly Instagram, tag #Caribbeanislandsmanta in your uploads to make sure these images are easily found and included in the global database.

We look forward to hearing about your encounters and learning more about these incredible species in the Dutch Caribbean.

Article published in BioNews 41

Presentation given during 2021 Mangrove Restoration Workshop

Abstract:

Different monitoring approaches collect data that can measure progress toward achieving global environmental indicators. These indicators can: (1) Audit management actions; (2) Inform policy choices; and (3) Raise awareness among the public and policy makers. We present a generic, empirically based, framework of different environmental monitoring approaches, ranging from scientist-driven to those undertaken by local people. This framework is used to assess monitoring possibilities for the Convention on Biological Diversity “2020” indicators, and those of 11 other international environmental agree-ents. Of the 186 indicators in these 12 environmental agreements, 69 (37%) require monitoring by professional scientists, whereas 117 (63%) can involve community members as “citizen scientists.” Promoting “community-based” and “citizen science” approaches could significantly enrich monitoring progress within global environmental conventions. It would also link environmental monitoring to awareness raising and enhanced decision-making at all levels of resource management. 

This month’s issue focuses on coral reef restoration efforts; research by SECORE and CARMABI on Curaçao and a private initiative by the Coral Restoration Foundation and Buddy Dive Resort on Bonaire. Since the decimation of Staghorn and Elkhorn coral colonies by whiteband disease in the early 1980s and because of their slow natural recovery rates throughout the Caribbean, there is a strong interest in human-assisted restoration efforts, which may help speed up the natural process of recovery. In addition to coral reef restoration, this edition profiles the ongoing flora monitoring on the Leeward Islands and showcases the historical taxonomic collections from the Dutch Caribbean held at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Amongst others, you will find in this fifth issue:

• Overview of Research and Monitoring Efforts
• Bonaire Deep Reef Exploration (by Lisa Becking)
• ‘Research of the Month‘: Coral Restoration Initiatives on Curaçao and Bonaire (by Valérie Chamberland and March Storm)
• Flora of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao (by André van Proosdij)
• Historical Collections on Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity (by Frank Wesselingh, Tinde van Andel and André van Proosdij)
• Calendar of Upcoming Events, Meetings and Workshops