Biodiversity in Barbados (BRB)
| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 631 | 238 | No | |||
| Freshwater | No | |||||
| Total | 632 | 239 | No | |||
Ref. Microsoft, 1996
| Conservation | he natural beauty and biodiversity of Barbados attract large numbers of tourists, but the growth in popularity has brought about several problems. Although local revenue has increased, water pollution from waste disposal by ships and damage to surrounding reefs have become major environmental concerns. A 240-hectare marine reserve was established in 1980 to protect the coastline and reefs of Barbados. |
| Geography and Climate |
One of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados lies between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. Although Barbados has a central highland region, the island is relatively flat in terrain, especially along the coast, and is surrounded by coral reefs. The coral deposits on the surface are underlain by sedimentary rock.
A tropical climate, tempered by sea breezes, attracts vacationers from every part of the world. The mean annual temperature is about 26°C. A rainy season prevails from June to December, with average annual rainfall varying from about 1,000 mm on the coast to about 2,300 mm on the central ridge. Hurricanes occasionally strike the island, especially from June to October. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |