Duozai Ping Tidal Zone Introduction
Xiaoliuqiu intertidal zone is a popular ecological live show in the area, featuring diverse performances during the day and night. A few days each month, low tide occurs in the evening, and exploring the vast ocean under the dark night, accompanied by moonlight and flashlight glow, brings a sense of thrilling excitement. While visibility at night is not as clear as during the day, visiting the intertidal zone under a half moon allows you to look at the grayish wave reflections and the black shadows of coral reefs, listening to the tides flowing gently, and strolling on the rocky intertidal zone creates an unexpectedly deep romantic atmosphere by the seaside under the moonlight. Duozaiping intertidal zone is located on the northwest side of Liuqiu Island, adjacent to the southern side of the camping area, approximately 300 meters away. The intertidal platform has a gentle terrain, stretching about 1,600 meters. To reach Duozaiping, you can turn off from the Circular Island Road toward the Shamakie Ecological Camping Area and walk about 50 meters. As you extend from the camping area to the path, you may catch glimpses of birds such as the Spotted Dove, White-headed Bulbul, Red-tailed Shrike, and Sparrow greeting you. This area features broad coastal reef platforms and beaches, nurturing an abundance of benthic organisms, including coral clusters in shallow waters, countless fish, shellfish, sea urchins, sea hares, various hermit crabs, Mermithus long-spined sea urchins, and other intertidal creatures. If guided by a local eco-tour leader, you may even spot small sea snakes and shrimp during the night; however, while observing, please remember not to take them for personal gain and always return them to their original place to protect local natural resources. Light-clawed hermit crab: The carapace length of the Light-clawed hermit crab can reach up to 1.5 cm, with a body color ranging from light olive green to grayish-black. Blue-spotted sea star: Currently, the area of Dapeng Bay has been found to have various species of fiddler crabs, including the Mangrove Fiddler Crab, White-clawed Fiddler Crab, Northern Fiddler Crab, and Triangular Fiddler Crab. Male fiddler crabs have one distinctly large claw that can extend up to three times the body carapace length. The color of fiddler crabs changes with time and tides, appearing darker during the day and lighter at night. Fiddler crabs cannot adapt to excessively dry environments and are mostly found in the intertidal zone of Dapeng Bay, alongside mangroves, bay mouths, and beaches. Mermithus long-spined sea urchin: Mangroves are a group of tall trees or shrubs that grow along coastal rivers or estuaries, predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions. These plants typically provide functions such as salt tolerance, wind protection, sand stabilization, flow reduction, wave mitigation, water purification, coastal protection, wildlife habitats, and beautiful environments. This area marks the southern limit of mangroves in Taiwan, currently only the family Euphorbiaceae's sea purslane species remains. Distribution areas are primarily concentrated in the first drainage ditch of Donggang, the Chimei town area, and along certain coasts of Dapeng Bay.
Duoziping Intertidal Zone
White-spined sea urchin - Sea urchin
