Bionews ISSUE 20 - 2018
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BIONEwS ISSUE 20 - 2018 1 Editor’s Letter 10 Monitoring Statia’s 34 List of Acronyms marine ecosystems 2 New research in the conservation of 35 Reports and sea turtles on their nesting beaches 12 Saba: Sea & Learn Publications 3 Dutch Caribbean: “home” of unique, 14 Research Overview 36 Calendar and likely vulnerable, populations of Bryde’s and humpback whales 16 Long-Term Projects 37 Members and Contact Overview 7 Three new exotic gecko 38 References species identified on Curaçao 24 Monitoring Overview 27 Monitoring & Research Wishlist Editor’s Letter Dutch Caribbean, December 2018 New research led by Swansea University’s College Exotic species, species introduced to a new loca- of Science has recently reported effective conser- tion outside their native range, can pose significant vation strategies that can mitigate the impacts of threats to biodiversity, especially the native climate warming on sea turtle nesting success. species on islands. As part of the Caribbean Island A range of experiments were conducted between Biogeography meets the Anthropocene project, 2012-2017 in St. Eustatius Marine Park. There researchers initiated their surveys for exotic reptile is a real concern that, in the context of climate and amphibian species on Curaçao. They found change, warming air temperatures may lead to three new exotic gecko species on Curaçao, which female-biased sea turtle populations and that not may have negative implications for Curaçao’s three enough male hatchlings would be born on the native gecko species and native ecosystems. beaches in future to sustain the local population. Therefore researchers decided to investigate op- CNSI continues to monitor the vulnerable eco- tions for conservation actions to reduce incubation systems of St. Eustatius coordinated by Data temperatures. Monitoring Officer (DMO) Kimani Kitson-Walters. Coral reef surveys areconducted in collaboration Among the large marine mammals, the North with St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) Atlantic Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangli- using the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network ae) are known to overwinter in the wider Caribbean Protocol. In this BioNews edition we share the 2017 as well as in the Cape Verde archipelago and other results. Data on the island’s fisheries are collected areas off western Africa. The available data sug- and assessed by the DMO with plans to automate gests that the humpback whales that overwinter data collection using a mobile application under in the Dutch Caribbean are not part of the western the Statia Blue Project. The aim of the Statia North Atlantic humpback whale population that Blue Project is to create sustainable practices for breeds north of the Dominican Republic, as previ- Statia’s fisheries while putting the fish buyers in ously assumed, but instead more likely to be part touch with the suppliers on a “real-time” basis. of a relatively small “eastern” North Atlantic hump- back population that also overwinter in the Cape Last but not least we share an overview of the Verde archipelago and which summers off Iceland activities of this year’s Sea & Learn event on Saba. and in the Barents Sea. The Dutch Caribbean is A total of 16 experts provided dynamic hands-on also home to Bryde’s whales, Balaenoptera edeni field projects and powerful presentations that spp., which is an all-year low latitude resident. engaged community awareness and discussions. However, data on Bryde’s whales are very scarce and our understanding of Bryde’s whales in the Enjoy! Dutch Caribbean and adjacent waters is near-zero. The DCNA Team 1 New research in the conservation of sea turtles on their nesting beaches New research led by Swansea University’s The results of the study showed that the most College of Science and recently published in effective shading material was palm leaves, Scientific Reports has reported effective conser- decreasing temperature by a mean of 0.6 °C. vation strategies that can mitigate the impacts Variation between beaches that are only 1 km of climate warming on sea turtle nesting suc- apart was an average of 1.9 °C. Relocation be- cess. A range of experiments were conducted tween beaches and shading could shift hatchling between 2012-2017 in St Eustatius Marine sex ratio from the current ranges (97-100% Park in the Dutch Caribbean in association female) to 60-90% female. A conservation mitiga- with St Eustatius National Parks, Wageningen tion matrix is presented to summarise evidence University and Groningen University in the that artificial shading and nest relocation can be Netherlands and Deakin University in Australia. effective, low-cost, low-technology conservation strategies to mitigate impacts of climate warming Swansea University researcher, Dr Nicole Esteban for sea turtles. said: “Sea turtles do not have sex chromosomes and it is the incubation temperature in sand sur- “This research underlines that there is real need rounding a clutch of eggs that determines the sex of for effective