How Citizen Science Is Revealing the Wildlife of the Southern Great Barrier Reef
Most people think of the Great Barrier Reef as one enormous ecosystem. But, in reality, it is made up of thousands of individual reefs, each with its own unique communities of marine life.
One of those reefs is Llewellyn Reef, located in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, and over the past last 12 months we’ve been working to document the incredible biodiversity that exists there.
Using photographs taken during dives and snorkels, we’ve been cataloguing species and uploading them to our biodiversity project on iNaturalist, a global citizen science platform that allows anyone to record and share wildlife observations.
You can view the project here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/llewellyn-reef-biodiversity
What started as simple curiosity has grown into something much bigger.
A Snapshot of Life on One Reef
So far, the project has recorded over 200 species living on Llewellyn Reef. Including fish, invertebrates, corals and other marine life.
While that number is impressive, it is likely just scratching the surface. Coral reefs are incredibly complex ecosystems, and every visit reveals species that haven’t yet been photographed or recorded.
What’s particularly interesting is what the data tells us about the conservation importance of this reef.
Using conservation status information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the species recorded so far include:
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14 Near Threatened species
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11 Vulnerable species
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3 Endangered species
These observations prove that even a single reef can provide critical habitat for species that are facing increasing pressure around the world.
Why Recording Species Matters
Documenting biodiversity may seem simple, just taking a photo and uploading it, but these records can be incredibly valuable.
Over time, species observations help build a clearer picture of:
• Which species live in a particular area
• How biodiversity changes over time
• Which habitats are especially important for conservation
• How environmental changes may be affecting marine life
For reefs like Llewellyn, which are visited less frequently than some of the more famous locations on the Great Barrier Reef, these observations can help shine a light on ecosystems that might otherwise go largely undocumented.
Citizen Science Connecting the World
One of the most exciting aspects of platforms like iNaturalist is that the information becomes part of a global database.
Scientists, researchers, students and conservation organisations around the world can access these records. In some cases, citizen science observations have even helped lead to new scientific studies, rediscovery of rare species, and improved understanding of biodiversity patterns.
In other words, a simple underwater photograph taken on a dive can contribute to global scientific knowledge.
Just the Beginning
The current list of species recorded at Llewellyn Reef is exciting, but it’s almost certainly just the beginning. Every dive brings the possibility of discovering something new.
Want to Help Document the Reef?
If you’d like to contribute to this project, one of the best ways to get involved is by bringing along a waterproof camera and joining us on a snorkel or dive trip to Llewellyn Reef here in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
After your trip, you can upload your photos to iNaturalist. When you include the location of your sighting, your observation will automatically appear within the Llewellyn Reef Biodiversity Project.
If you’d like help identifying a species, you can simply tag @jessc1770 in your observation notes and our Master Reef Guide, Jess, will be glad to assist with confirming the sighting. If you’d like a hand getting started with iNaturalist, feel free to pop into our dive centre and see Jess, she would be more than happy to guide you through the process.
If the data entry side of things isn’t quite your style, you’re also welcome to email your photos to our team at info@dss1770.com.au, and we can help catalogue them for you.
Every observation helps build a better understanding of this reef, one species at a time.