What motivates people to protect nature on the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba?

Abstract

That is the research question that, Stacey Mac Donald, a Ph.D. researcher from The Netherlands, is seeking to answer through the use of anthropological and social psychological research insights. Mac Donald also tackles a number of other questions within the fields of nature conservation and, preservation of cultural heritage on the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, also known as the BES Islands.

Full text

Welcome to BioNews
BioNews is a monthly
newsletter featuring recent
biodiversity research and
monitoring on and around
the six islands of the Dutch
Caribbean. BioNews also
provides an overview of
recent publications, current
research and monitoring
activities, and upcoming
events.
For any questions or
feedback, or if you would
like to make a contribution,
please contact us at
research@DCNAnature.org
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
Safeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean
P-1
26
Bringing you the latest in research and monitoring
news from the Dutch Caribbean
BioNews
In June the Save Our Sharks Pro-
ject organized the second Dutch
Caribbean Shark Week which was
celebrated throughout the King-
dom of the Netherlands. Many
exciting shark-related activities
were organised to raise aware-
ness about the importance of
sharks and shark conservation.
We are proud to share with you
the great work of our colleagues
who worked very hard to make
this a huge success!
In this issue, we are paying special
attention to research and moni-
toring projects where citizen sci-
ence is an important component.
The engagement of non-profes-
sional scientists can be invaluable
both for data collection and the
interpretation of results. Fortu-
nately many passionate nature
lovers are helping our nature con-
servation organizations as well as
visiting researchers in their eorts
to protect and maintain our beau-
tiful nature. We are highlighting
two projects which are request-
ing your assistance to collect the
information needed to answer
their research questions. We hope
to reveal their future ndings in
future editions of BioNews!
Our rst article is about a long-
term project looking at what
motivates people to protect
nature on Bonaire, St. Eustatius
and Saba. This important research
aims to develop tools to get peo-
ple involved in protection our
natural environment. An online
survey can be lled to help to col-
lect the necessary data.
The second focuses on the long-
spined sea urchin Diadema antil-
larum. In the early 80’s a mass die-
o of these important herbivores
resulted in coral reef degradation
and researchers are investigating
the current status of urchins on
reefs throughout the Caribbean.
Observations from citizen scien-
tists are being collected online to
create a new map and to under-
stand underlying recovery pro-
cess and reef health in general.
Last, we present an article on the
encouraging results for controlling
the invasive Giant African Land Snail
on St. Eustatius.
Happy reading!
DCNA Team
Editor’s Notes
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
Safeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean This Issue
Dutch Caribbean shark celebrations
What motivates people to protect nature?
Have you recently seen long-spined
sea urchin Diadema antillarum?
Encouraging results for controlling an
agricultural pest on St. Eustatius
Research Overview
Long term Projects overview
Monitoring overview
Reports and publications
Calendar
1
4
6
8
9
10
12
14
15
ISSUE
JUN - JUL
2016
Celebrating Shark Week with a color run on Saba
Photo credit: Kai Wulf
Photo credit: Hans Leijnse (DCNA/SHAPE)

BioNews Issue 26 P-2
During Dutch Caribbean Shark Week that was
scheduled from June 18th thru 26th, the entire
Dutch Kingdom celebrated sharks, both as
important ocean predators as well as beautiful
sea creatures that deserve our utmost respect.
Throughout the week, various educational and
interactive activities for all ages were organized
in the Netherlands and on the islands of Bonaire,
Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
As the ocial Save Our Sharks ambassadors, Dutch
comedian Jörgen Raymann, and Félipe Saelmans
visited a multitude of events to help with raising
publicity and collecting signatures for the Save Our
Sharks petition. To give Dutch Caribbean Shark Week
an online identity, the hashtag #SharkStrong was cre-
ated, which was used in all online communication on
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. One of the most
successful events was the #SharkStrong photo chal-
lenge, for which numerous people took pictures with
the specially designed visual representation of the
hashtag, showing their support for shark conserva-
tion on the Dutch Caribbean islands, and in general.
In the Netherlands, Dutch Caribbean Shark Week
kicked o with a dedicated shark weekend in the
Royal Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem. For the children, an
activities booklet was produced including a scaven-
ger hunt and shark puzzles teaching children about
the biology and threats to sharks. The rest of the
week included lectures, three nights of pub quizzes,
the opening of a shark exhibit, a cocktail party, egg-
case walks on the beach, a beer festival with shark
beer, and a shark theme day in the Sea Life aquar-
ium in Scheveningen. In the Amsterdam Hallen,
the #SharkStrong pop-up store opened for a week,
selling items with a shark and ray theme that were
specically designed for the store. During a cock-
tail party in the pop-up store, a new animation was
launched asking support for the Save Our Sharks
petition. Until present, 5000 signatures are collected
and the number is still counting. The animation can
be found online here.
Within the Dutch Caribbean, each island organized
a wide range of shark-related activities for Dutch
Caribbean Shark Week (DCSW). On St. Eustatius,
Jillian Morris and Duncan Brake of the Sharks4Kids
organization visited local schools in the week lead-
ing up to DCSW to teach kids about shark biology
and conservation. These visits were a huge success
amongst both kids and adults. The ocial Statia
Shark Week kick-o took place on Father’s Day with
a Shark Splash Fun Day on the beach. On Wednes-
day, Jörgen Raymann visited the island and hosted
a well-attended trivia quiz. On Friday, the Super-
burger hosted a shark movie night and the week
concluded on Saturday with a roadblock party at
the Statia Day stage.
Jörgen Raymann on Curaçao
Photo credit: CARMABI
Would you like to
share a news item?
Please e-mail us:
research@DCNAnature.org
Dutch Caribbean sharks celebrated
throughout the Kingdom
By Linda Planthof

