Flora

West Indian Tree Fern rediscovered on Statia after 138 years

Dutch below

 

Two researchers from Wageningen University and Research surveyed the steep inner slopes of the Quill Volcano. The field work is part of a long running study of the flora and vegetation of the Dutch Caribbean islands. The steepness of these slopes and presence of loose rocks makes the inner slopes argely inaccessible. Consequently, little is known on the species that live there. By using remote techniques, the researchers tried to identify the plant species growing on the slopes and describe the vegetation.  John Janssen and André van Proosdij worked in close cooperation with STENAPA during this and previous visits to Statia.

Studying the flora and vegetation

Vegetation on the South-facing, sunny slope showing yellow blossom (Tecoma stans), monkey tail (Anthurium cordatum), eyelash orchid (Epidendrum ciliare), columnar cactus (Pilosocereus royenii), and tillandsia’s.

The team was able to identify most species found on the slopes. Not surprisingly, the slope vegetation clearly differs from any other vegetation type on the island. The sun-facing slopes harbor a sparse vegetation with yellow blossom (Tecoma stans), Monkey tail (Anthurium cordatum), Eyelash orchid (Epidendrum ciliare), Columnar cactus (Pilosocereus royenii), White cedar (Tabebuia heterophylla), Pudding white (Cissus verticillata), and Tillandsia’s. The North-facing slopes are more densely covered, due to the shade and lower drought-stress and show large clumps of Monkey tail (Anthurium cordatum), Clapper (Pitcairnia angustifolia), Wild balsam tree (Clusia major), Strangler figs (Ficuscitrifolia), and several species of ferns. Particularly the large numbers of orchids and ferns are important, as on rocks accessible to goats these are eaten.

Spectacular discovery

West Indian Tree Fern Cyathea arborea rediscovered after 138 years on the steep inner slope of the Quill.

By far the most spectacular discovery were five individuals of West Indian Tree Fern (Cyathea arborea). Tree ferns originate from the Carboniferous era, a geological period dating back 360-300 million years ago. This species was first recorded for Statia in 1885 but was never seen again. There were found growing on the lower part of steep, north-facing slopes, where the microclimate is cool and moist.  For 138 years, this ancient plant species survived, in places truly inaccessible for humans and not visible from the main viewpoints. The presence of these rare tree ferns illustrates the high biodiversity in the Quill National Park and the importance of safeguarding the natural vegetation.

More to be discovered

Janssen and Van Proosdij state, “This discovery points out that on these most inaccessible steep slopes and the crater rim, more rare and critically endangered species are yet to be discovered.” STENAPA and the WUR researchers intend to continue the exploration of these areas.

 

 

 

Twee onderzoekers van Wageningen University and Research hebben de steile binnenwanden van de Quill vulkaan op Sint Eustatius onderzocht. Het veldwerk is onderdeel van een langlopend onderzoek naar de flora en vegetatie van de Nederlands Caribische eilanden. De steilheid van de hellingen en de losliggende rotsblokken maken deze hellingen ontoegankelijk voor mensen. Als gevolg daarvan is er weinig bekend over de soorten die op deze hellingen leven. Door gebruik te maken van remote technieken probeerden de onderzoekers de planten te identificeren die op de hellingen groeien en de vegetatie te beschrijven. John Janssen en André van Proosdij werkten nauw samen met STENAPA tijdens dit en eerder veldonderzoek op Statia.

Het team kon de meeste van de aangetroffen plantensoorten identificeren. Zoals verwacht, is de vegetatie duidelijk anders dan elke andere vegetatie op het eiland. De op de zon gerichte hellingen herbergen een ijle vegetatie met o.a. Tecoma stans, Anthurium cordatum, de orchidee Epidendrum ciliare, de zuilcactus Pilosocereus royenii, Tabebuia heterophylla, Cissus verticillate en Tillandsia’s. De naar het noorden gerichte hellingen zijn dichter begroeid, als gevolg van de schaduw en lagere droogte-stress. Hier groeien grote groepen Anthurium cordatum, Pitcairnia angustifolia, Clusia major, de vijg Ficus citrifolia en meerdere soorten varens. Met name de grote aantallen orchideeën en varens zijn belangrijk, aangezien deze op andere rotsachtige plaatsen die wel voor geiten toegankelijk zijn, worden opgegeten.

