FACTSHEET Coral Reefs FACTSHEET Coral Reefs

Habitat type: Coral Reefs The more unusual pale green Mound Coral and dark blue Bushy Acropora Coral are Habitat description: beautiful additions to Salmon Bay. Rottnest Island is a temperate environment Coral reefs are a habitat filled with colour and is unusual because it has reefs built by from the corals themselves and many other tropical corals like the ones found in the marine they support. The many warmer northern parts of Western Australia nooks, crannies and caves provide a base on the Ningaloo reef. for algae and molluscs as well as providing The reason Rottnest’s unique coral reefs protection for crustaceans and fish. form is because of the Leeuwin Current, The coral polyps themselves are food for making Rottnest home to the most some like the Parrotfish. Western Rock southern outcrop of tropical coral. The Lobsters live under the coral ledges while Leeuwin Current brings warm water and fish like the Butterflyfish, Sergeant Major coral spawn from tropical areas down the and King, Moon, and Red Wrasse swim coast, creating warmer temperatures which around and over the reef. The brilliant are suitable for the spawn to settle and blue of the Western Blue Devils flash in build coral reefs. cave entrances and brightly coloured or Tropical corals and fish occur in most areas perfectly camouflaged Nudibranchs move around Rottnest with Parker Point, Little along the reef feeding on the coral. Salmon Bay and Salmon Bay especially rich in . : The waters around Rottnest Island are a Rottnest Island is home to 25 species of designated Marine Reserve. Also, some coral. Pinkish and brownish branching parts of Rottnest’ coral reefs are included Cauliflower Coral of thePocillopora sub- the Marine Sanctuary Zones shown in family can be commonly seen. the Rottnest Island Marine Management and Plate Coral are also noticeably present. Strategy (2007).

1 wildlife Local species: Butterflyfish(Chaetodon assarius), Bushy Acropora (Acropora selago), Velvet Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare), King Coral (Montipora mollis), Cauliflower Wrasse (Coris auricularis), Red Wrasse Coral (Pocillopora damicornis), Pagoda (Pseudolabrus bostockii), Western Blue Coral ( mesenterina), Yellow Devil (Paraplesiops meleagris), Nudibranch Scroll Coral (), Yellow (Chromodoris westraliensis). Cup Coral (), Brown Threats: Cup Coral (), Brain On Rottnest Island: Coral ( australensis), