The Caribbean marine flora and fauna is well represented in the scientific collections of Naturalis because of many field studies performed by Dutch scientists.
Photograph: The symbiotic shrimp Pseudopontonides principis (Criales, 1980) on black coral. Curaçao, photo C.H.J.M. Fransen, 2013.
Inshort
Three workers in the group have a focus on this area researching marine invertebrates. Aspects of coral reef health are researched through associations between host corals and invertebrate symbionts; species communities through discovery of new species, new localities and identification of invasive species;; and subterranean island fauna evolution through interstitial invertebrates in marine sand and terrestrial groundwater.
Who workson this project?
Who do wework with?
On this project we work together with six Caribbean organisations:
- Substation Curacao
- Caribbean Netherlands Science Centre op St. Eustatius
- St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) op St Eustatius
- Nature Foundation St. Maarten op St Maarten
- Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA) on Bonaire
- Carmabi Marine Research Station op Curaçao
- Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
We also collaborate with:
In themedia
Springer Link (2017): Editorial: biodiversity of Caribbean coral reefs (with a focus on the Dutch Caribbean)