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Three-quarters of the world's 798 coral species can be found on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and they come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours.

THERE ARE MORE than 600 coral species in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which covers 344,400sq.km of ocean. Corals are colonies of tiny polyps, which are animals related to sea anemones and jellyfish. A reef begins when a polyp attaches to a rock on the seabed and divides into clones. These connect, creating a colony that functions as a single organism.

Corals are either hard or soft. Hard corals, which have polyps that produce a calcium carbonate skeleton to protect and support them, are building blocks for reefs. Soft corals are flexible and lack a solid skeleton; they are instead supported by microscopic, spike-like 'spicules', designed to deter predators such as fish.

Hard corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae, which provide them with food and colouring. High water temperatures cause this relationship to break down; the zooxanthellae are expelled by their host corals, and the corals starve and turn white in the phenomenon known as bleaching. Surveys carried out by the GBR Marine Park Authority and Australian Institute of Marine Science show that in 2016 more than 60 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef was severely bleached, leaving 22 per cent of corals dead. It was the worst damage to the reef yet recorded and raised questions about Australia's environmental stewardship.

The coral species illustrated here are all found in the outer reef at Heron Island, at about 1-3m depth, as well as in other shallow reef zones of the Great Barrier Reef.

Organ pipe coral
Tubipora musica
Size: Up to 1m across

Most soft corals have limestone spicules that provide some structural support by slightly stiffening the soft tissues. In organ pipe coral, the spicules fuse to create a hard skeleton of pipe-like tubes, with each single polyp bearing eight feathery tentacles. Colonies of organ pipe coral can occupy large patches of reef. Inhabits shallow waters down to about 12m.

Flowerpot coral
Alveopora sp.
Size: Polyps can grow up to 10cm long and 2cm wide

Flowerpot corals are made up of many individual polyps joined together at the base of their skeletons to form branches, columns or dome-shaped colonies. The individual polyps are highly flexible and active, and constantly moving around and feeding. Their colonies can spread widely, growing many metres across. Found in upper reef slopes with low wave action, 5-25m deep.

Smooth cauliflower coral

Size: Up to 30cm across
Stylophora pistillata
Common in shallow reef areas, particularly those that are exposed to strong wave action, although it can occur to a depth of about 15m. It is a hard, branching coral with blunt, slightly flattened ends. Colour ranges from cream, pink or blue to greens.

Hump coral

Size: Up to 15cm across

Common in shallow inner reefs, but also found less frequently on the outer reef. This small, stony coral grows in a rounded hump shape. It prefers to grow in the absence of other species, although it can occasionally be found near algae or other corals. It uses symbiotic algae to photosynthesise by day and filter feeds on plankton by night.
Porites densa
Finger coral

Size: Up to 40cm across

A stony, reef-building coral that grows in either hand-like or tree-like colonies, with blunt, upright branches. It is covered in very small corallites that give it a rough, sandpaper-like texture. Like most other hard corals, it gets its energy from both the zooxanthellae that live within its tissues, as well as active carnivorous feeding. Found in shallow reef environments and mud flats.
Montipora digitata
Honeycomb coral

Size: Domes of 1m or more

Like many other hard corals, honeycomb coral has a common name that describes exactly what it looks like. It grows in a large dome shape and is covered in a skeleton of corallites - the individual calcium carbonate cups in which polyps sit. These are packed closely on the surface in a honeycomb pattern. Inhabits all reef environments to a depth of 20m.
Diploastraea sp.
Common mushroom coral

Size: Up to 28 cm across

Unlike most corals, does not form colonies. Mushroom corals are large, free-living, solitary polyps that aren't attached to the substrate. they are flat or dome shaped with wide, slit-like mouths. Young mushroom corals begin life on stalks and bear a striking resemblance to actual mushrooms. Found in shallow areas on the reef crest and flat, but mostly within cavities on the reef flat.
Fungia fungites

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The corals of the Great Barrier Reef: illustrated - Australian Geographic

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Three-quarters of the world's 798 coral species can be found on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and they come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours. THERE ARE MORE than 600 coral species in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which covers 344,400sq.km of ocean.

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Even if The Great Barrier Reef is known as the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, this does not mean that there is only exist coral reef and no plants. There are actually some plants exist in The Great Barrier Reef. Some of them are unseen by eyes because they are classified as a microscopic creature. However, some of them can be seen by eyes because they are macroscopic creature. To let you know more about what kind of plant exist in The Great Barrier Reef, here I would like to share you with some plants that exist in The Great Barrier Reef. Check it out!

See also:
1. Sea grass
Sea grass is one of many plants in the ocean that is so easy to be found. It is because its spread out through all ocean in the world. You can find it in the shallow area starts from the salty water in the sea until brackish water. There are about 75 different species of sea grass in the world that start its existence from 100 million years ago.

As one of ocean productive ecosystems, Sea grass also has many important role to support the development and stability of ocean life. Such as main producer of food chain, as habitat of biota, as catcher of sediment, reduce the movement of ocean water, and sometimes, sea grass also edible to eat.
2. Sea weed
Also known as marine macro algae, you can find the existence of sea weed in the sea attach the rock surface and another hard substrate. It is known as macro algae because basically sea weed is algae. Based on the type of algae that created sea weed, sea weed is divided into three type which are brown algae, green algae, and red algae.

Meanwhile, there are two types of sea weed. one is edible to eat, and other can not edible to eat. Types of Sea weed which can be eaten are kombu, wakame, hajiki, arame, and nori. Therefore, many fishers sell sea weed and become sea weed farmers due to high order from consumer.
3. Mangrove
Mangrove is a tree that only grows in the coastal area in the salty water and brackish water. Its ability of living in different type of water habitat with different salinity is that because mangrove has the ability to tolerate salinity. The existence of this tree is helping the marine animal to have a home. Besides that, the existence of mangrove also prevent coastal abrasion happens.

Meanwhile, there are also some benefits of mangrove existence. Both in form of ecological, economic, biological, chemical, and social benefits in all over area in ocean terms.

See also:
4. Sea lettuce
Also the same as mangrove, sea lettuce also can live in the salty and brackish water. Besides that, sea lettuce that is claimed for having many nutrition also edible. This plant also has a scientific name of Ulva and there are about 100 different species of sea lettuce.

On the other hand, to find this plant is kind of easy because its distribution is wide spread through out the world's ocean. Many marine animal feed on sea lettuce as well as human because it contains a lot of nutrition.
5. Sea grapes
Next, for the plants in The Great Barrier Reef is sea grapes. This plant has a scientific name of Coccoloba uvifera and people also known this plant as baygrape. Sea grapes can live until 100 m depth and usually live in the muddy areas. Usually this plant will live adjacent the coral reef.

See also:
6. Crustose coralline algae
When you dive maybe you will find this crustose coralline algae that has a beautiful pink color. Besides its beautiful color, coralline algae also play an important role in the coral reef ecosystem as a food for many marine animal. Such as, parrot fish, sea urchin, chitons, and limpets.

See also:
7. Zooxanthellae
Again and again, zooxanthellae is still classified as algae. The existence of this microscopic plant is inside the coral reef where it help the coral reef gain more food for its living. Besides that, zooxanthellae also provide coral reef oxygen that can help coral reef to remove out the waste inside its body.

Meanwhile, zooxanthellae live in coral through several mechanisms associated with coral reproduction.

8. Dinoflagellate
Not all dinoflagellate is classified as a plant. This is because, there are also some species of dinoflagellates that is become parasite and some of them can produce light through bioluminescence.

Even though dinoflagellates is classified as microscopic creature, but the biggest dinoflagellate ever seen is had a size of 2 mm which is big size for microscopic creature.

See also:
9. Benthic diatoms
Benthic diatom is usually used as an indicator for the water environmental health. You can find benthic diatom in any type of water such as salty water, brackish water, and fresh water. The more nutrient exist in the habitat where benthic diatom lives there will be more benthic diatom exist.

Moreover, there are about 225 spesies of benthic diatom from 54 different genera that has been identified.

See also:
10. Brown algae
Brown algae that can grow until reach its length up to 60 m is playing an important role in the ocean. The existence of this plant is giving some marine animal a home and also food since brown algae also became a food for some animal. In the world, there are about 2000 species of brown algae has been identified.

See also: Types of Algae
11. Kelp
Kelp is still classified as a brown algae. What makes it different is that, kelp is the largest form of brown algae. It can reach its length up to 80 m with its growth speed that can help it grow about a half meter in a day. In the ocean, kelp will make an underwater forest and supporting many marine animals life.

See also: Types of Kelp
12. Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton is also classified as a plant since it is using sunlight to produce food through a process called photosynthesis. Classified as a microscopic creature does not mean we cannot see the existence of phytoplankton in the ocean.

When phytoplankton exist in a high number in the sea, it will glow because of chlorophyll and pigment in their cells.

See also:
13. Cyanobacteria
This kind of bacteria also using sunlight to help them produce food through photosynthesis. It also can produce oxygen as well. The color of cyanobacteria is blue. The existence of cyanobacteria is helping the earth from oxygen poor that is happens because of so many things such as global warming and greenhouse effect that may cause the number of carbon dioxide number is high.

See also: Global Warming in Ocean - Effects of Greenhouse
14. Manatee sea grass
Also known as Syringodium filiforme, this plant is a food to manatee. It exist until 20 m depth and it also become a food for some other marine animal such as parrot fish, surgeon fish, sea urchin, and pinfish.

Manate sea grass usually live in the sandy and muddy bottom through out the western central Atlantic and eastern central Pacific.

See also: Types of Sea Urchins
15. Green algae
Coral reef that is basically an animal surely will need food support from plants to keep it alive. Besides another microscopic creature such as phytoplankton that support its food, coral reef also feed on algae. Green algae has about 8000 different species starts from microalgae that can't be seen by eyes until macro algae that has a large size.

See also:

That's all for today's article of plants in The Great Barrier Reef. Thank you for reading this article until the end and also thank you for the loyalty to keep following our website. There will be more interesting article for you to read and hopefully all of our article can help you to know more and care more about our environment.

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15 Plants in The Great Barrier Reef - Characteristics - DeepOceanFacts.com

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Even if The Great Barrier Reef is known as the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, this does not mean that there is only exist coral reef and no plants. There are actually some plants exist in The Great Barrier Reef. Some of them are unseen by eyes because they are classified as a microscopic creature.

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Home to over 1500 different species of tropical fish and other variants, the Great Barrier Reef is teeming with life. The reef is home to fish of both of ends of the spectrum- from small bait fish through to the largest varieties of sharks on earth. The sheer volume and density of fish varieties which can be found within a small area make the reef a diver and snorkeler 's paradise. It is not uncommon to encounter hundreds of different species of fish within a single area of the ocean. Despite the staggering quantities of fishes that dwell within its waters, the fish of the Great Barrier Reef are divided up in to surprisingly few main families, each with significantly differing characteristics that mark the difference from one family to the next.

There are several main factors that signify each major group, including (but not limited to) their size, colour, shape and behaviour. Thus, the major families of fish species that can be found in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef include:

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Home to over 1500 different species of tropical fish and other variants, the Great Barrier Reef is teeming with life. The reef is home to fish of both of ends of the spectrum- from small bait fish through to the largest varieties of sharks on earth.

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The Great Barrier Reef is home to some of the most unique creatures on the planet. These threatened species need your help.

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Crinoid - Great Barrier Reef

To report sick, injured or dead marine animals call the Wildlife Hotline on 1300 130 372.

More than just fish and coral

The Great Barrier Reef is home to a stunning array of animals, from microscopic plankton to whales weighing more than 100 tonnes. More than just fish and coral, the Reef supports:

1625 species of fish, including 1400 coral reef species

More than 3000 species of molluscs (shells)

630 species of echinoderm (starfish, sea urchins)

14 breeding species of sea snakes

215 species of birds including 22 species of seabirds and 32 species of shorebirds

Six of the world's seven species of marine turtle

30 species of whales and dolphins

One of the world's most important dugong populations

133 species of sharks and rays

....and much more

The different types of animals found along the Reef help make it one of the richest and most complex natural systems on Earth. While there is a lot known about some animals that make the Reef home, vast amounts of information and species are yet to be discovered.

Species of conservation concern

The Great Barrier Reef is a refuge for many species of conservation concern.

These species of conservation concern include inshore dolphins, whales, dugongs, sawfish, sea snakes, marine turtles and some fish and sharks.

We work to protect marine animal species that are threatened, iconic or at risk.

By working closely with the state and federal government and the community, threats to species can be identified and appropriate management actions can occur.

Protected species are those that are protected by law and need special management.

Fishing sustainability concerns

Over fishing has caused significant population declines of saucer scallop ( Amusium balloti), east coast Australian snapper ( Pagrus auratus) and pearl perch ( Glaucosoma scapulare). There are also concerns for the future sustainability of black jewfish and some species of sharks.

Over-fishing and illegal fishing can compromise the long-term sustainability of stocks and impact the resilience of the marine ecosystem.

Snapshot of Reef animals

Marine mammals ( whales, dolphins, dugong, seals)
More than 30 species of marine mammals are found along the Great Barrier Reef. Bottlenose dolphins, humpback and dwarf minke whales are frequently seen while other species such as Bryde's whales are seldom seen or perhaps seldom recognised. The Great Barrier Reef is an important habitat for dugong.

Marine turtles
Six of the worlds seven species of marine turtle occur on the Great Barrier Reef with globally significant nesting areas for four of these found in the Region. All six species are classified as threatened as a result of pressures both from within the Great Barrier Reef Region and elsewhere.

Still more species make the Great Barrier Reef home and these include:

Bryzoans: around 950 species of tiny animals that form coral-like colonies and are often confused with corals

Worms: about 500 species have been recorded along the Great Barrier Reef

Marine insects and spiders: likely to be greater than five species of marine spider and more than 20 species of marine insects

Plankton: a major food source for a number of species

Ascidians/tunicates: sometimes called sea squirts, this group of around 720 species provide another splash of colour to the Great Barrier Reef.

Click on the image to download the poster

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Marine animals on the Great Barrier Reef

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To report sick, injured or dead marine animals call the Wildlife Hotline on 1300 130 372. The Great Barrier Reef is home to a stunning array of animals, from microscopic plankton to whales weighing more than 100 tonnes.

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The warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef hold an abundance of food and are the perfect feeding grounds for marine mammals including large numbers of dolphins and whales looking both for sheltered waters place to feed and care for their young. You can expect to find about 30 different species of whales and dolphins in the Great Barrier Reef's borders, with Humpback and Dwarf Minke whales along with Bottlenose dolphins being among the most common.

Humpback Whales

Probably the most iconic of all Australian whales is the Humpback Whale which is due to not their high numbers that visit on their annual migration along the Australian coast but also for Their propensity to perform spectacular breaching and tail-slapping. This has made whale watching tour a favourite past time for Australians and tourists and has raised awareness about the need for protection and conservation.

The Humpbacks, whose name is derived from the "humping" motion they make when diving back down below the surface, perform an annual migration between the waters of the Antarctic where they feed then head up north to the Great Barrier Reef's more tropical waters to give birth and raise their children.

Humpbacks grow from 12 - 16 metres in size upon reaching adulthood and can usually be spotted on the reef in locations as far north as Cairns and the Whitsundays. Humpbacks spend their time in the Great Barrier Reef mostly for relaxation and play - having stocked up on a steady diet of krill and other forms of fish while in the Antarctic - letting their new calves build up body fat for insulation so they can survive the return journey back to the Antarctic's icy seas.

Whales were frequently hunted in the 1940s-1960s which significantly depleted their population numbers but in recent years their population has begun to climb steadily once again from numbers as low as 200 during the peak era of whaling to an estimate of 26,000 in 2016. Multiple environmental groups have taken strong stands against whaling and for conservation of not only the Humpback but also many other groups, and it looks likely that their numbers will continue to increase in the coming years.

Dwarf Minke Whales

In the whale world, being called a "dwarf" is definitely a relative term - the Dwarf Minke Whales that can be found in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef still average just under eight metres in length, with a weight of up to five tons.

Dwarf Minke whales, much like the Humpbacks, are a fairly social creature and will often approach boats and other marine vessels out of curiosity which makes spotting them - despite their relatively few numbers - quite an easy task. Dwarf Minkes are distinct from their larger cousins not only due to their slightly smaller size but also due to different bodily markings which are clearly visible. Common differences in colourations that can be found on the Dwarf Minke whale include white shoulder and flipper bases, grey tips on their flippers, and large dark patches which line their throats. Around 200 individual Dwarf Minke whales make their way to the Great Barrier Reef each season, with their distinctive markings making it quite easy to recognise individual members of the whale pod.

As with the Humpbacks, Dwarf Minkes were also once targets of a thriving whaling industry; this has likewise been curtailed since regulations were put in place. Natural predators may also play a small factor as due to their slightly smaller size than the average whale, they become a target for such ocean predators as Tiger or Great White Sharks or Killer Whales. Small calves are also particularly vulnerable to attack, which can make the parents especially protective of their young.

Bottlenose Dolphins

With an uncannily "friendly" looking face and an inherently playful nature, Bottlenose dolphins are always favourites due to their ease and frequency of interaction with humans.

Wide in number, Bottlenose dolphins can be found in cold-temperate to tropical seas all over the world, and are extremely intelligent creatures in general. As powerful swimmers, Bottlenose dolphins show an innate ability to escape from predators due to a combination of smarts and a top swimming speed of around 37 kilometres per hour. Due to their social nature, Bottlenose dolphins tend to travel in large groups and can be frequently seen accompanying tour boats that head out to the Great Barrier Reef, surfacing and cackling or playing in the wake of the ship and occasionally leaping out of the water in spectacular fashion. Bottlenose dolphins grow to a maximum size of 4 metres in length, and have a dark grey complexion near their top fin that then becomes lighter towards their underbellies.

The diet of the Bottlenose Dolphin consists of a variety of smaller fish and marine life including Squid, Crab, prawns and other smaller creatures and are renowned for their teamwork in rounding up prey much like herding farm animals. In order to locate their food, the Dolphins use a form of "natural sonar" based on echoes and use it to determine both the location and distance of their potential target - yet another reflection of their intelligence.

In fact, due to their smarts, dolphins have shown an easy ability to respond to training from humans and as a result are a fixture at many popular marine-based theme parks throughout the world where they can be seen performing spectacular stunts.

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Dolphins & Whales of the Great Barrier Reef - Species, MIgration & more

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The warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef hold an abundance of food and are the perfect feeding grounds for marine mammals including large numbers of dolphins and whales looking both for sheltered waters place to feed and care for their young.