Ambergris Caye Belize Resort Development - Department of ...

Most of the grasses and weeds, and vines, and herbaceous bracts and shrubs were confined to the
Beach Berm [See PL 2.17], and the seaward 1/4 th of the Littoral Forest Seaward Consolidated
Berm. The succeeding berms or ridges were heavily forested. Except for a small area at the midlatitude
of the property immediately landward of the beach berm, as well as the survey trails [See
PLs’ 2.18 and 2.27 respectively], there were no signs of previous land-clearing [Pers. comm.., G.
Myvett]. The forest was surmised to be of primary growth form [See PL’s 2.19 & 2.20].
The Mangrove Scrub component of the forest included two (2) components, viz: an area
characterized by littoral forest species interspersed by mangroves species, and a zone dominated
90-100% by mangroves. The mixed mangrove shrub component was located mainly in the area
titled ‘Littoral Forest Lagunal Berm’. The mangrove species found in this area were the Black
Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and the White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) [See Table
2.2A]. The more frequently encountered species was the Black Mangrove (Avicennia
germinans).
The monospecific mangrove zone has been defined as the Laguna de Cantena Low-lands
[LdCLL] in Table 2.2A. Although all three (3) species of mangroves present in Belize were
found in the area, the most dominant species was the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) [See
PL’s 2.7 & 2.8], followed by the Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans).
Apart from the land-based trees, shrubs and grasses, the site was also richly invested with subtidal
or sea-based plant life. The dominant species was the Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinium)
which formed extensive meadows or ‘bed’ [See PL’s 2.2 & 2.3], which proceeded from the
nearshore areas, to the medial shallows about 400-500 m from the shoreline [See D Fig. 2.1].
Apart from the Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinium) [See PL 2.12], the two (2) other seagrass
species found in the area included the Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme) [See PL 2.13] and
Halodule (Halodule beaudettel) [See Table 2.2A].
The macro-algae figured prominently in regards to the sub-tidal species found in the area. The
Shag Carpet Algae (Dasycladus vermicularis) was found in great profusion in the Laguna de
Cantena. The Disc Tree Halimeda (Halimeda copiosa) [See PL 2.11] was found in the midreaches
of the barrier lagoon in the seas off the front or eastern side of the property. The floating
seaweed or sargassum (Sargassum polycerathum) was also found off the front of the property in
the barrier lagoon, as well as on the beach [See PL’s 2.6, 2.17 & 2.22]. Other macro-algal
species of note found in the area include: the Dichotomously Branched Algae (Dictyota spp.),
Valonia (Valonia ventricosa), the Feather Algae (Caulerpa prolifera) and the Cactus Branchlets
(Caulerpa cupressoides) [See Table 2.2B].
Much of the macor-algae were found in the primary reef zone, including the pavement area and
backreef zone [See F, Fig. 2.1].
Grimshaw and Paz [2004] cited the existence of 37 species seagrasses and macro-algae in the
greater Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve [BCNP/MR]. The Tunich Nah Survey
Team documented 19 species, of which 3 were not previously cited by Grimsha and Paz [2004].
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