Crystal Beach

Purpose - Identify different types of plant and sea life

84 degrees with a light breeze 

50% cloud coverage 

High tide 

The park consists of a small strip of beach mostly covered with washed up sea weed, mangrove leaves, and trash. The water was clear and most marine life in the area was visible from a distance. It is obvious the beach is only minimally managed due to how much of the beach is covered in seaweed.

 I spotted a great blue herring as I walked along the pier it was picking small crabs and insects out of the washed up sea weed.

 Sea snail above

We performed a study that involved us taking samples every 3 meters for 30meters and recording what we found. We mostly found mangrove leaves and bark we also found some sea life many small red worms eating the decaying plant material and some small crabs. Two horse shoe crabs ran into us as they scurried about together in random directions. 

Toward the end of the trip we took some time to learn the difference between the types of mangroves. White has light colored round leaves, Black mangroves are the tallest with the smallest leaves due to there ability to get the most light and have a white color on the bottom of there leaves. Red mangroves have the largest leaves and are a darker green color and have a shine to them.