BioNews Issue 26 P-3
Because not all of Statia’s inhabitants get into the
water and discover their own underwater backyard,
STENAPA created an aquarium at the library for kids
and adults to get acquainted with local coral reefs
and their inhabitants.
On Saba, the Saba Conservation Foundation cel-
ebrated Saba Shark Week with a barbecue hosted
by Ecolodge, as well as a kickball tournament, a
Yarari sanctuary trivia quiz, a color run, and a game
night at the Hideaway. On Shark Stanley day, the
kids learned about shark anatomy, nning, and the
history of sharks, all whilst doing shark games, and
crafts. Every day, the SCF visited the schools to edu-
cate the children and each kid at the
Sacred Heart School and PreSchool received a copy
of the Adventures of Shark Stanley and Friends. Fur-
thermore, a Shark Stanley audiobook was created,
and every night, the radio aired a reading of a chil-
dren’s book starring sharks and rays.
As St. Maarten oers spectacular diving with sharks,
the dive trips specially organized for St. Maarten
Shark Week resulted in some stunning photos. The
St. Maarten Nature Foundation started their cel-
ebrations with an open house at the oce, selling
shark art and informing visitors about their work in
the Marine Park. They also hosted several nights at
the Buccaneer beach bar, organizing a big party and
oering a movie screening and lectures. Following
their visit on Statia, the educators from Sharks4Kids
came to St. Maarten to teach high school children
about the importance of sharks for local reefs.
On the Leeward Islands, Curaçao Shark Week began
with a social event at the Avila Hotel during which
CARMABI’s director gave a speech about the impor-
tance of shark conservation for the island. Over the
course of the week, several activities for kids were
held at CARMABI’s Visiting Center, in addition to a
#SharkStrong nature walk, a quiz night, and multiple
activities in the library. Jörgen Raymann and a group
of journalists were taken on a canoe tour amongst
the island’s mangroves to highlight the important
role of this threatened ecosystem, which plays a vital
role as a nursery habitat for many large shes. The
popular singer Tio Ali created a song called Konservá
Tribon den Karibe, which he performed live during
one of the kid’s events.
STINAPA Bonaire launched their Shark Week on
Bonaire with a sailing competition during which
people were able to learn about local shark species
and current conservation eorts. Throughout the
rest of the week, STINAPA organized several events
including lectures about sharks and a trivia quiz at
Little Havana. On Saturday, the Shark Art Extrava-
ganza art contest was held at the Taste of Bonaire
event. An appointed jury chose winners from over
one hundred submissions of shark and ray art
pieces. Children had plenty of fun with games and
face painting and were provided with interesting
information about the Save Our Sharks project. STI-
NAPA’s team also spent the week visiting the Sentro
di Bario’s and the Media Bus teaching kids about
shark conservation and the importance of sharks for
their island.
Shortly after DCSW, STINAPA Bonaire hosted the
ocial Dutch premiere of the documentary “Great
White 3D”, which highlights some of the common
misconceptions associated with the danger and
importance of sharks.
Dutch Caribbean Shark Week was a tremendous
success, both on the mainland and on the islands;
not only did Dutch and local media broadly cover
the topic of shark conservation, many local resi-
dents learned to no longer fear sharks and actually
embrace their conservation. The hope is that by the
next Dutch Caribbean Shark Week in 2017, participa-
tion and awareness will keep improving.
#SharkStrong on St. Maarten
Photo credit: Guido Leurs
The taste of Bonaire
Photo credit: STINAPA Bonaire
Help Save Our Sharks
Sign our petition, in which we call on policy makers to protect sharks in all waters of the Dutch Kingdom.
SIGN HERE

BioNews Issue 26 P-4
Stacey Mac Donald began working last February on
her PhD research project at the Royal Netherlands
Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies
(KITLV) in Leiden, The Netherlands. The goal of her
research project is to determine the motivation of
individuals who protect the BES Island’s natural and
cultural heritage. Mac Donald’s project is part of a
larger project at KITLV entitled ‘Confronting Carib-
bean Challenges: Hybrid Identities and Governance
in Small-scale Island Jurisdictions’ and is supervised
by prof. Gert J. Oostindie, prof. Gerard Persoon and
dr. Henk Staats.
While much research focuses on the importance
of nature conservation on the BES Islands, both
for economic development as well as the general
wellbeing of the islands and their residents, little
is known about the individuals who are actively
involved with conservation initiatives on these
islands. Mac Donald’s PhD research project aims
to understand the extent to which residents of
all three islands want to play a role in protecting
their naturaland cultural heritage.
She not only looks into who the nature conserva-
tionists are, including where they are from and to
what extent they feel part of the local community,
but also why these individuals have chosen to help
protect the island’s nature and culture and whether
their sense of belonging to the local community
aects their motives to do so.
Findings from this study will help better understand
if, how and why the dierent residents of the BES
Islands protect their island’s natural or cultural heri-
tage. Furthermore, results could help towards the
development of campaigns aimed at motivating
specic community groups to become involved in
the protection of their cultural heritage and natural
environment.
Fieldwork for this research project was conducted
from April to June 2016 on all three islands and con-
sisted of interviews with key individuals on each
island. In addition, interactions of individuals with
the local environment were video recorded to illus-
trate the dynamic that is visible on each island.
What motivates people to protect nature on
the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba?
By Stacey Mac Donald
The weekly Farmers’ market on Saba, hosted by the Social Workplace Organóponics garden - selling organic produce from local farm-
ers, shermen and conservation foods.
Photo credit: Stacey Mac Donald
That is the research question that, Stacey Mac Donald, a PhD researcher from The Netherlands, is seek-
ing to answer through the use of anthropological and social psychological research insights. Mac Don-
ald also tackles a number of other questions within the elds of nature conservation and, preservation
of cultural heritage on the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, also known as the BES Islands.

