Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories - WIDECAST

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124 TURKS AND CAICOS Table 2 Mangrove habitats on Turks & Caicos Habitat category description N Species Composition % Tree Height (m)Tree Density (m -2 ) Rhz Avn Lag Con mean (range) mean -2 (range) Conocarpus erectus 6 0 0 0 100 2.4 (1.8–4.5) 0.6 (0.5–1.0) Avicennia germinans 11 0 100 0 0 2.6 (0.8–6.0) 0.6 (0.2–1.0) Short, high density, Rhizophora mangle 10 100 0 0 0 1.1 (0.5-2.0) 8.0 (6.0-10.0) Tall, low density, Rhizophora mangle 25 100 0 0 0 3.7 (2.0–7.0) 0.3 (0.2–0.5) Short mixed mangrove, high density 10 62 38 0 0 1.7 (0.8–2.5) 8.1 (5.0–15.0) Tall mixed mangrove, low density 14 56 43 0 1 3.5 (2.0–5.0) 0.6 (0.2–1.2) Laguncularia dominated mangrove 2 35 5 45 0 3.8 (3.5–4.0) 2.2 (0.5–4.0) Terrestrial habitats The Turks and Caicos are low lying, less than 75 m in altitude, and support a range of vegetation types. The Caicos Islands are relatively fertile, and support an understorey of scrub bush and cacti below a canopy of low trees. The Turk Islands have an unproductive, fine, sandy dune topsoil which supports a sparse vegetation of sedge and cacti. Scrubtype forest has been estimated to cover some 90% of the total land area. Predominant tree species of the forest/scrub biome of the Turks and Caicos include Pithecellobium quadalupense (Leguminoseae), Conocarpus erectus (Combretaceae), Bursera simaruba (Burseraceae), a species of lignum-vitae Guaiacum sanctum (Zygophyllaceae) (EN), Caribbean mahogany Swietenia mahagoni (Meliaceae) (EN), Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae) and Caribbean pine Pinus caribaea (Pinaceae). Pine forests are particularly noteworthy on North Caicos which has the highest rainfall of all the islands. The dry shrubwoods of coastal areas and rocky plains, with species such as the prickly pears, Opuntia millspaughii, O. bahamana and O. lucayana, have been identified as regional priorities for the conservation of cacti and succulents (Areces-Mallea 1997). Matured forest stands are rare in many places because of the high demands for fuelwood and for charcoal production (CDB 1983). Species of major significance Plants The flora of the Turks and Caicos is covered by Correll & Correll (1996). Nine species are endemic. In addition over 40 plant species endemic to the Bahama Archipelago occur in the Turks and Caicos. Endemic plant species include: An orchid Encyclia caicensis: epiphytic, and found in coppices and on rocky scrublands.
TURKS AND CAICOS 125 Argythamnia argentea: a shrub in the Euphorbiaceae, which occurs in dry sandy pockets on rocky hillsides and in scrublands. Turk Island prickly pear Opuntia x lucayana: a natural hybrid which grows in scrublands, open flats and rocky slopes. A sea lavender Limonium bahamense: a succulent which is considered to be potentially endangered by Areces-Mallea (1997). This species occurs on saline flats and open saline brushlands. An asclepiad Cynanchum stiptatum: apparently restricted to North Caicos. It grows on cut-over areas and disturbed soils. Borreria brittonii (Rubiaceae): a shrub which grows on loose rocky soils, dunes and open grassy areas. B. capillaris (Rubiaceae): a succulent species which grows on thin soils and crevices of rock flats in open coppices. The following tree and shrub species, all scarce and local in Turks and Caicos and restricted regionally in their distribution, were evaluated against IUCN red list criteria but are not considered to be globally threatened. Caesalpinia reticulata (Leguminoseae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): a shrub or small tree of coastal and hilly coppices. This species is reportedly uncommon. Euphorbia gymnonata (Euphorbiaceae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): a succulent tree of scrublands and open coppices. Hibiscus brittonianus (Malvaceae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): a shrub of rocky scrublands and coppices. Mimosa bahamensis (Leguminoseae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): a shrub or small tree of scrublands and thickets. Pavonia bahamensis (Malvaceae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): found in rocky coastal thickets., this species is not common but is probably not threatened. Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): this sub-species of Caribbean pine is protected in the Bahamas, where only small pockets of old growth pine remain. Tabebuia bahamensis (Bignoniaceae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Cuba): scrublands, pinelands and coppices, it occurs in all the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos islands, and is generally not threatened. Thouinia discolor (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): found in coppices, pineland, scrublands, this species occurs in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands and is probably not threatened. Ziziphus taylori (Rhamnaceae) (Turks and Caicos, Bahamas): found in rocky coppices and scrublands; a favoured food of iguanas in the Caicos Islands. This species is considered uncommon. Invertebrates Information on terrestrial invertebrates appears to be limited. There has been a number of published studies on coral reef invertebrates. Reptiles and amphibians The following species of herpetofauna are endemic to TCI: the geckos Aristelliger hechtii; Sphaerodactylus caicosensis; S. underwoodi; Turk island boa Epicrates chrysogaster chrysogaster; Ambergris Cay dwarf boa Tropidophis greenwayi (Iverson 1987); the iguana Leiocephalus psammodromus and the Turks and Caicos ground iguana Cyclura carinata carinata (CR). A survey of the Turks and Caicos ground iguana undertaken in 1995 found over 50,000 individuals. However, on nearly every island in the TCI where domestic animals occur (cats, dogs, livestock), no iguanas are present. Big Ambergris Cay is the