conservation measures to be put in a turtle hatchling which is known as Temperature- place to prevent the localized extinction of these Dependent Sex Determination. Eggs incubating turtle populations in St Eustatius. We are planning at cooler temperatures (generally lower than 29 to relocate turtle clutches to the cooler beach and °C) produce male turtles and eggs incubating at have already trialed relocation of turtle eggs to a warmer temperatures produce females. This has led cooler site” reported the Marine Park Manager to concerns that, in the context of climate change, Jessica Berkel. warming air temperatures may lead to female- biased sea turtle populations. Our previous work in Read the research “Optimism for mitigation of cli- St Eustatius showed that incubation temperatures mate warming impacts for sea turtles through nest are relatively high (mean of 31°C) so that the major- shading and relocation” published by Scientific ity of turtle hatchlings born at these beaches have Reports (2018) online: been female biased during the past decades. There http://www.dcbd.nl/sites/www.dcbd.nl/files/docu- is therefore a real concern that not enough male ments/s41598-018-35821-6.pdf hatchlings would be born on the beaches in future to sustain the local population and we decided Authors: Nicole Esteban, Jacques-Olivier Laloë, to investigate options for conservation actions to Fionne S.P.L. Kiggen, Selma M. Ubels, Leontine E. reduce incubation temperatures”. Becking, Erik Meesters, Jessica Berkel, Graeme C. Hays & Marjolijn J.A. Christianen. The researchers developed a series of trial ex- During the last decade several marine areas in periments to test the effect of various shading the Wider Caribbean have been awarded extra treatments that were easily available (white sand, protection as “marine mammal reserves”, white sheet, palm leaves). The sand temperatures such as the the Yarari Marine Mammal and below the shaded areas were recorded using Shark Sanctuary that was established in the small temperature loggers buried at turtle nest- Caribbean Netherlands on September 1, 2015. ing depths on Zeelandia and Oranjebaai beaches The Yarari Sanctuary comprises all the waters in St Eustatius. The data were combined with of Bonaire and Saba and since September 2018 long-term beach temperature data to estimate also the effect of shading and relocation between the St. Eustatius. The name of the Sanctuary beaches on hatchling sex ratios. “Yarari” is a Taíno Indian word, meaning ‘a fine place’. It is intended to provide “a fine place” Would you like to share a news item? Please e-mail us: [email protected] 2 Dutch Caribbean: “home” of unique, and likely vulnerable, populations of Bryde’s and humpback whales By Dr. Per J. Palsbøll for marine mammals and sharks, where they eventually separating from the mother during will receive the necessary attention to ensure fall when it will migrate back to the winter breed- they are optimally protected. ing grounds on its own (Clapham et al., 1993; Robbins, 2007). With very few exceptions indi- Among the large marine mammals, the North vidual humpback whales keep returning to their Atlantic Humpback whales (Megaptera no- maternal summer foraging ground their entire vaeangliae) are known to overwinter in the life (Clapham et al., 1993; Palsbøll et al.,1995; wider Caribbean as well as in the Cape Verde Robbins, 2007). archipelago and other areas off western Africa. The available data suggests that the humpback Recovering western North whales that overwinter in the Dutch Caribbean Atlantic humpback population are not part of the western North Atlantic hump- Humpback whales are relatively slow-moving back whale population that breeds north of the whales which, along with a tendency to congre- Dominican Republic, as previously assumed, but gate in specific, predictable areas, made them instead more likely to be part of a relatively small a target for commercial whaling during the late “eastern” North Atlantic humpback population 19th and early 20th centuries in the North Atlantic that also overwinter in the Cape Verde archi- (Punt et al., 2006). As a result, the population pelago and which summers off Iceland and in the was decimated to very low numbers on both Barents Sea. The Dutch Caribbean is also home to sides of the North Atlantic. After full protection Bryde’s whales, Balaenoptera edeni spp., which was afforded in the early 1960s, the humpback is an all-year low latitude resident. However, data whales in the western North Atlantic appear to on Bryde’s whales are very scarce and our under- have increased to approximately 10,000 (Smith et standing of Bryde’s whales in the Dutch Caribbean al. 1999) and 12,000 (unpublished) individuals in and adjacent waters is near-zero. 1992/93 and 2004/5, respectively. Humpback migrations between 30 years of trans-North Atlantic collabo- feeding and breeding grounds rative research projects Humpback whales undertake some of the long- These estimates were based upon two large trans- est seasonal migrations known among animals North Atlantic collaborative research efforts, (Stone et al.