BioNews Issue 26 P-5
Would you like to
share a news item?
Please e-mail us:
research@DCNAnature.org
Counting plastic waste on Bonaire during the “Trash to Cash Family Challenge”, organized by Selibon N.V., in collaboration with The
Plastic Soup Foundation and Boneiru Duradero.
Photo credit: Stacey Mac Donald
Preliminary ndings show that, regarding environ-
mental protection, the dynamics are (unsurprisingly)
very dierent on each island. However, conservation-
ists on all three islands mostly consist of so-called
“non-locals”, migrants or expats, that is people who
do not originate from the BES islands. There are of
course exceptions on each island; several local resi-
dents are well known for their conservation eorts
and some locals regularly participate in for example,
recycling campaigns and clean-up events.
Concerning the motivation of individuals who help
protect the natural environment, there seems to
be dierences, but also overlap, between the vari-
ous types of residents. Locals appear to place more
emphasis on their emotional attachment to the
island and its nature, referencing experiences they
had in their youth, whereas non-locals tend to place
more emphasis on the (global) scientic importance
of protecting the environment. There are many
nuances within and between each island, however
further data analysis is required to clearly under-
stand the underlying causes of these nuances.
An online survey is set to launch this July for all
residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba who con-
tribute to the conservation of their island’s natural
environment and cultural heritage. This survey is
intended to collect additional data on the dierent
types of people involved with cultural and natural
preservation, the variety of actions they undertake
and their specic motivation to do so.
Take the survey
Are you resident of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and would you like to contribute to this project?
PLEASE FILL IN THE ONLINE SURVEY HERE
To participate, you:
• are 16 years of age or older;
• currently reside on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba;
• have protected the natural environment and/or cultural heritage of the island for at least half a day
(four hours) in the past six months.
Filling out the questionnaire will take about 20 minutes and can be lled out in English, Dutch or
Papiamentu.
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fleidenuniv.eu.qualtrics.com%2FSE%2F%3
FSID%3DSV_6icEjttkIMFAnQh&token=zaoYHwR0B4sBUj0vEBUqQYJSRmX3VsY2ZjajBFXNVjc%3D

BioNews Issue 26 P-6
The early 80’s die-o of Diadema antillarum and
the subsequent reef degradation is by now a
well-discussed and studied topic throughout the
Caribbean. D. antillarum was once known as the
most abundant and therefore most important
herbivore in the Caribbean. Its mass mortality
has led to (macro) algae to take over many Carib-
bean reefs, being partially responsible for the
reef degradation we are facing today.
Even though the abundance of this species is so
important for conserving coral reefs, the current
status of D. antillarum remains widely unknown
throughout the Caribbean. There have been
several studies on D. antillarum abundance on
individual islands, and even some in larger areas,
but there have been no attempts to recreate the
Caribbean wide map that H. Lessios made in
1984, right after the mass mortality event.
Nonetheless, it has been proven that areas in
which D. antillarum are present, reefs are doing
relatively better than in areas in which they are
absent (T. Hughes, 2016). Therefore, obtaining
knowledge on the current status of D. antilla-
rum would give great insights on circumstances
under which this species can regrow and infor-
mation about reef health in general. The latter is
exactly what Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(San Diego, USA) and Carmabi research station
(Curaçao) are aiming to accomplish.
In order to test in which areas D. antillarum popu-
lations are recovering and in which areas they are
not, Kelly Latijnhouwers is creating a similar spa-
tial map, 30 years after the big die-o. She is not
doing this by counting D. antillarum all over the
Caribbean herself, but by contacting everyone
who is often in and/or around the water anywhere
Have you recently seen -or not seen- long-spined
sea urchin Diadema antillarum on Caribbean reefs?
By Kelly Latijnhouwers
Have you recently seen -or not seen- long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum
on Caribbean reefs? Please share your observations at www.seaegg.org to contrib-
ute to Caribbean wide reef conservation research!
Long- spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum.
Photo credit: Mark Vermeij (CARMABI)

BioNews Issue 26 P-7
in the Caribbean, asking them whether they have
recently seen D. antillarum or not. Sightings, obser-
vations and information can be really easily shared
on the website www.seaegg.org, where you will
nd a short survey in which you can simply click
on your regular dive sites on a map, and answer
the questions that pop up.
The project started in March 2016, and so far a
lot of individual people, dive shops, foundations
and (research) institutions have been collaborat-
ing and sharing their observations. However, the
survey will keep on running until November 2016
and all help is very welcome and highly appreci-
ated! If you read this and have any information/
sightings/observations/data on D. antillarum, or
think about it the next time you’re in the water,
feel free to share at either www.seaegg.org or by
emailing to kelly@seaegg.org.
Marine biologist Kelly Latijnhouwers is leading the research
project on the status of Diadema antillarum 30 years after the
mass mortality event. She needs help from people all over
the Caribbean. All insights in Diadema antillarum abundance
are useful for this research. Please share your observations on
www.seaegg.org
Photo credit: SCRIPPS
Spread of Diadema mass mortality through the Caribbean and the Western Atlantic in 1983.
*Reference: Lessios, H. A., Robertson, D. R., & Cubit, J. D. (1984). Spread of Diadema mass mortality through the Caribbean. Science,
226(4672), 335-337.

BioNews Issue 26 P-8
Members of the
Dutch Caribbean
Nature Alliance
Aruba
Fundacion Parke
Nacional Arikok
tel: +297-585-1234
www.arubanationalpark.org
Bonaire
STINAPA Bonaire
tel: +599-717-8444
www.stinapa.org
Curaçao
CARMABI
tel: +599-9-462-4242
www.carmabi.org
Curaçao
Stichting Uniek Curaçao
tel: +599-9-462-8989
www.uniekcuracao.org
Bonaire
STCB
tel: +599-717-2225
www.bonaireturtles.org
From the initial two gardens
in 2013, the species has since
been conrmed in 37 gardens
encompassing an epicentre
of about 100 lots in the Bay
Brow area. During the study
period, application of eco-
friendly iron-phosphate snail
bait successfully prevented
further spread into adjacent
buer-zone monitoring areas.
Iron-phosphate snail bait was
eective in greatly reducing
snail population density. It
was applied once a week at an
average density of 0.7 g/m2 at
garden level, but was concen-
trated in hotspot snail habi-
tat areas. Nevertheless, hand
picking, which is more labour
intensive and gives more vari-
able results, also appeared
eective in reducing snail den-
sity. Finally, beached Sargas-
sum seaweed, brought forth
as a snail deterrent used on
neighbouring islands, did not
measurably kill snails above
zero control levels, and the
researchers concluded that
seaweed is unlikely to be eec-
tive in snail control.
Based on their encouraging
results, control and eventual
eradication of Achatina from
St. Eustatius still seems feasible
using a combination of snail
baits and handpicking com-
bined with dedicated monitor-
ing. We hope that in the context
of the recently drafted Dutch
Caribbean joint policy action-
plan against invasive species,
the Statia island government
and Dutch central government
will support continued eorts to
contain and eventually wipe out
this invasive agricultural pest.
Encouraging results for controlling an agri-
cultural pest on St. Eustatius
By Dr. Adolphe (Dol) Debrot, project leader, IMARES Wageningen University and Research & VHL
University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, Anthony Reid, St. Eustatius Agriculture and Fish-
eries Department, Dr. Teresa Leslie, St. Eustatius Health Department, Hannah Madden, STENAPA,
Dr. Johan Stapel, CNSI, and interns Friso Dalm, Lara Upho, and Leonie van der Zwet.
In 2013, the invasive Giant African Land Snail, Achatina fulica was found in a small part of urban
St. Eustatius. In collaboration with local government agencies and Dutch universities, IMARES* con-
ducted eld and laboratory pilot trials of control methods from October 2015 to June 2016.
Invasive Giant African Land Snail, Achatina fulica.
Photo credit: John de Freitas

BioNews Issue 26 P-9
Below you will nd an overview of the research projects for which eldwork took place on the islands of the
Dutch Caribbean.
Category Subject Islands Organization(s):
Lead scientist(s)
Amphinomida Fluorescence on the marine reworm Hermodice carunculata BON CIEE:Enrique Arboleda
Birds Suitability study and reforestation of exclosures facilitating the Yellow-
shouldered Amazon Parrots (Amazona barbadensis) on Bonaire. BON Echo: Lauren Schmaltz
Cnidaria Cubozoans of Bonaire BON CIEE: Rita Peachey, Austin Lin
Coral Reef
ecosystems Comparing reef shsurvey techniquesbetween UVC and sDOV EUX IMARES: Martin de Graaf
STENAPA, Min EZ, CNSI
Coral Reef
ecosystems
Coral reef mapping using hyperspectral imagery BON Alterra: Sander Mücher
IMARES: Erik Meesters
Coral Reef
ecosystems Status of Diaderma antillarum on Caribbean Reefs All
Scripps institution of ocean-
ography: Stuart Sandin
CARMABI: Kelly Latijnhouwers
Economics of
ecosystems The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) on Aruba AUA
Wolfs Company: Esther Wolfs
VU University Amsterdam:
Pieter van Beukering
YABI consultancy: Francielle
Laclé
Environmental Environmental DNA (eDNA)
CIEE: Rita Peachey,
Dr. Enrique Arboleda
Indiana University: Stephen
Glaholt
Fish Fish brain physiology Macquarie University: Dan
Warren
Fish Fish eye physiology and evolution Smithsonian: Michele Pierotti
Fish Local stakeholders’ views and needs with regards to the marine
ecosystem SAB 7Senses: Madelon Eelderink
SCF
Invasive species Research into mitigation measures for Sargassum Seaweed SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Government of St. Maarten
Invasive species
Invasive seagrass-sea turtle interactions
(*Part of NWO project: Ecology and conservation of green and
hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean)
BON
STCB: Mabel Nava
RuG: Marjolijn Christianen,
WUR: Lisa Becking
Plants Germination of seeds of indigenous trees of Curaçao CUR CARMABI: John de Freitas
Pants Testing eective ways to grow native plants BON
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz,
Johan van Blerk, Maddi
Lattimore
Reptiles
Sea turtle conservation in spite of climate change
(*Part of NWO project: Ecology and conservation of green and
hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean)
BON
STCB: Mabel Nava
RuG: Marjolijn Christianen
WUR: Lisa Becking
Zooplankton Zooplankton Response to UV light BON CIEE:Rita Peachey, Sara
Buckley, Austin Lin
Research Overview Members of the
Dutch Caribbean
Nature Alliance
Saba
Saba Conservation Foundation
tel: +599-416-3295
www.sabapark.org
St. Eustatius
STENAPA
tel: +599-318-2884
www.statiapark.org
St. Maarten
Nature Foundation
tel: +721-544-4267
www.naturefoundationsxm.org
St. Maarten
Emilio Wilson Estate FDN
tel: +1-721-524-1516
www.sxmconservation-
foundations.org/ewef
Bonaire
Echo
tel. +599-701-1188
www.echobonaire.org
S
A
B
A
C
O
N
S
E
R
V
A
T
I
O
N
F
O
U
N
D
A
T
I
O
N

