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We closely monitor coral reefs around Great Barrier Reef islands to understand their condition. We assess the impacts of disturbances such as cyclones, floods, and coral bleaching, and help track the patterns of recovery following these events.

Great Barrier Reef island coral reef monitoring

Featured project

Coral reef habitats support thousands of species. The Great Barrier Reef alone makes up about 10 per cent of the world's coral reef ecosystem.

Our scientists undertake multiple monitoring programs to provide governments and industries with essential data on the condition of coral habitats. We also work closely with Traditional Owners, communities, and tourism operators in monitoring and coral reef resilience-building projects.

Coral reef habitats

A local network to connect, grow and champion the efforts of diverse organisations in the region to support the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns Port Douglas Reef Hub

Community

COMING SOON

We closely monitor coral reefs around Great Barrier Reef islands to understand their condition. We assess the impacts of disturbances such as cyclones, floods, and coral bleaching, and help track the patterns of recovery following these events.

Great Barrier Reef island coral reef monitoring

Monitoring

COMING SOON

Our rapid visual surveys mapped 3,500 km² of benthic fauna and seagrass in five reef lagoons of the Coral Sea Marine Park, leading to further research on potential fish nurseries in deepwater marine vegetation areas.

Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park

Monitoring

COMING SOON

We are producing new environmental and climate proxy records to provide a greater understanding of the Reef's disturbance history and long-term ecosystem evolution.

Long-term environmental records across the Great Barrier Reef

Research

COMING SOON

Our environmental monitoring of port industries is extensive, covering coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity. This monitoring extends to more than 10 ports along Queensland.

Long-term monitoring for port industries: coral, water quality, seagrass, and biodiversity

Monitoring

COMING SOON

Research

Smith AK, Cook N, Songcuan A, Brown RE, Molinaro G, Saper J, Keane K.

Coral reef habitats

Effectiveness of coral (Bilbunna) relocation as a mitigation strategy for pipeline construction at Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef.

Smith A.

Coral reef habitats

Transforming defense and community climate action and resilience.

Cartwright P, Browne N, Fearns P, O’Leary M, Lowe R.

Coral reef habitats

Applying ensemble climate models to predict the fate of marginal coral reefs already existing at thermal and turbidity limits in arid tropical Australia.

Smith HA, Fulton SE, McLeod IM, Page CA, Bourne DG.

Coral reef habitats

Sea-weeding: Manual removal of macroalgae facilitates rapid coral recovery.

Haydon TD, Matthews JL, Seymour JR, Raina JB, Seymour JE, Chartrand K, Camp EF, Suggett DJ.

Coral reef habitats

Metabolomic signatures of corals thriving across extreme reef habitats reveal strategies of heat stress tolerance.

Tol S, Coles R, Shepherd L, Scott A, Hoffmann L, Leeson P, Ekins M, Clarke M, Grech A, Rasheed M, York P.

Coral reef habitats

Benthic habitat mapping in the central coral sea marine park: Preliminary voyage report for December 2022 survey.

Ani CJ, Smithers SG, Lewis S, Baird M, Robson B.

Coral reef habitats

eReefs modelling suggest Trichdesmium may be a major nitrogen sources in the Great Barrier Reef.

Collier C, Carter A, Shepherd L, van de Wetering C, Coles R, Evans S, Barrett D, Willan R, Groom R.

Coral reef habitats

Benthic habitats of Marra Sea Country – Gulf of Carpentaria.

Reports and publications

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