West-Indische Boomvaren Cyathea arborea na 138 jaar herontdekt op de steile binnenhelling van de Quill. Credit: John Janssen.

De meest opzienbarende vondst is die van vijf exemplaren van de West-Indische boomvaren (Cyathea arborea). Boomvarens ontstonden in het Carboon, een geologisch tijdperk 360-300 miljoen jaar geleden. De aanwezigheid van deze soort is voor het eerst op Statia gedocumenteerd in 1885, maar is sindsdien nooit meer waargenomen. De vijf aangetroffen exemplaren groeien op het lagere deel van de noord-georiënteerde helling, waar het microklimaat koel en vochtig is. Gedurende 138 jaar kon deze soort voortbestaan op plekken die niet voor mensen toegankelijk zijn en die niet zichtbaar zijn vanaf de uitzichtpunten op de wandelpaden. De aanwezigheid van deze zeldzame boomvarens illustreert de hoge biodiversiteit van het Quill nationaal park en onderstreept het belang van bescherming van de natuurlijke vegetatie.

Janssen en Van Proosdij spreken zich uit: “De vondst van deze boomvarens wijst erop dat op deze uiterst steile hellingen en op de kraterrand nog meer zeldzame en ernstig bedreigde soorten voorkomen die nog niet ontdekt zijn.” STENAPA en de WUR zetten het onderzoek naar deze gebieden graag voort.

 

 

 

 

Published in BioNews 71

Date
2024
Data type
Media
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Eustatius
Author

Informational material on protected species (CITES) developed for the Caribbean Netherlands

Informational material for regulations outlined in the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (also known as the CITES) has been developed for residents and tourists on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Posters, signs, and brochures have been made in four languages (Dutch, English, Papiamentu, and Spanish) by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) by order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (ANFQ).

Image credit: © Deviate Design & Mercedes Madriz

In advance of the return of tourists, these materials will be placed at the airports and ports, and at the government and customs offices, nature park management organizations, diving schools, and hotels throughout the Caribbean Netherlands. In this way, DCNA and ANFQ will work to raise awareness about the protected status of flora and fauna in the Caribbean Netherlands, such as orchids and corals, and the rules concerning the removal of these species.

Conservation of biodiversity

The islands of the Caribbean Netherlands have a rich biodiversity. Many species are endemic to one (or more) of the islands, meaning they cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Almost 200 species living in the wild in the Caribbean Netherlands are protected by CITES. The list includes turtles, iguanas, orchids, cacti, whales, rays, and bird species. Furthermore, the corals these islands are known for, living or dead, are also protected under CITES and therefore cannot be removed. In addition to the CITES regulations, stricter local rules and measures may also apply.

What does this mean in practice?

Exporting living or dead species included on the CITES list to another country without a CITES permit – including between the Caribbean Netherlands to the Netherlands and vice versa – is prohibited. These regulations apply whether the species or objects are taken as a gift or for one’s own use, and include items such as orchids, cacti, corals, seahorses, turtles, sharks, iguanas, and birds. These regulations also apply to parts or products made of or from these species, such as food products, exotic leatherware, wooden sculptures, ornaments, musical instruments, or local medicines. In certain cases, exporting species or objects is prohibited altogether. Violation of these regulations can lead to penalties and/or legal action.

Check in advance: is it protected?

The mere fact that something is for sale or that you found it on the ground or in the sea, does not mean that you are allowed to take or travel with it. When in doubt as to whether you can take a species (or a part of a product made of or from this species), you can contact the local CITES authority with the National Office of the Caribbean Netherlands (Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland, RCN), the customs authorities, the public entity, or the local management organization of the protected nature area.

What is CITES?

CITES is the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna which regulates and, if necessary, prohibits the trade or removal of a species for the benefit of conserving it in the wild. More than 37,000 flora and fauna species are currently protected under the CITES convention. A CITES permit is required for the trade of these species. In some cases, the trade is prohibited altogether if the species is seriously threatened with extinction. These regulations do not only apply to the respective plants and animals but also to products made of or from these species.

# # #

Check the CITES information for the Caribbean Netherlands online:

https://www.dcbd.nl/document/cites-communication-materials-bes

For more information about CITES:

 

Article published in BioNews 41

Date
2021
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
Author

The vegetation of the Netherlands Antilles

This vegetation survey is the outcome of an investigation of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles carried out under the auspices of the Foundation for Scientific Research in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles. The data on which the present study is based were obtained during a trip which lasted from September 1952 until October 1953. During this trip the following islands were visited: Curaςao, Bonaire, Aruba, St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. A short visit was also paid to the island of St. Kitts (B.W.I.).