BioNews Issue 26 P-10
Don’t see your research
program on the list or
incorrect information?
Please e-mail us:
research@DCNAnature.org
Long Term Projects
Category Subject Island Organization(s):
Lead scientist(s)
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP) (ARMS: Autonomous
Reef Monitoring Structures) CUR Smithsonian: Carole Baldwin
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Environmental factors driving recruitment success in
Caribbean corals CUR
UvA: Valerie Chamberland (PhD
Student)
CARMABI
SECORE Foundation
Coral Reef
Ecosystems Bioersion of reefs by coral-excavating sponges BON,CUR, SAB,
EUX
NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl
IMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de
Bakker (PhD student)
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Development of restoration methods for threatened
Caribbean coral species BON, CUR, SAB
CRF Bonaire: Augusto Montbrun,
Francesca Virdis
SECORE Project
CARMABI: Mark Vermeij
UvA: Valerie Chamberland (PhD
student)
SCF, Sea Saba, Samford University:
Jennifer Rahn
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Developing a plan to manage the waters around Curaçao
sustainably, protably, and enjoyably for this and future
generations
CUR Waitt Institute (Blue Halo Curaçao):
Kathryn Mengerink
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Restoration Ecosystem Services and Coral Reef Quality
(Project RESQ) BON
IMARES: Erik Meesters
NFSXM
STENAPA
SCF
Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
Database Dutch Caribbean Species Catalog: Taxonomic k nowledge
system Dutch Caribbean
AUA, BON, CUR,
SAB, EUX, SXM
Naturalis: Sander Pieterse & Berry van
der Hoorn
Environmental
Zero nutrient discharge of domestic waste (water) nutrients
and total reuse of nutrients in agriculture and aquaculture in
Caribbean Islands (TripleP@Sea Program)
EUX WUR: Grietje Zeeman, Marc Spiller
CNSI
Environmental Sustainable ecosystem management and use by marine com-
munities in two exemplary regions (TripleP@Sea Program) BON, EUX
WUR: Linde van Bets (PhD student);
Arthur Mol, Jan van Tatenhove;
Machiel Lamers
IMARES: Han Lindeboom
CNSI
Environmental Eects of dispersants on the fate of oil in realistic conditions
(C-IMAGE consortium, TripleP@Sea Program) EUX
WUR: Tinka Murk, Marieke Zeinstra-
Helfrich (PhD student)
CNSI
Environmental
Ecotoxicological aspects of rational application of chemicals in
response to oil spills to reduce environmental damage
(C-IMAGE consortium, TripleP@Sea Program)
EUX
WUR: Tinka Murk, Justine van
Eenennaam (PhD student)
CNSI
Environmental
Ecotoxicological aspects of rational application of chemicals
in response to oil spills to reduce environmental damage
Development of an area specic net environmental and eco-
nomic benet analysis (NEEBA) to support oil spill mitigation
decisions; with St. Eustatius as example
EUX
WUR: Tinka Murk, Sophie Vonk (PhD
student)
Lei Wageningen UR: Stijn Reinhard
CNSI
Fish Status of shark and sh communities in the Dutch Caribbean BON, CUR, SAB,
EUX, SXM IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Fish Fish and Fisheries Research Programme EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Min. EZ
Dept LVV
CNSI
Interstitial
biodiversity
Moleculair biodiversity analysis of marine and terrestrial com-
munities by metabarcoding EUX Naturalis: Arjen speksnijder
ANEMOON: Niels Schrieken
Invasive
species
Combatting the economic and ecological impacts of overgraz-
ing on inhabited islands BON UsA: Michaela Roberts (PhD student)
Mangrove
ecosystems Mangrove restoration Lac Bay, Bonaire BON
STINAPA: Sabine Engel
IMARES: Dol Debrot
WUR: Klaas Metselaar
DROB
Marine
ecosystems Marine Park Aruba AUA
Directie Natuur en Milieu: Gisbert
Boekhoudt
TNO: Kris Kats
Marine
ecosystems Marine biodiversity baseline study St. Eustatius EUX
Naturalis: Bert Hoeksema
STENAPA
CNSI
Molluscs Population dynamics and role in the food chain of the Queen
Conch Lobatus gigas in the Dutch Caribbean Territories EUX, SAB
WUR: Aad Smaal, Leo Nagelkerke
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Erik Boman (PhD student)
SCF (SBMU)
CNSI
Public Health DNA waterscan: Monitoring disease vectors in the Caribbean
(mosquitoes and midges) EUX Naturalis: Kevin Beentjes
ECPHF: Teresa Leslie

