HYDE

Hyde Reef has been surveyed 13 times since 1986 when it was initially characterised by moderate reef-wide live coral cover (10-30%) and classified as No Outbreak. Since this time little or no change has been recorded in coral cover and no COTS have been observed. Reef-wide live coral cover is currently high (30-50%) on this reef and it remains classified as No Outbreak. No bleaching and only low levels of White Syndrome Disease, restricted to a few individual colonies, was recorded from this reef during manta tow surveys in 2003.

Detailed coral surveys conducted since 1993 show a stable hard coral and soft coral cover. Hard coral cover in 2000 averaged 22% while soft coral averaged 43%. It is noteworthy that the cover of soft coral at this reef is the maximum recorded on our sites within the GBR and that the cover of sponges on this reef is also relatively high. The soft coral community on this reef is comprised mainly of the family Xeniidae. The cover of algae had been slowly declining until 1999, however over the last year this decline has ceased. Cover of algae in 2000 averaged 20%. With the exception of one family, all trends in abundance changes in reef fish taxa are positive. Chaetodontidae showed significant changes in abundance, primarily due to increases in Chaetodon kleinii, C. pelewensis and C. trifasciatus. A number of species in the family Siganidae although generally low in abundance, have contributed to general and ongoing declines. A number of Chromis species increased in abundance over the last five years. 1999 peaks in abundance for Pomacentrus lepidogenys and P. bankanensisinfluenced general abundance increases in their genus. Amblyglyphidodon curacao, the only species recorded in it's genus at this reef, continued to increase in abundance in a near linear fashion. The genus Plectroglyphidodon (due to P. lacrymatus) doubled in abundance between 1997 and 1999.

Hyde (No. 19-207) is an outer shelf lagoonal reef with an area of 12.5 sq.km. Last surveyed November 2002.







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