great barrier reef
Notes on Great Barrier Reef
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef
Earth snapshot coral reef: http://www.eosnap.com/tag/coral-reef/page/2/
Size: The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometers (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 sq. mi)
Location: The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It begins near Papua New Guinea in the north, and continues south along the Queensland coast to Bundaberg (just north of Brisbane). Species: 30 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef, including the dwarf minke whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the humpback whale. Large populations of dugongs live there. More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef, including the clownfish, red bass, red-throat emperor, and several species of snapper and coral trout. 49 species mass spawn, while 84 other species spawn elsewhere in their range. 17 species of sea snake live on the Great Barrier Reef in warm waters up to 160 ft. deep and are more common in the southern than in the northern section. 6 species of sea turtles come to the reef to breed: the green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, flat back turtle, and the olive ridley. The green sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef have two genetically distinct populations, one in the northern part of the reef and the other in the southern part. 15 species of sea grass in beds attract the dugongs and turtles, and provide fish habitat. The most common genera of sea grasses are Halophila and Halodule. Saltwater crocodiles live in mangrove and salt marshes on the coast near the reef. Nesting has not been reported, and the salt water crocodile population is wide-ranging but low density. Around 125 species of shark, stingray, snakes or chimaera live on
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef
Earth snapshot coral reef: http://www.eosnap.com/tag/coral-reef/page/2/
Size: The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometers (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 sq. mi)
Location: The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It begins near Papua New Guinea in the north, and continues south along the Queensland coast to Bundaberg (just north of Brisbane). Species: 30 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef, including the dwarf minke whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the humpback whale. Large populations of dugongs live there. More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef, including the clownfish, red bass, red-throat emperor, and several species of snapper and coral trout. 49 species mass spawn, while 84 other species spawn elsewhere in their range. 17 species of sea snake live on the Great Barrier Reef in warm waters up to 160 ft. deep and are more common in the southern than in the northern section. 6 species of sea turtles come to the reef to breed: the green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, flat back turtle, and the olive ridley. The green sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef have two genetically distinct populations, one in the northern part of the reef and the other in the southern part. 15 species of sea grass in beds attract the dugongs and turtles, and provide fish habitat. The most common genera of sea grasses are Halophila and Halodule. Saltwater crocodiles live in mangrove and salt marshes on the coast near the reef. Nesting has not been reported, and the salt water crocodile population is wide-ranging but low density. Around 125 species of shark, stingray, snakes or chimaera live on