Biological and management aspects of a Caribbean mangal: West Harbour, Jamaica

CHOW, Barbara A., 1997. Biological and management aspects of a Caribbean mangal: West Harbour, Jamaica. Studies Nat. Hist. Caribbean Region 73, Amsterdam, 1997: 1-22. Observations are given for the first time of West Harbour, a pristine south-coast Jamaican mangal. West Harbour is shown to be a diverse and extensive mangal (22.5 km²) with a high degree of representativeness with respect to mangrove community types. The classical mangrove zonation is evident, a fringing seaward almost mono-specific Rhizophora fronting backswamp basin Avicennia. Mangrove community types are varied; overwash, fringe, basin and scrub Rhizophora, and basin and scrub Avicennia. A broad scale survey recorded a total of 45 plant and 183 macrofaunal components of the biota which included the endangered Antillean manatee, Trichechus manatus manatus. Floristic and faunal notes are given. Implications of the findings for the conservation of West Harbour are discussed.