BioNews Issue 26 P-11
Long Term Projects
Sustainability
Sustainable development Dutch Caribbean (TripleP@Sea
Program)
- Are human activities a risk for ecosystem services?
- Green Statia or how to regain balance between nature and
agriculture?
EUX
IMARES: Diana Slijkerman
Alterra: Rene Henkens
CNSI
Terrestrial
biodiversity Baseline assessment and DNA barcoding of specimens EUX
Naturalis: Michael Stech, Berry van
der Hoorn
STENAPA
CNSI
Terrestrial
biodiversity Testing surrogates to establish conservation priorities EUX Naturalis: Jeremy Miller
STENAPA
NWO Projects in the Dutch Caribbean
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
Caribbean coral reef ecosystems: interactions of anthropo-
genic ocean acidication and eutrophication with bioero-
sion by coral excavating sponges
- Bioerosian and climate change
BON, SAB, EUX
NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Steven van
Heuzen (PostDoc), Alice Webb (PhD
student)
STENAPA
CNSI
Environmental Caribbean island biogeography meets the anthropocene
EUX, SXM
(Planned for
other islands)
VU: Jacintha Ellers, Matt Helmus,
Wendy Jesse (PhD. Student)
CNSI
Environmental
psychology
Confronting Caribbean Challenges: Hybrid Identities and
Governance in Small-scale Island Jurisdictions
- Behavioural dierences between/within the BES islands
when it comes to nature conservation and cultural heritage.
BON, SAB, EUX
KITLV, Leiden University: Gert Oostin-
die (Project director)
KITLV, Leiden University: Stacey Mac
Donald (PhD student)
Geosciences
Stability of Caribbean coastal ecosystems under future
extreme sea level changes (SCENES)
- The eects of climate change on calcifying algae
BON, EUX, SXM
UU: Henk Dijkstra, NIOZ: Peter Her-
man, Rebecca James (PhD student)
TU Delft: Julie Pietrzak
STENAPA
CNSI
Geomorpho-
logical
4D crust-mantle modelling of the eastern Caribbean region:
toward coupling deep driving processes to surface evolution
- Reconstructing past climate change
EUX
UU: Wim Spakman
NIOZ: Lennart de Nooijer
Alfred Wegener Institute Germany
CNSI
Invasive
species
Exotic plant species in the Caribbean: foreign foes or alien
allies?
(1) Socio-economic impacts of invasive plant species
(2) Ecological impacts of invasive plant species-Utrecht
University
BON, SAB, EUX
(1) UU: Jetske Vaas (PhD student),
Peter Driessen, Frank van Laerhoven
and Mendel Giezen (2) UU: Elizabeth
Haber (PhD student), Martin Wassen,
Max Rietkerk,Maarten Eppinga.
CNSI
Reptiles Ecology and conservation of green and hawksbill turtles in
the Dutch Caribbean
BON, CUR,
(Planned for
other islands)
RuG: Per Palsbøll, Marjolijn
Christianen, Jurgen van der Zee (PhD
student)
WUR: Lisa Becking
STCB: Mabel Nava
CARMABI
STENAPA
CNSI
BO-projects in the Dutch Caribbean
Coral Reef
Ecosystems
BO-11-019.02-038– Analysis photomaterial coral reefs/
phase 2 BON, CUR IMARES: Erik Meesters
Coral Reef
Ecosystems BO-11-019.02-022 –Inventory corals BON IMARES: Erik Meesters
DCBD BO-11-019.02-002 - Expansion knowledge system Dutch
Caribbean
AUA, BON, CUR,
SAB, EUX, SXM Alterra: Peter Verweij
Fisheries BO-11-019.02-055 – Fisheries inventory (EEZ Curaçao) CUR IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Fisheries BO-11-019.02-049 – Saba Bank – Fisheries SAB IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Marine
biodiversity BO-11-019.02-008 – Saba Bank – Marine Biodiversity SAB IMARES: Erik Meesters
Marine
mammals
BO-11-019.02-054 – Management plan marine mammal
sanctuary Sababank SAB IMARES: Dol Debrot
Marine
mammals BO-11-019.02-005 – Marine mammals Caribbean Netherlands BON, SAB, EUX IMARES: Dol Debrot
Natural
resource use
BO-11-019.02-050 – World Heritage nomination Bonaire
National Marine Park BON IMARES: Dol Debrot
Reptiles BO-11-019.02-057 – Action plan invasive Green Iguana
(HD3623) EUX
IMARES: Dol Debrot
Ecological Professionals Foundation:
Hannah Madden

BioNews Issue 26 P-12
Don’t see your monitoring
program on the list or
incorrect information?
Please e-mail us:
research@DCNAnature.org
If you have research or
monitoring data, the DCNA
secretariat can help you to
get it housed in the Dutch
Caribbean Biodiversity
Database (DCBD). This
database is a central online
resource with all biodiversity
and conservation related
information for the Dutch
Caribbean.
Below you will nd an overview of the monitoring work that is currently running in the Dutch Caribbean.
Monitoring work for which eldwork took place in this month is highlighted.
Category Subject Island Organization(s): Lead scientist(s)
Birds Flamingo Abundance BON
DROB: Frank van Slobbe
Cargill
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol
Birds Monitoring vulnerable parrot nests
(remote camera sensing work) BON Echo: Nathan Schmaltz
Birds Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot roost counts BON Echo: Sam Williams
DROB: Frank van Slobbe
Birds Bird Monitoring (Caribbean Waterbird Census) AUA
BON
FPNA
DLVV: Tatiana Becker
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol,
Caren Eckrich
Birds Tern monitoring (articial nesting islands) BON
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol, Caren
Eckrich
Cargill
DROB
IMARES: Dol Debrot
Birds Terrestrial Bird Monitoring Program for Bonaire BON STINAPA: Fernando Simal
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz
Birds Nesting Sea Birds BON STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol
Birds Bird monitoring
SAB,
EUX,
SXM
EPIC: Adam Brown
Birds Red-billed Tropicbird monitoring SAB
EUX
STENAPA
Ecological Professionals
Foundation: Hannah Madden
SCF: Kai Wulf
IMARES: Dol Debrot
Birds Population assessment of the Bridled Quail-dove EUX
STENAPA
Ecological Professionals
Foundation: Hannah Madden
Coral reef
ecosystems Coral Bleaching Monitoring SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Coral reef
ecosystems
Survival rate of Scleractinian Corals and Diadema
antillarum) in Oranjebaai. (Permanent monitoring
transects)
EUX Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Coral reef
ecosystems Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network SAB
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
CNSI
Corals reef
ecosystems Staghorn coral eld monitoring survey EUX STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
Coral reef
ecosystems
Monitoring and research of the longest coral reef
time-series in the world (since 1973)
BON
CUR
IMARES: Erik Meesters, Didier de
Bakker (PhD student)
NIOZ: Fleur van Duyl, Rolf Bak
Ecosystems Invasive seagrass monitoring BON
EUX
STINAPA: Sabine Engel, Caren
Eckrich
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Ecosystems Seagrass monitoring SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Ecosystems Mangrove monitoring SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Monitoring Overview

