Laguna de Términos
Laguna de Términos | |
---|---|
National Commission of Natural Protected Areas | |
Official name | Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Laguna de Términos |
Designated | 2 February 2004 |
Reference no. | 1356[2] |
Laguna de Términos is the largest tidal lagoon by volume located entirely on the
Geography
Laguna de Términos (Lagoon of Ends, as the first Spanish explorers thought it was the end of the "island" of Yucatan) is made up of a series of rich, sediment-laden
It is 72 km (45 mi) long, 24 km (15 mi) wide, and covers an area of 1,550 km2 (600 sq mi).
Its shores are swampy and support extensive mangroves. It is fed by several freshwater rivers, which empty into the main lagoon via smaller lagoons. The Candelaria River enters from the southeast via Panlao lagoon. The Chumpan River enters from the south via Balchacah lagoon. Two distributaries of the Usumacinta River flow into the western lagoon – the Palizada River enters via Viento Este and Vapor lagoons, and the San Pedro y San Pablo River flows into a chain of lagoons, including Pom and Atasta, west of and connected to the main lagoon.[7][3] The Palizada provides about 75% of the total freshwater inflow to the lagoon, and the western end is generally more nutrient-rich and less saline than the eastern end.[8]
The city of
Flora and fauna
Twenty-nine percent of the lagoon is covered with
The Usumacinta mangroves extend around the edges of the lagoon where freshwater meets salt, and westward into the lower Usumacinta-Grijalva basin. The Usumacinta distributaries bring higher freshwater and nutrient inflows to the western part of the lagoon, and the mangroves near the outlet of the Palizada are the largest and best developed, with some trees reaching over 30 meters in height. The Pantanos de Centla, a vast seasonally- or permanently flooded freshwater swamp forest, lies east and south of the mangroves. The seasonally-dry Yucatán moist forests lie east of the lagoon.[11]
It is a known breeding and nursery area for the
Campeche and
Mangroves around the Lagoon of Términos provides a migratory collider for at least 33% of the Mississippi - migratory birds.
Of about 134 mammalian species from 27 families present in the area, rare and endangered species include
Bottlenose dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are known to visit the lagoon regularly, but their safety could be endangered due to several artificial factors. A conservation group called Instituto Via Delphi, specially set up for the protection of local dolphins along Mexican gulf regions, was founded to focus understanding of biology of these dolphins and to strengthen their protection.
History
On the surrounding barrier islands, beach ridges, and mangrove coastline there are several
Juan de Grijalva encountered the Boca de Términos during his 1518 expedition.[15]: 30–31
Threats
The biggest influence on the area and a possible threat are the operations of state-owned oil company, Pemex operating within the protected area.[16] The drilling of oil wells and the construction of pipelines can destroy habitat. Additionally, oil spills are a continual threat.[17] Other possible threats include habitat change through population growth in the surrounding area.[18] Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area as a whole is considered to be critically threatened.[19]
Although Pemex is both the biggest influence and the biggest threat to the protected area and its biodiversity, it is also economically important to Mexico. Currently there is a petroleum boom which presents an opportunity for the management of the protected area to offer to cooperate with the industry and coordinate use of the resources. There are local residents and non-governmental organizations who are aware of the potential problems and who are a strong voice, with public protests against Pemex plans that emphasize the destruction to ecosystems and quality of life at other Pemex locations. Pemex has acknowledged that they must take into account the opinions of the protected area's management and other voices when planning projects so as to minimize negative environment impacts.[16]
Local populations of crocodiles and sea turtles in the areas are in serious danger due to their value for commercial industries.
Notes
- ^ UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Laguna de Términos from the World Database on Protected Areas. Accessed 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Laguna de Términos". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b "GulfBase - Laguna de Términos". www.gulfbase.org. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area - Park Profile - Geography". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- .
- .
- ^ Kees Nooren et al. (2017). The Usumacinta–Grijalva beach-ridge plain in southern Mexico: a high-resolution archive of river discharge and precipitation. Earth Surface Dynamics, 5, 529–556, 2017 https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-529-2017
- ^ a b Leslie Bach; et al. "Managing free water flows to estuaries" (PDF). USAID. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ "Laguna de Términos". Oceana North America. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ "Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area - Park Profile - Biodiversity". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ Bach, L., Calderon, R., Cepeda, M. F., Oczkowski, A., Olsen, S.B., Robadue, D. (2005). Level One Site Profile: Laguna de Términos and its Watershed, Mexico. Narragansett, RI: Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island.
- ^ "Urobatis jamaicensis (Yellow Stingray)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ The Center for Tropical Conservation of Duke University. "Biodiversity". p. Parks Watch. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
- ^ "Athena Review Image Archive: Laguna de Terminos: Satellite image and map of Maya sites". www.athenapub.com. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ISBN 0140441239
- ^ a b "Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area - Park Profile - Conclusions". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area - Park Profile - Threats". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ "Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area - Park Profile - Recommended solutions". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ "Laguna de Términos Flora and Fauna Protection Area - Park Profile - Summary". www.parkswatch.org. Retrieved 2009-11-07.