Pelican Cays, Belize Photograph by WWF/Tony Rath   Neotropical Mangroves   100 square miles (200 square kilometers) -- about the size of Washington DC Vulnerable

· Island Sanctuary
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Island Sanctuary

The second largest barrier reef in the world shelters the Belizean Reef Mangroves from the waves of the Caribbean Sea. In turn, the mangroves trap sediment and maintain the clarity of the water so that the coral reefs can survive. A tangled maze of mangrove roots extends beneath the water’s surface along the shore, providing refuge for a wide variety of juvenile fish associated with the reef. The mangrove canopy provides safe breeding areas for various species of birds. Many species find sanctuary on these isolated islands between the coral reef and the coast of Belize.

Special Features

The surging tides of a hurricane can drench these mangrove islands as high winds whip through the network of mangrove trees. The islands act as natural "buffers"--protecting the low-lying mainland from the full force of these storm surges. Since the late 1700s, nine particularly powerful hurricanes have raged across this region. Because most of the ecoregion is not directly connected to the mainland, the species found here had to swim, fly, or otherwise be taken to this ecoregion. Most of the larger mammals came to these islands as "refugees" from the mainland--often being swept away in floods and carried here by the currents--and many have since established permanent populations.

	Mangroves build up land areas as they consolidate sediments, mud, and organic matter. Mangrove trees can withstand constant flooding and changing salinity levels, so they can grow where most plant life cannot.

Wild Side

The "ha-ha-ha-ha" of a laughing gull fills the air as the bird swoops down and robs a little blue heron of its catch. The laughing gulls nest on these islands, and the most significant national park is named after the species--Laughing Bird Caye National Park. In the mangrove canopy, the small brown body of the Yucatan vireo, a regionally endemic bird, blends in with the branches. A crab crawls over the various sponges and corals clinging to mangrove roots in the shallow water. A striped basilisk lizard climbs across the lower branches of the trees, searching for insects. This reptile can run across still water for short distances when startled! A streak of cobalt flutters above the mud as a morpho butterfly opens its wings next to a trail of raccoon footprints. Above, several pelicans fly in formation and dive into the water, then scoop up minnows in the big pouch that hangs from their bills. These waters are also home to the largest population of West Indian manatees in the world.

Cause for Concern

Development pressures on the islands have increased the effects of sedimentation, threatening many of the wild inhabitants of these mangroves. Much of this development is to accommodate an increased number of tourists, who are attracted by the barrier reefs and on whom the island economy depends. Mangrove trees are often cleared to provide these tourists with an unobstructed view of the ocean and easier access to the beaches.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.