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Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Terri
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Contents Acknowledgements Chapter 1
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BIODIVERSITY: THE UK OVERSEAS TERRI
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11 2: Anguilla Cuba Turks & Caicos
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ANGUILLA 13 extremely complex lando
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ANGUILLA 15 little information abou
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ANGUILLA 17 Howard, R.A., & Kellogg
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ASCENSION 19 Boatswainbird Island w
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ASCENSION 21 Table 3.2 Some endemic
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23 4: Bermuda United States of Amer
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BERMUDA 25 • Fisheries Act 1972.
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BERMUDA 27 and conservationists to
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BERMUDA 29 Bermuda. Despite repeate
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BERMUDA 31 • Protected Species Or
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BERMUDA 33 475: 1-88. Lever, C. 198
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BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY 35 Anta
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37 6: British Indian Ocean Territor
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BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY 39 e
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BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY 41 c
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BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY 43 I
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45 7: British Virgin Islands Cuba T
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 47 marine pa
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 49 dunes, ma
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 51 (British)
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 53 Bibliogra
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55 8: The Cayman Islands Cuba Turks
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THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 57 status of two
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THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 59 are included
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THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 61 endemic to Gr
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THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 63 Mammals The b
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THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 65 Islands natur
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THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 67 Internation
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THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 69 the followi
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THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 71 humpback wh
Page 73 and 74: THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 73 Unpublished
Page 75 and 76: 75 10: Gibraltar Portugal Spain Gib
Page 77 and 78: GIBRALTAR 77 unique characteristics
Page 79 and 80: GIBRALTAR 79 species may pass over
Page 81 and 82: GIBRALTAR 81 conservation in Gibral
Page 83 and 84: MONTSERRAT 83 Implementation Ramsar
Page 85 and 86: MONTSERRAT 85 The slippery back ski
Page 87 and 88: MONTSERRAT 87 Survey of conservatio
Page 89 and 90: THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS 89 • Interna
Page 91 and 92: THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS 91 tree or shr
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Page 95 and 96: THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS 95 Collar, N.J
Page 97 and 98: SOUTH GEORGIA 97 International obli
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Page 101 and 102: 101 15: St Helena Atlantic Ocean AS
Page 103 and 104: ST HELENA 103 Peak Forest Reserve (
Page 105 and 106: ST HELENA 105 St Helena gumwood Com
Page 107 and 108: ST HELENA 107 species. The recorded
Page 109 and 110: ST HELENA 109 • The Endangered En
Page 111 and 112: ST HELENA 111 Oldfield, S., Lusty,
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Page 115 and 116: THE TRISTAN DA CUNHA ISLANDS 115 su
Page 117 and 118: THE TRISTAN DA CUNHA ISLANDS 117 co
Page 119 and 120: THE TRISTAN DA CUNHA ISLANDS 119 Fr
Page 121 and 122: TURKS AND CAICOS 121 of the Marine
Page 123: TURKS AND CAICOS 123 by Mumby et al
Page 127 and 128: TURKS AND CAICOS 127 Acknowledgemen
Page 129 and 130: TURKS AND CAICOS 129 Sanderson, J.
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Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories - WIDECAST

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