BioNews Issue 26 P-13
Monitoring Overview
Ecosystems Seagrass/conch/mangrove/ benthic fauna,
Lac Bay Restoration BON
STINAPA: Sabine Engel, Caren
Eckrich
WUR: Klaas Metselaar
Environmental Water quality testing SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
EPIC: Natalia Collier
Fish
Shark monitoring:
-Shark sightings
- Shark Abundance, distribution and movements
(tagging, acoustic telemetry)
SAB
SXM
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf, Erwin de
Winter
SCF(SBMU)
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
Fish Spawning monitoring: Red hind surveys on
Moonsh Bank SAB SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
Insects Bee tracking BON Echo: Nathan Schmaltz
Invasive species
Goat and/or donkey removal:
-Washington Slagbaai National Park
- Lac Bay area (exclusion plots)
- Quill National Park (exclusion plots)
BON
EUX
STINAPA: Evo Cicilia
IMARES: Dol Debrot
DROB
STENAPA
Invasive species Lionsh abundance and control
BON
CUR
SXM
SAB
EUX
STINAPA: Paulo Bertuol (50 meter
traps)
CARMABI: Mark Vermeij
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
Invasive species Monkey Monitoring: abundance and distribution SXM NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets
Invasive species Feral pig population assessment (trapping) BON
Echo: Nathan Schmaltz, Sam
Williams
UsA: Michaela Roberts
Mammals Bat monitoring AUA
BON
FPNA
WildConscience:Fernando Simal,
Linda Garcia
Mammals Dolphin monitoring (since 1999) BON Ron Sewell
Molluscs Conch (Strombus gigas) on St. Eustatius, Saba
Bank, Anguilla
SAB
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf, Erik Bo-
man (PhD student)
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
Natural resource
use
Fishery monitoring (including marine mammal
sightings and use of escape vents to reduce by-
catch)
SAB
EUX
IMARES: Martin de Graaf
SCF (SBMU): Jens Odinga
Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Plants Reforestation Klein Bonaire BON STINAPA
Plants Phenology of bats in cacti landscapes of Aruba AUA WildConscience: Linda Garcia,
FPNA
Reptiles Lesser Antillean Iguana: Monitoring population
density EUX
RAVON: Tim van Wagensveld
STENAPA
Ecological Professionals
Foundation: Hannah Madden
Reptiles Boa and Cascabel Monitoring AUA FPNA,Toledo Zoological
Society:Andrew Odum
Reptiles Red bellied Racer snake population survey EUX Gem City Consulting: Steve
Piontek
Reptiles
Sea turtle monitoring:
-Satellite tracking
-Nest monitoring
-In water surveys (BON, CUR, SXM)
-Fibropapillomatosis presence (BON)
AUA,
BON,
CUR,
SAB,
EUX,
SXM
TurtugAruba Foundation
STCB: Mabel Nava
CARMABI (STCC): Sabine Berendse
STENAPA: Jessica Berkel
SCF:Kai Wulf
NFSXM: Tadzio Bervoets

BioNews Issue 26 P-14
List of Acronyms
AUA Aruba
BON Bonaire
CUR Curaçao
SAB Saba
EUX St. Eustatius
SXM St. Maarten
Alterra Research Institute for our green living
environment, the Netherlands
ANEMOON Analyse Educatie en Marien Oecologisch
Onderzoek
ASDF Aruba Sustainable Development Foundation
BO project Policy Supporting Research project
BU Bangor University, United Kingdom
CARMABI Caribbean Research and Management of Biodi-
versity Foundation
CIEE Council of International Educational Exchange,
Bonaire
CRF Coral Reef Foundation
DCNA Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
DCBD Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database
DROB Directorate of Spatial Planning and Develop-
ment, Bonaire
DLVV
(Santa
Rosa)
Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery
and Farmers market (Santa Rosa), Aruba
ECPHF Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation
EPIC Environmental Protection in the Caribbean
FPNA Fundacion Parke Nacional Arikok, Aruba
IMARES Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem
Studies, the Netherlands
LVV Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry &
Fisheries, St. Eustatius
NFSXM Nature Foundation St. Maarten
Naturalis Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands
NIOZ Royal Institute for Sea Research, the Netherlands
NWO Netherlands Organisation for Scientic Research
RAVON Reptielen Ambieën Vissen Onderzoek Nederland
RuG University of Groningen, the Netherlands
SBMU Saba Bank Management Unit
SCF Saba Conservation Foundation
Smith-
sonian
Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural
History
STCB Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire
STCC Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao
STENAPA St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation
STINAPA National Parks Foundation Bonaire
TUD Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
UsA University of St. Andrews, Scotland
UU University of Utrecht, the Netherlands
UvA University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
VHL University of Applied Sciences VHL, the Neth-
erlands
VU VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Wildcon-
science Wildlife Conservation, Science and Education
WNF World Wide Fund for Nature
WUR Wageningen University and Research Centre,
the Netherlands
Reports and Publications overview
Below you will nd an overview of the reports and
publications on biodiversity related subjects in the
Dutch Caribbean that have recently been published.
Ames, C.L., J.F. Ryan, A.E. Bely, P. Cartwright, A.G.
Collins (2016)
A new transcriptome and transcriptome proling of
adult and larval tissue in the box jellysh Alatina alata: an
emerging model for studying venom, vision and sex, BMC
Genomics DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2944-3
Bakker, D. de, E.H.W.G.. Meesters, J.D.L. van Bleijswijk,
P.C. Luttikhuizen, H. J. A. J. Breeuwer, L. E. Becking (2016)
Population Genetic Structure, Abundance, and Health
Status of Two Dominant Benthic Species in the Saba
Bank National Park, Caribbean Netherlands: Montastraea
cavernosa and Xestospongia muta, Plos ONE 11(5):
e0155969, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155969
Baldwin, C.C., D.E. Ptassy, D.R. Robertson (2016)
A new deep-reef scorpionsh (Teleostei, Scorpaenidae,
Scorpaenodes) from the southern Caribbean with
comments on depth distributions and relationships of
western Atlantic members of the genus, Zookeys 606:
141–158.
Beek, I.J.M. van (2016)
Ecolgical values of the 12 miles zone of Bonaire, Ijmuiden:
IMARES (Report/IMARES C026/16), p. 1-34
Böhm, T. W. Hoeksema (2016)
Habitat selection of the coral-dwelling spinyhead blenny,
Acanthemblemaria spinosa, at Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean,
B.W. Mar Biodiv DOI:10.1007/s12526-016-0543-9
Debrot, A.O. (IMARES), A. Reid, A., T. Leslie, H. Madden,
J. stapel, F. Dalm, L. Upho, L. van der Zwet (2016)
Pilot trials on St. Eustatius to contain the spread of and
eradicate the invasive Giant African Land Snail
Geelhoed, S.C.V., N. Janinho, J.P. Verdaat (2016)
First visual record of a living basking shark Cetorhinus
maximus in the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean Journal of
Science, Vol. 49(1) 76-78
Jesse, W.A.M., H. Madden, J. Molleman, T. van
Wagensveld (2016)
First Recorded Introduction for the Saba Anole (Anolis
sabanus) and an Overview of Introduced Amphibians and
Reptiles on St. Eustatius, IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS:
144–146
Montano, S., D. Maggioni, P. Galli, B.W. Hoeksema (2016)
A cryptic species in the Pteroclava kremp species
complex (Hydrozoa, Cladocorynidae) revealed in the
Caribbean, Marine Biodiversity: 1-7, DOI: 10.1007/s12526-
016-0555-5
Nassar, J.M., R. Galicia, A. Ibarra, R.A. Medellin (2016)
Tracking the origin of the smearing behavior in long-
nosed bats (Leptonycteris spp.). Mammalian Biology DOI:
10.1016/j.mambio.2016.08.003
Risch, D. D. de Haan (2016)
Humpback and minke whale acoustic presence with
reference to sh sounds and ambient noise levels at Saba
Bank, Caribbean Windward Dutch Islands, Den Helder:
IMARES (Report/ IMARES C067/16), p.1-22

BioNews Issue 26 P-15
DCNA Contact Information
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance | Kaya Finlandia 10a | Kralendijk, Bonaire | Dutch Caribbean
+599-717-5010 | research@DCNAnature.org | www.DCNA nature.org
DCNA’s activities are generously supported by the Ministry of Interior
Aairs and Kingdom Relations and Dutch Postcode Lottery.
BioNews is funded by the Ministry of Economic Aairs.
If you do not wish to receive future issues of BioNews, or if you have suggestions of colleagues you
would like us to add to our mailing list, please contact us at research@DCNAnature.org
June
5Event World Environment Day
6-9 Workshop Caribbean border control and invasive aliens species management workshop, Jamaica
6-8 Event World Oceans Day
14-16 Symposium Shark Conservation Symposium, Sint Maarten (Hosted by Government of St. Maarten, St.
Maarten Nature Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust, and The Pew Charitable Trusts)
18-26 Event Dutch Caribbean Shark Week 2016 (Save Our Sharks Project Dutch Postcode Lottery)
19-24 Symposium 13th International Coral Reef Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii USA
30-3
August Congress 4th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC4), St. John's, Newfoundland and
Labrador, Canada
July
25-5
August
Economic Tools
for Conservation Economic tools for conservation, Berkeley, California
30-3
August Congress 4th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC4),
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
August
29-1
Sept Meeting 13th Meeting of the Scientic Committee of the Inter-American Sea Turtle Convention
(IAC), Belize
September
1-10 Congress IUCN World Conservation Congress, Honolulu, Hawaï
26-30 Workshop Caribbean Birding Trail, Bonaire (Echo and DCNA)
October
3-4 Workshop Shark Management Expert Workshop, Bonaire
5 Meeting Fishery Commission BES, Bonaire
6 Meeting Dutch Caribbean EEZ committee, Bonaire
15 - 22 Expedition Shark Tagging Expedition (Satellite tags), Saba Bank (SOS project)
18-21 Working
conference Coastal Dynamics and Ecosystem Change: Caribbean, quo vadis?, Bonaire
28-30 Conference 20th Annual Scientic Conference of the European Elasmobranch Association (EEA),
Bristol (UK)
31- 5
Nov Meeting 7th Scientic and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the SPAW Protocol and 3rd
STAC of the Land Based Sources of marine pollution (LBS) Protocol, Miami, Florida, USA
Calendar
An overview of nature conservation and management related events of this month and the coming months.
Photo credits: All photos courtesy of SHAPE Photography or Brenda S. & R. Duncan Kirkby unless otherwise credited. Layout & Design: Robert Jan van Oosten.
More events to add to this
calendar? Please e-mail us:
research@DCNAnature.org
Scan with your smart-
phone to access the
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BioNews Issue 26 P-16
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance | Kaya Finlandia 10a | Kralendijk, Bonaire | Dutch Caribbean
Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
Safeguarding nature in the Dutch Caribbean