Schaffelke et al., 2008:

"No major disturbances affected benthic coral reef communities in the period between surveys in 2006 and 2007. The most obvious changes occurring during this period represent flow-on effects from two major disturbances that impacted some reefs prior to the 2006 survey. In the Wet Tropics NRM Region, surveys in 2006 documented substantial reductions to the cover of hard corals, soft corals and macroalgae on several reefs due to the passage of Tropical Cyclone Larry. In 2007, the impacted reefs that were resurveyed indicated little recovery of the coral communities and an increase in the cover of macroalgae, which colonised space made available by the reductions in coral cover. In the Fitzroy NRM region surveys in 2006 documented substantial decline in the cover of hard corals on several reefs and an increase in the cover of macroalgae (largely due to an increase in Lobophora sp.) following a coral bleaching event in early 2006. In 2007, average coral cover on these impacted reefs increased indicating some recovery from the bleaching events. The cover of macroalgae, however, was still very high compared to pre-disturbance covers. Analyses of community composition of both hard corals and soft corals showed relatively little change between 2006 and 2007 compared to that observed between 2005 and 2006."

---

Citation and/or URL

Schaffelke, B., Thompson, A., Carleton, J., Cripps, E., Davidson, J., Doyle, J., Furnas, M., Gunn, K., Neale, S., Skuza, M., Uthicke, S., Wright, M. & Zagorskis, I. 2008, Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme: Reef Water Quality Protection Plan: final report 2007/08. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia

Spatial Coverage

Thirty five Inshore reefs from Cape Tribulation to the Keppel Islands.

Temporal Coverage

Sampling started in 2004/05

Update Frequency

 Every year 

Other Information

 None