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The Trust's Research & Monitoring programme is central to all other aspects of our work. As a core programme, science informs and directs park management regimes, education material development, and enforcement priorities.
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A look at the ingenious world of corals
A coral colony usually consists of thousands of little coral animals, or polyps, as seen in this picture. Each polyp is like a tiny anemone (or jellyfish on its back) which secretes a calcium carbonate, or limestone skeleton on/in which it lives. A colony may begin with just one polyp, to stretch over many metres in diameter as it grows, adding more and more polyps.
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Corals can produce fascinating structures!
Montego Bay is home to a variety of coral and limestone underwater formations, including boulder monolithic colonies and structures.
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The amazing trees that survive in salt water
Mangroves are tropical, salt tolerant trees that are found throughout the equatorial seas. The Caribbean is home to three species: red, white and black.
Mangroves are important to a marine ecosystem for many reasons...
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Larger creatures found in the marine park
Rays and sharks are but a few of the wonderful animals that live in the marine park. All of them are perfectly docile and will not cause any problems.
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Moray Eels - The curious reef dweller
Moray eels eat a variety of animals including: fish, mollusks, crustaceans and whatever else they can catch or find.
If you look carefully at the animals, they look like sponges or branching corals of the reef. A big green moray looks like a green upright sponge, while Goldentail morays look like Finger Coral (Porites porites). This camouflage deceives the eels prey...
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