Ambergris Caye Belize Resort Development - Department of ...

description of the property. The situation of the lack of fishlife in the lagoon has also been
cited by Grimshaw and Paz [2004] as the experience of other authors. It would be very unlikely
that there would be no fishlife in the lagoon, since although it is understandable that ecological
functions of the lagoon would change over annual cycles and longer time frames, it is unlikely
that the changes encountererd, including that of fishing pressures, would be of a magnitude or
orientation to completely wiped out the fish stocks from the area [Pers. comm.., G. Myvett].
Much of the species encountered are stenohaline stocks that are incapable of withstanding
freshwater influences and in general large shifts in salinity. The species encountererd by the
Tunich Nah Survey Team, as well as those cited by Grimshaw and Paz [2004], typically
includes reef species such as the Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus), the Dog Snapper
(Lutjanus jocu), and the Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus), as well as oceanic stocks such as
the Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili), the Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and the
Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus) [See Table 2.4].
Much of the euryhaline species, which can adjust to low salinity circumstances, and which can
tolerate relatively wide variations in salinity, that were listed by Grimshaw and Paz [2004]
were not seen or reported anectdotally by the Tunich Nah Survey Team for the proposed
project area. These include species such as the Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), the Snook
(Centropomus undecimalis) and the White Mullet (Mugil curema) [See Table 2.4].
The presence of euryhaline stocks in the Grimshaw and Paz endeavour [2004] relates to the
fact that it is unlikely that these species were recorded in the immediate project area: Given the
diversity of habitats and the expansive extent of the wider Bacalar Chico National Park and
Marine Reserve [BCNP/MR], it is likely that the euryhaline stocks were documented or
reported for some locale other than the current project site that would be characterized by low
salinities and consequently significant freshwater inputs.
2.3.1.2.2.2 Reptiles and Amphibians
Grimshaw and Paz [2004] cited the existence of 33 reptiles in the larger BCNP/MR: These
included 15 species of snakes and 1 crocodilian [See Table 2.5]. The Tunich Nah Survey Team
documented 5 species of reptiles, with 2 species of snakes and no crocodilian [See Table 2.5].
The limited number of reptilian species documented on the project site is a function of the size
of the property, geography and ecological characterization. The property is a relatively thin
strip of land with the sea on one side and a lagoon on the other. It’s geographic placement and
size does not allow for the diversity and geographic extent of habitats that would allow for a
wide array of species.
The most abundant species documented by the Tunich Nah Team was the Wish-Willy, Spinytail
Iguana (Ctenosaura similis), followed by the Smooth-Scaled Gecko
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