Apr 12, 2021 | Ecology, Fellowships, Research
When we think of coral reefs, we immediately imagine corals of different shapes and sizes with many colourful fishes swimming above and around these beautiful corals. We might even see a big fish or shark swim by that catches our attention. Then when we look closer,... 
Mar 29, 2021 | Biodiversity, Ecology, Fellowships, People
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. For Dr Simon Brandl and Dr Christopher Goatley, success and frustration came hand in hand. Joint recipients of the 2020 John and Laurine Proud Fellowship, neither could visit the Lizard Island Research Station to... 
Mar 28, 2021 | COTS, Grants
Crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster cf. solaris, are natural inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) are common coral eating starfish which grow up to 80 cm across, eat 10 square metres of coral a year and can produce up to 50... 
Mar 26, 2021 | Fellowships, Research
Following a COVID enforced delay, Dr Stephanie Gardner heads to LIRS in late March to spend two weeks, supported by two PhD candidate assistants, researching the characteristics of turf algae in the region. Lizard Island represents the northerly most point of her... 
Mar 19, 2021 | Plastic pollution, Research
The impact of plastic in our oceans is a growing threat to the marine ecosystem and a new study conducted at LIRS is helping to understand the magnitude of the problem associated with microplastics – those plastics that are <5mm. The aim of the project is to... 
Mar 15, 2021 | Global change, Research
Coral reefs are in global decline through the combined effects of climate change and anthropogenic stressors. This has resulted in a decrease in coral cover, shifts in coral composition and the spatial arrangement of coral habitats. Such habitat degradation can have...