A new field guide has captured shifting patterns of life on the southern Great Barrier Reef for the first time - providing critical insight into how reef communities are responding to warming oceans and environmental change.
Launched today, the guide was developed over six years of scientific research and ecological monitoring on and around Lady Elliot Island, as part of the University of the Sunshine Coast-led 'Leaf to Reef' research initiative.
Featuring 800 species across birds, sharks, rays, fishes, mammals and reptiles, it documents new records for Australian waters and species new to science.
The guide was supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Reef Islands Initiative and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.
Field guide co-author and UniSC marine scientist Dr Christine Dudgeon said the documentation of range extensions across many fish species provided a benchmark for tracking future ecological change on the Great Barrier Reef.
"It is likely the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide for the southern Great Barrier Reef, particularly for fishes," she said.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said islands like Lady Elliot - the southern-most island in the Great Barrier Reef - were becoming increasingly important refuges for wildlife as the climate changed.
"This guide reveals just how much there is still to discover, from species newly recorded on the island to those entirely new to science," she said. "It's a powerful reminder that healthy islands are fundamental to the resilience of coral reefs."
Lady Elliot Island custodian Amy Gash said the guide was "the fingerprint of the island".
"It is designed to help users identify wildlife and captures a living snapshot of the island's unique and ever-changing biodiversity," she said.
"Not only does it reflect the richness of life here, it's also a testament to the incredible dedication of the Leaf to Reef research team and the citizen scientists who have contributed to these findings over six years."
A Field Guide to the Vertebrates of Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef was launched today (22 May) to coincide with the International Day of Biological Diversity.
Featuring accessible species profiles and full-colour photography for 800 vertebrate species, the guide brings together formal surveys with invaluable observations from resort staff and citizen scientists.
The Leaf to Reef research project is part of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Reef Islands Initiative, which brings together partners to protect and restore critical reef island ecosystems.
The Initiative is supported by funding from Lendlease, the Australian Government's Reef Trust, the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation.