Date
1956
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten

Flora voor de Nederlandsch West-Indische eilanden

Het doel van deze Flora is het vinden van de wetenschappelijke namen der planten, welke op de Nederlandsch West-Indische Eilanden in 't wild of gekweekt voorkomen, voor niet -botanici mogelijk te maken en voor  botanici gemakkelijker dan het tot nu was.

Voor het zoeken van den naam van een plan kan men of de eerste lijst gebruiken en dan direct komen op den soortnaam, of men kan de tweede lijst en daarna de derde lijst gebruiken, om via familie en geslacht den soortnaam te vinden. 

Het begruik van de zuiver dichotome tabellen behoeft geen naderen uitleg.

Date
1913
Data type
Book
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

Moss flora and vegetation of Saba and St. Eustatius (West Indies)

The known moss flora of the small West Indian island Saba (870 m in altitude) consists to date of48 species, while the neighbouring island St. Eustatius (600 m) has 40 species. The two islands have 27 species in common. Widely distributed neotropical species dominate at all elevations, while wide-tropical (i.e. pantropical) species are found mainly at middle elevations (300-600 m). Species with smaller geographical distributions (southern neotropical, Caribbean) are restricted to higher elevations (above 600 m).

An attempt has been made to determine the relation between mosses and the plant communities, encountered along the altitudinal gradient, by calculating “association values”, based on the results of random collecting. Four classes of association values have been distinguished: class A: very characteristic; class B: characteristic; class C: moderately characteristic; and class D: non-characteristic species. It appears that eight plant communities on both islands harbour one or more moderately to very characteristic species. Neckeropsis undulata is the only very characteristic species. It occurs in the evergreen seasonal forest on St. Eustatius. The results are compared with Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Guyana and Suriname. Finally, a key to the species is included.

Date
1984
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Journal
Geographic location
Saba
St. Eustatius
Author

Studies on the flora of Curacao and other Caribbean Islands

This vegetation survey is the outcome of an investigation of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles carried out under the auspices of the Foundation for Scientific Researcg in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles. The data on which the study is based were obtained during a trip which lasted from September 1952 until October 1953. During this trip the following islands were visited: Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, St.Martin, Saba and St.Eustatius. A short visit was paid to the island of St.Kitts (B.W.I.).

This document contains:

  • Part I - report (141 pages)
  • Part II - 6 coloured maps and several black and white photographs
Date
1956
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
15
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten

Biological Inventory of St. Maarten

St. Maarten is one of the islands forming the inner arc of the Lesser Antilles. It is older than Saba and St. Eustatius. The oldest rock strata date from ± 50 million years ago. The island experienced periods of uplift and descent. In the Pleistocene period it formed one island together with Anguilla and St. Barths.

St. Maarten is irregular in form because of the many bays and lagoons. Steep rocky coasts alternate with sandy beaches. The major part of the island is hilly. Three ridges can be distinguished in the north-south direction. Only the Low Lands in the west are flat. In the past St. Maarten was a plantation island, with sugarcane cultivation reaching high up into the hills. Now tourism is the main economical activity. The island has two parts: The French and the Dutch part. About 38.000 people live on St. Maarten on the Dutch side, especially in the valleys, but also more and more in the hills. Because of the high population density and tourism development a lot of nature has already been lost, and several habitats are under pressure. According to the system of Köppen the climate of Maarten falls between a savanna and monsoon climate. The island is situated in the Atlantic hurricane zone. In September 1995 St. Maarten was hit by a severe hurricane.

At least 522 wild plants are known from St. Maarten, divided in 506 seed plants and 16 ferns. Among the plants there are two island-endemic species: Calyptranthes boldinghgii en Galactia nummelaria. Both species are very rare or have possibly disappeared already. The geographical distribution of five plants is limited to just a few islands and 3.3% of the species is endemic to the Lesser Antilles and the Virgin Islands. With respect to the moss flora, only two true mosses are known, and no liverworts.

