Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
Vanessa Lewis
Axia College
Introduction The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the largest barrier reefs in the northern hemisphere. The system has a total of seven beautiful sites: Bacalar Chico national park and marine reserve, Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, South Wather Caye Marine Reserve, Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. The Belize Barrier Reef includes all of these locations and make up the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. There are many life forms from plants to animals that are in danger and the site has been added to the UNESCO in danger list. There are marine programs put into place to try to help save the natural system.
Diversity of Life Forms The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse being the home to more species than any other marine ecosystem. The only other ecosystem that ranks higher in biodiversity is the tropical rain forests. The Belize Barrier Reef has approximately 65 coral species and over 400 fish species. There is also a great variety of terrestrial plants, atolls, and islands. All of these things make up a very diverse reef. Atolls are a group of reefs that encloses the lagoons. In Belize, these atolls are the home of at least three endangered turtles. The loggerhead turtle, green turtle, and the hawksbill turtle are all endanger and they all live in the atolls of the barrier reef. The deep waters of Belize are the home of many great species of marine life. Some of the species that can be found there are whale sharks, dolphins, manatees, and seabirds. Most of these species live in warm water, and the water is warmed by the currents of the Caribbean (Handwerk, 2002). One of the most famous parts of the Barrier Reef, The Blue Hole, is the home of many life forms as well. The Blue Hole is the remains of a cave and is about 400 feet deep. The aquatic life that lives there are amazing, the
Vanessa Lewis
Axia College
Introduction The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the largest barrier reefs in the northern hemisphere. The system has a total of seven beautiful sites: Bacalar Chico national park and marine reserve, Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, South Wather Caye Marine Reserve, Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. The Belize Barrier Reef includes all of these locations and make up the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. There are many life forms from plants to animals that are in danger and the site has been added to the UNESCO in danger list. There are marine programs put into place to try to help save the natural system.
Diversity of Life Forms The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse being the home to more species than any other marine ecosystem. The only other ecosystem that ranks higher in biodiversity is the tropical rain forests. The Belize Barrier Reef has approximately 65 coral species and over 400 fish species. There is also a great variety of terrestrial plants, atolls, and islands. All of these things make up a very diverse reef. Atolls are a group of reefs that encloses the lagoons. In Belize, these atolls are the home of at least three endangered turtles. The loggerhead turtle, green turtle, and the hawksbill turtle are all endanger and they all live in the atolls of the barrier reef. The deep waters of Belize are the home of many great species of marine life. Some of the species that can be found there are whale sharks, dolphins, manatees, and seabirds. Most of these species live in warm water, and the water is warmed by the currents of the Caribbean (Handwerk, 2002). One of the most famous parts of the Barrier Reef, The Blue Hole, is the home of many life forms as well. The Blue Hole is the remains of a cave and is about 400 feet deep. The aquatic life that lives there are amazing, the
References: Handwerk, B. (2002, October). Expedition to explore Belize 's Barrier Reefs. , NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. Parks, R. A. (2009). World Heritage Site in Belize Comes Under UNESCO Scrutiny. Amandala Online Belize Newspaper. www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=8388/ United Nations Environment Programme-WO (2009). Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize. www.eoearth.org/article/Belize_Barrier_Reef_Reserve_System%2C_Belize. Belize Institute of Environmental Law and Policy. (n.d.). BELIZE BARRIER REEF RESERVE SYSTEM. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://www.law.ufl.edu/conservation/international/pdf/belize.pdf Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2009, from The Encyclopedia of Earth: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Belize_Barrier_Reef_Reserve_System,_Belize Wells, S. (n.d.). Belize Barrier Reef. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://www.westminster.edu/staff/athrock/BELIZE/Reef.html