Hyde Reef second flank

Surveyed 27-Nov-02.

View of the reef slope on the second flank of Hyde reef.27-Nov-02

Soft corals in the foreground and massive Porites colonies in the backgropung on the reef slope, Hyde reef.27-Nov-02

Surgeon fish (Acanthurus dussumieri) mill round the mouth of a cave on the second flank of Hyde reef.27-Nov-02

The second flank of Hyde Reef is partly exposed to the prevailing wind and sea conditions found offshore in the Coral Sea. Manta tow surveys were conducted on the reef slope. The reef slope is generally steep dropping off into deep water with no discernable bottom. The reef structure has many features including continuous wall, gullies, caves and overhangs.

The benthic community was dominated by hard coral, but soft coral and coralline/turf algae were also common. Hard coral cover on the reef second flank was high composed mainly of Acropora species. The dominant coral lifeform was branching, but other forms such as digitate, tabulate, sub-massive, encrusting and massive corals were also present in decreasing order of abundance. Coral bleaching was not present.

The fish abundance on the second flank of Hyde Reef was moderate. Conspicuous groups of reef fishes included fusiliers, pelagic predators, pomacentrids, parrot fish, surgeon fish and sharks. No crown-of-thorns starfish were observed on the second flank of Hyde Reef.

AIMS home

web@aims.gov.au

Last updated - February 11, 2003

URL http://www.aims.gov.au

[../../../navigation/nav01-bottom.html]