The major part of the Dutch side of St. Maarten is covered with secondary vegetation derived from either seasonal formations or dry evergreen formations. Only on the top of the hills some more or less original semi-evergreen seasonal forest is found. This type of forest has regionally become extremely rare too. Locally it includes several species that are lacking elsewhere in the island. Because of its small area this forest formation is very vulnerable. On the higher hills of the two ridges in the middle part of the island, and on the hills of the eastern ridge, a dense secondary woodland vegetation is growing, preventing erosion and with a high scenic value. Along the coast and inland waterways remains of mangrove forests and other types of coastal vegetation survive, which are of high ecological value, and also have scenic value.

The fauna of St. Maarten is poor in species, not only because of St. Maarten’s small size, but also because of habitat destruction, hunting, imported predators and hurricanes. One bird species, the Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis, and two kinds of reptiles, the Antillean Iguana Iguana delicatissima and the original population of the Green Iguana, Iguana iguana, have already been exterminated. Among the vertebrates, birds form the largest group. Especially the number of migrating birds and visitors is big. In total there are 39 resident and nesting birds on St. Maarten and 68 species of migrating birds and visitors have been observed. These include 19 sea birds, of which 10 species breed in or in the vicinity of the island. St. Maarten is classified as an important breeding area for seabirds. Several small rocky islands just off shore accommodate breeding colonies of seabirds. 2 Amphibians and reptiles are the next largest group of vertebrates. They are represented by 15 species. Bats are probably the only native mammals. There are six species on St. Maarten.

The subspecies of the tree lizard Anolis wattsi pogus can be regarded as an island-endemic species. The animal is extinct in other islands. Several vertebrates are endemic for the Lesser Antilles and the Virgin Islands, either at the species level or the subspecies level: one bat, one amphibian and six reptiles. The ground lizard Ameiva pleei, the tree lizard Anolis gingivinus, the gecko Sphaerodactylus sputator, the Grass-snake Alsophis rijersmai and the subspecies of the gecko Sphaerodactylus macrolepis parvus are limited to only a few islands. The White crowned Pigeon Columba leucocephala and the Red-Necked Pigeon Columba squamosa, both regionally and locally rare because of hunting, are still found in the island and could increase because of the diminished pressure of hunting. Among the breeding seabirds three, Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri lherminieri, the Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis occcidentalis, and the Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii dougallii, are endangered and three, the Red-billed Tropicbird Phaeton aethereus mesonauta, the Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata fuscata, and the Least Tern Sterna albifrons antillarum, are possibly endangered. Of the invertebrates not much more is known than 170 names.

The main threats to the biodiversity of St. Maarten are habitat destruction and degradation caused by the growth of inhabited areas, tourism development and pollution. Since the fifties several people argued for the need to preserve valuable nature areas, not only for ecological motives, but also for the benefit of tourism. Stinapa-St. Maarten, the later St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, and Stinapa Netherlands Antilles, have struggled continuously to establish a hilltop protected area and a nature/culture reserve Belvédère/Bishophill. Their aim should be supported. At present the necesary island legislation is being worked on. For effective nature management in St. Maarten complete floristic surveys are necessary, and further studies of the status of the island populations of regionally and locally scarce and/or endangered species. For now, a few conclusions can be drawn regarding the conservation of biodiversity on St. Maarten. For this conservation it is necessary to safeguard the largest possible contiguous areas of nature. To this aim the following areas are recommended for conservation and management: the ‘Hillsides’, Naked Boy Hill and surroundings, and the hills and coastal area between Guana Bay en Back Bay. For the benefit of the bats the top of Billy Folly is recommended, and for the avifauna the various ponds, coastal habitats and the little islands Pelican key, Molly Beday and Hen and Chickens.

Date
1997
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
KNAP 96-10
Geographic location
St. Maarten
Author

New plant records for Bonaire and the Dutch Caribbean islands

Abstract:

Although the flora of Bonaire has been well studied three previously undocumented species have been found for Bonaire. Two of these three species are fern species and are new for the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean. The third species (Capparis linearis) occurs also on Curaçao and Aruba and is also a rare species on those islands. Data on the distribution of twelve rare species (eleven are previously unreported rare species for the Washington-Slagbaai National Park (WSNP) are also presented. A number of publications indicate the deleterious effects of introduced goats, donkeys and pigs on the vegetation and flora of islands. These animals are also found in the WSNP. The lack of saplings and the (very) small numbers of seedlings of only a few rare tree species found in the present study are ascribed to the deleterious effects of goats, donkeys and pigs. 

Date
2013
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire

BioNews 5 - May 2013

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:

Date
2013
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author