Effects of habitat fragmentation on reef fish communities

Effects of habitat fragmentation on reef fish communities

Makeely Blandford has completed her final report for studies undertaken at the Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Research Station.  The project was supported by the Gough Family Doctoral Fellowship, and over three summers, five field trips were conducted. The aim of...
Big coral spawning event in 2022

Big coral spawning event in 2022

Most species of hard corals on the Great Barrier Reef take part in a mass spawning event over a short period, once a year. It’s a remarkable sight and, every year, most people at LIRS are keen to go out and see it –  even if their research has nothing to...
Octopus pair at Lizard Island

Octopus pair at Lizard Island

On our last expedition to Jiigurru (Lizard Island), we were fortunate enough to witness a pair of Reef Octopus (Octopus cyanea) out actively hunting and copulating in the late afternoon at Watson’s Bay, with very little concern about our presence. The larger...
2021 Coral bleaching at Lizard Island

2021 Coral bleaching at Lizard Island

More than 20 years ago, it was predicted that coral bleaching would become an annual event globally by 2050 and that it would happen even earlier on the Great Barrier Reef. That prediction shows every sign of being fulfilled. Corals bleached at Lizard Island in early...
Reefside chat Q&A

Reefside chat Q&A

With over 100 people logging into the reefside chat on December 9, there were too many questions to answer in the time available. Not to be undone by the tyranny of time, LIRS Director Anne Hoggett has provided written answers to many of the questions that did not get...
Reefside chat – listen now

Reefside chat – listen now

On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation had a virtual “reefside chat” with Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) Co-Directors Dr Anne Hoggett AM and Dr Lyle Vail AM, in conversation with Professor Kris Helgen, Chief Scientist and...