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Duozi Ping Intertidal Zone

2023-08-09
886-8-8614615
屏東縣琉球鄉多仔坪潮間帶
The intertidal zones of Xiaoliuqiu offer a highly popular ecological spectacle for locals, with diverse activities available both day and night. A few days each month, low tides occur during the night. Venturing into the vast ocean under a pitch-black sky, following the moonlight and flashlight beams, creates an exhilarating sense of adventure that is difficult to describe. Though visibility at night is somewhat reduced and less clear than during the day, visiting the intertidal zones under a half-moon, gazing at the gray, shimmering waves and shadowy coral rock formations, while listening to the gentle flow of the tides and walking leisurely along the rocky intertidal platforms, the moonlit shoreline unexpectedly reveals a deep, romantic charm. Duoziping's intertidal zone lies on the northwest side of Xiaoliuqiu, adjacent to the southern edge of the camping area, with both sites approximately 300 meters apart. Comprising a gently sloping intertidal platform extending about 1,600 meters long, Duoziping can be accessed via a 50-meter descent along a branch road leading toward the Samasi Ecological Camping Area from the coastal highway. While traveling along the path from the camping area to the intertidal zone, signs of avian life such as the collared sunbird, the great tit, the black-backed formyter, sparrows, and others may greet you. This region possesses extensive natural attractions such as wide sea-eroded rock platforms and beaches, fostering a rich diversity of benthic organisms. This includes coral colonies in shallow tidal pools, countless species of fish, shellfish, sea urchins, sea hares, starfish, various hermit crabs, Ma’s long sea urchins, and Thalassia seagrass. With local ecological tour guides leading the way, small sea snakes and tiny shrimps may also be observed during nighttime explorations. However, visitors must refrain from handling or relocating these creatures for their own curiosity, preserving the area’s natural resources. **Light-Palmed Hermit Crab:** The carapace length of the light-palmed hermit crab can reach up to 1.5 centimeters, characterized by a coloration ranging from pale olive green to gray-black. **Blue-Finger Starfish:** The Taroko Sea has so far identified various fiddler crab species, including the reticulated fiddler crab, the white-fan fiddler crab, the northern concave-finger fiddler crab, and the triangular fiddler crab. Male fiddler crabs possess one notably large and distinctive claw, which can extend up to three times the length of their carapace. The coloration of fiddler crabs changes with time and tidal conditions; they appear darker during the day and lighter at night. These crabs cannot tolerate overly dry environments and are commonly found in the intertidal zones of the Taroko Sea, with traces observable in mangroves, bay shores, and on sandy beaches. **Ma’s Long Sea Urchin:** Mangroves are tall trees or shrubs growing along coastal rivers or their confluence areas, primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. These plants typically exhibit functions such as salt tolerance, wind resistance, sand stabilization, current reduction, wave mitigation, water purification, shoreline protection, provision of habitats for wild animals, and environmental beautification. This area represents the southern boundary of mangrove distribution in Taiwan, with only the Lantana camara (sea beauty) species from the Verbenaceae family remaining. Major distribution areas are concentrated along the Tungkang drainage ditch, the Qimei town district, and parts of the Taroko Sea coastline.
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