Four hundred species of corals, both hard corals and soft corals live on the reef.
Most of these spawn, releasing thousands of eggs, in huge events.
This spawning is controlled by the rising sea temperatures.
This happens in spring, summer and some parts of autumn, as part of the moons lunar cycle, and the day/night diurnal cycle.
Reefs in the inner Great Barrier Reef spawn during the week after the full moon in October.
Outer reefs spawn in November and December.
The common soft corals on the Great Barrier Reef belong to 36 different types.
Five hundred species of marine algae or seaweed live on the reef.
This includes thirteen types of Halimeda.
These deposit chalky (calcareous) mounds up to 100 metres wide.
They have mini-ecosystems on their surface which have been compared to rainforest cover.
Four hundred species of corals, both hard corals and soft corals live on the reef. Most of these spawn, releasing thousands of eggs, in huge events. This spawning is controlled by the rising sea temperatures. This happens in spring, summer and some parts of autumn, as part of the moons lunar cycle, and the day/night diurnal cycle. Reefs in the inner Great Barrier Reef spawn during the week after the full moon in October. Outer reefs spawn in November and December. The common soft corals on the Great Barrier Reef belong to 36 different types. Five hundred species of marine algae or seaweed live on the reef. This includes thirteen types of Halimeda. These deposit chalky (calcareous) mounds up to 100 metres wide. They have mini-ecosystems on their surface which have been compared to rainforest cover.
Great Barrier Reef