SABA — Feral cat densities on Saba have been studied to discover the potential impact of this invasive predator on the Red-billed Tropicbird breeding colonies. Read more >

DUTCH CARIBBEAN — Did you know that while birds are diverse and found in nearly all habitats of our planet 1,313 bird species (one in eight of the total on our planet!) are threatened with extinction? Read more >

In this final BioNews edition of 2015, we are very pleased to be able to present to you a broad range of examples from the diverse and fascinating science work underway in the Dutch Caribbean today. Articles range work done locally by Dr. Patrick Lyons who has been has been studying the impact of recreational scuba divers on Bonaire’s coral reefs to the start of two new NWO funded projects from the Netherlands, one examining aspects of sea turtle ecology and conservation and the other looking at the impact of invasive species in the Dutch Caribbean. There is an update on the effects of invasive predators, cats and rats, on the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds in the windward islands of Saba and St. Eustatius as well as a review from the recent 19th Annual European Elasmobranch Association meeting. This month for the first time we are also proud to profile the research institutes in the Dutch Caribbean. CIEE Research Station on Bonaire, CARMABI Research Station on Curacao as well as the newly established Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) on St. Eustatius. In the months ahead we will be sharing more information on the science directors, their staff as well as the research and projects underway at these institutes and how they are helping both to build local capacity and also to disseminate scientific knowledge locally. Read more >