Biodiversity in Antigua and Barbuda (ATG)
| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 292 | 128 | No | |||
| Freshwater | No | |||||
| Total | 293 | 129 | No | |||
Ref. Microsoft, 1996
| Conservation | Coral reefs surround the small islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Because fishing has nearly doubled since 1980, these reefs have suffered some disturbance to their ecosystem. Almost 14 per cent (1992) of the area has protected status on such issues as nuclear testing, hazardous waste, depletion of the ozone layer, and whaling. Water management is another major area of concern because of limited natural freshwater resources. |
| Geography and Climate |
Antigua and Barbuda is an independent island state located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, east of St Kitts and Nevis and north of Guadeloupe. It includes the Leeward Islands of Antigua, Barbuda to the north, and Redonda Island to the southwest. Generally a low-lying island of limestone and sandstone, Antigua rises to 470 m at Boggy Peak. The white sandy beaches along the coastline are a major attraction for tourists. Barbuda, formerly called Dulcina, is a flat coral island with fine beaches. It is also a game reserve inhabited by wild deer, wild pigs, and a variety of fowl, including ducks and pigeons. Redonda Island is a rocky, uninhabited islet.
Antigua and Barbuda has a tropical climate year-round, with a mean annual temperature of about 27°C. Although the country’s annual rainfall is about 114 cm, the islands are subject to drought, as well as occasional hurricanes. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |