Humans are affecting the terrestrial ecosystems on the Caribbean island of Curacao through the addition of exotic species and development of natural habitats. We study how these two forces independently and synergistically interact to shape Curacao’s terrestrial biodiversity. To accomplish this, we use a combination of field surveys, genetic analyses, and statistical modeling to investigate biodiversity patterns in several taxonomic groups including: birds, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, mollusks, and plants. This project is funded by the Dutch National Science Foundation (NWO).
Photo credit: Christian Irian