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ISSUE 28 - 2019 Bionews BIONEWS ISSUE 28 Editor’S Letter Dutch Caribbean, November 2019 2 Editor’S Letter

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ISSUE 28 - 2019 Bionews BIONEWS ISSUE 28 Editor’S Letter Dutch Caribbean, November 2019 2 Editor’S Letter ISSUE 28 - 2019 BIONEwS BIONEWS ISSUE 28 Editor’s Letter Dutch Caribbean, November 2019 2 Editor’s Letter 3 Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Since 2014, a new coral disease has been spreading Hurricane Maria devasted several Caribbean Management Update through the reefs of the north Caribbean. Known islands in 2017. A major relief campaign was as the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), launched to help the affected population of the 4 Presentations, Workshops and this disease appears to be fast spreading and Commonwealth of Dominica. It has now been Excursions Provide New Nature extremely lethal. In August, experts met to discuss established that in addition to emergency aid, Conservation Drive in Participants lessons learned from Florida’s management of this exotic invasive vertebrate species were introduced disease and discuss best practices for identifying to Dominica. These famous exotics now threaten 6 Emergency assistance contributes and treating infected corals for the future which the survival of endemic species and urgent action to the spread of invasive exotics has been summarized in DCNA’s Stony Coral is needed to protect them. Tissue Loss Disease Management Letter for the 7 A Critically Endangered Palm Dutch Caribbean. A recent report describes, for the first time in its Found Only on Bonaire history, the critically endangered Bonaire Palm. During the 2019 edition of the DCNA convention Although first documented in 1979, it took till 2019 9 Research Overview held on Bonaire end of October, biologists before scientists identified this palm as native from the region met to thoroughly discuss coral solely to Bonaire. With only 25 mature individuals 11 Long-Term Projects Overview restoration, the Coral Action Plan, the (citizen) remaining, conservation efforts must be taken science platform Observation.org and the next immediately to ensure this species remains a part Editor’s photo: Letter Brain Coral by night © Marion Haarsma 15 Monitoring Overview Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) of the Bonairian landscape in the future. call for research proposals. In addition to attending 19 Monitoring & Research Wishlist presentations and workshops, the biologists from, among others, the six national parks of the Dutch 24 List of Acronyms Caribbean also went on an excursion to gain first- Enjoy! Cover photo: Cuban TreeFrog © Rusty Clark hand experience on the coral restoration work of The DCNA Team 25 Reports and Publications the Reef Renewal Foundation on Bonaire. 26 Calendar 27 Members and Contact BioNews 28 - Content 2 3 4 5 6 ... Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Management Update Since 2014, a new coral disease has been Symptoms share information and discuss how to best manage spreading from the reefs of Florida around the When a coral contracts SCTLD it begins with SCTLD outbreaks (GCFI, 2019). Participates north Caribbean, resulting in mass causalities of visible lesions which spread out from around the were able to work directly with leading SCTLD stony corals. Known as the Stony Coral Tissue edge. Here the coral tissue can become detached experts from Florida and learn how to properly Loss Disease (SCTLD), this disease appears or completely removed, which leaves the coral identify the disease and manage infected corals to be fast spreading and extremely lethal. structure as a bare skeleton typically becoming effectively. Florida has had positive results Experts from around the Caribbean met early covered in algae within a week (Florida DEP, treating infected corals with a variety of antibiotic August to discuss lessons learned from Florida’s 2018). SCTLD can spread rapidly, at a pace of 20- regimes; however, this is still being tested and Department of Environmental Protection 40 cm2 a day for highly susceptible coral species regulatory frameworks concerning the use of such (DEP)’s management of this disease and discuss and 5-10 cm2 a day for intermediately susceptible treatments varies between countries best practices for identifying and treating species (Martinelli, 2019). Without intervention, (Reef Resilience, 2019). infected corals. Florida has seen nearly a 100% mortality rate of infected corals with this disease (Martinelli, 2019). Protecting the Future The Disease With harsher environmental conditions stressing A new coral disease was first spotted off the Transmission corals, these species will continue to become coast of Florida in 2014. Since then, it has spread It is now believed the SCTLD is transmitted more susceptible to disease in the future. SCTLD throughout much of the north Caribbean, through direct contact and water circulation is of particular concern as it appears to be long including Mexico, Jamaica, Sint Maarten, the (Reef Resilience, 2019). To minimize its spread, lasting (present since 2014), easily spread over Dominican Republic, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officials are now recommending extreme caution a wide area, it affects a high number of slow (AGGRA, 2019). This disease is known as SCTLD for divers around infected corals, and urge divers growing, reef building species and has been seen and to date it has only been seen in stony corals to fully decontaminate their gear between dive to result in total colony mortality once infected and causes significant tissue loss within affected sites to avoid spreading the disease (Florida DEP, (Martinelli, 2019). Increasing public awareness hosts. This disease spreads fast and can have 2019). In addition, it is strongly encouraged that if and proper diving practices will be crucial for devasting affects on the reef if not treated a coral is suspected of being infected, it should be managing this disease. Researchers are continuing immediately (Florida DEP, 2019). Dr. Andy reported to the appropriate authority immediately to test intervention methods to minimize the © by: Photo Bruckner, Research Coordinator at Florida Keys to begin increasing public awareness and direct spread of this disease. Until this disease is better National Marine Sanctuary stated “Stony Coral intervention (Florida DEP 2019). understood, it is crucial for divers and researchers Tissue Loss Disease affects some of the slowest- to carefully track its progression. If you believe K. Neely K. growing and longest-lived reef-building corals, Knowledge Sharing you’ve spotted an infected coral, please report its including the iconic brain corals, star corals and On August 1st of this year, a group of 22 experts location, and if possible, a photograph, to your pillar corals.” from 17 countries met in Key West, Florida to local marine park authority. Would you like to share a news item? View the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Management Letter: Please e-mail us: [email protected] https://www.dcnanature.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SCTLDReport-Online.pdf BioNews 28 - Content 2 3 4 5 6 ... Presentations, Workshops and Excursions Provide New Nature Conservation Drive in Participants During the 2019 edition of the DCNA convention “It is very inspiring to see what is already being held on Bonaire end of October, biologists done on Bonaire and to learn from the experiences from the region met to thoroughly discuss coral of the other islands. It is also very insightful to learn restoration, the Coral Action Plan, the (citizen) about the available knowledge and how accessible science platform Observation.org and the next it is made through the developed methodologies.” Dutch Organization for Scientific Research Jessica Berkel (STENAPA-St Eustatius). (NWO) call for research proposals. In addition to attending presentations and workshops, the Public Lecture Creates Mixed biologists from, among others, the six national Feelings amongst Attendees parks of the Dutch Caribbean also went on an The public lecture held on Monday night caused excursion to gain first-hand experience on the mixed feelings amongst those in attendance. coral restoration work of the Reef Renewal Based on scientific standards, the status Foundation on Bonaire. of the coral reefs in the Dutch Caribbean is moderate to very unfavorable. This means that In-depth information on coral recovery urgent measures need to be taken. The main The park biologists are now better informed consideration is that the status of the coral reefs on when and how to apply coral restoration are crucial for the sustainable prosperity of the methods since the presentations and workshops islands in the long term. The willpower to take represented a unique opportunity to learn from action and prevent further decline of coral reefs each other’s knowledge and experiences. This is therefore very strong at this moment. In the newly gained knowledge will undoubtedly benefit coming years, the Dutch Caribbean Nature the work carried out on the other islands. Alliance (DCNA) will also focus on coral recovery. During the 2019 edition of the DCNA convention on Bonaire, biologists from local organizations such as Aruba National Park Foundation, STINAPA Bonaire, Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire, CARMABI Curaçao, Saba Conservation Foundation, Sint Maarten Nature Foundation and EPIC, STENAPA and CNSI of Sint Eustatius were united on October 28 for a full day of Wouldworkshops. you like to share a news item? Photo by: © Skyview Bonaire Please e-mail us: [email protected] BioNews 28 - Content 2 3 4 5 6 ... Citizens Can Help Report Plan including the Coral Action Plan that is under Animal and Plant Species development for the BES islands. The workshop Hans Verdaat presented how the free website provided a valuable platform for the participants www.DutchCaribbean.Observation.org and to give input on how to successfully implement apps could be used by the nature conservation this plan and for the other three Dutch Caribbean organisations of the Dutch Caribbean. This free islands Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten to website and free apps can be used not only by give input for possible future inter-island biologists but by all citizens to report animals and collaborations with the BES-islands. plants and is available in more than 40 languages. It is now also being translated to Papiaments.
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