St. Lucia Central Reservations

Presents

St. Lucia & The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park Area

 

The Marine Eco-system  -  Coral Reefs and Sandy Beaches

 

The image that stays with the visitor to the coastal zone of the Greater St.  Lucia Wetland Area is of  long golden beaches and sparkling blue sea.  This is accompanied by an awareness of the intricacy of the animal life in the rock pools  on the shore rock reefs of   Mapelane,  north of  St. Lucia,  Mission Rocks, Cape Vidal or Sodwana.    For those who have had the opportunity to boat offshore,  there is the expanse of the wide open ocean,  and for divers,  the thrill of exploring the coral reefs of Cape Vidal and Sodwana.

 

Seaweed Zone 

 This is exposed only at extremely low tides, and then only for short periods.  This zone is characterised by dense beds of seaweed.
 

 

Mussel Zone

 This zone is exposed during most low tides. The mussels form dense masses on the rocks and,  by closing up,  are able to avoid drying out and thus tolerate the short periods if heating by the sun.
 

 

Rock Pools

 These occur on the rock shelf in the intertidal level.  It is here that many fascinating species of seaweed,  snails,  crabs,  sea-cucumbers,  anemones,  urchins and fish are to be seen.
 

 

Oyster and Barnacle Zone

 This zone is only covered at high tide.
 

 

Littorina (periwinkle) Zone

 This is a very harsh environment.  It is above the level of the sea and is wet only by the spray.  The animals here have adapted to survive extreme heat and drying.
 

 

 

The Marine Eco-system The Eastern Shores eco-system Lake St. Lucia The Mkuze Swamps The Western Shores eco-system

Eco-systems

Eastern Shores