Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Ecology of a Tropical Rainforest - Shipstern Nature Reserve

Presented by: Clayton J Chavez

Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology

April 2022

Overview

In a effort to discuss the protection and restoration of biodiversity, the presentation aims to identify several animal and plant species with the tropical forest of Belize.

Shipstern Nature Reserve

Shipstern

Located in Corozal District, Shipstern Nature Reserve is a 31-square-mile protected area with a wide array of habitats, from wetlands and lagoons to wet and dry tropical forests. It is composed of two entities, one large parcel surrounding the Shipstern Lagoon, and a smaller one, entirely forested area around the Xo-Pol pond, to the West of the main parcel.

Shipstern

Flora within the Shipstern Reserve

Originally a self-sustaining business devoted to the exportation of butterflies, this 22,000-acre reserve protects a wide array of habitats, from wetlands and lagoons to wet and dry tropical forests.

Flora

Swietenia macrophylla

The Mahogany Tree is characterized by its large leaves (up to 45 cm long). The fruits of mahogany can be measure to 40 cm in length, in a light grey to brown capsule. Each fruit capsule could contain 71 winged seeds.

Mahogany

Calophyllum brasiliense

Santa Maria

The Santa Maria Tree is an evergreen tree growing to 20–50 m tall, with a trunk up to 1.8 m diameter, and a dense, rounded crown. The leaves are opposite, 6.3–12.5 cm long and 3.2–6.3 cm broad, elliptic to oblong or obovate, leathery, hairless, glossy green above, paler below, with an entire margin.

Cordia dodecandra

The Ciricote Tree grows to a maximum height of 7.5–9 m (25–30 ft) at maturity. Flowers are produced in clusters at branch ends from February to May. The species is heterostylous and has been shown to be self-incompatible.

Ciricote

Orbignya cohune

Cohune Palms

The cohune palm grows best in a sheltered warm spot in a subtropical setting, or in hot and humid tropical environments. Cohune palm is a slow grower until its trunk emerges above ground, and then more rapid growth occurs.

Fauna within the Shipstern Reserve

The Fauna of Shipstern is still very diverse and fairly abundant. Peccaries, curassows and deer roam the forests and savannahs, being precious prey to jaguar and puma. The other three cat species of Belize are also all present, while the Baird’s Tapir is obviously still abundant.

Fauna

Panthera onca

Jaguar

With a body length of up to 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) and a weight of up to 96 kg (212 lb), it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the third largest in the world. Its distinctively marked coat features pale yellow to tan colored fur covered by spots that transition to rosettes on the sides, although a melanistic black coat appears in some individuals.

Tapirus bairdii

There are four widely recognized extant species of tapir, all of the family Tapiridae; three are in the genus Tapirus, and a fourth in the genus Acrocodia. They are the South American tapir, the Malayan tapir, Baird's tapir, and the mountain tapir.

Tapir

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Including its bill, the keel-billed toucan ranges in length from around 42 to 55 cm (17 to 22 in). Their large and colorful bill averages around 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in), about one-third of its length. It typically weighs about 380–500 g (13–18 oz). While the bill seems large and cumbersome, it is in fact a spongy, hollow bone covered in keratin, a very light and hard protein.

Toucan

Potos flavus

The kinkajou has a round head, large eyes, a short pointed snout, short limbs and a long prehensile tail. The eyes reflect green or bright yellow against light. The long, thick tongue is highly extrudable. The snout is dark brown to black. The claws are sharp and short.

Kinkajou

Conclusion

We can participate in biodiversity conservation by increasing our knowledge of environmental issues, increasing our awareness of the impacts of biodiversity loss, and increasing support for government policies and actions that conserve our valuable ecosystems. We can become educators and role models as stewards of the environment by aiding in the recovery of species at risk and preventing other species from becoming at risk.

Conclusion

Credits

  • Belize Wildlife Glossary- R.L. Woods, S.T. Reid & A.M. Reid
  • Belize Zoo
  • Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative
  • International Tropical Fund
  • Shipstern Nature Reserve
  • The Nature Trust british Columbia
  • Travel Belize

References

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi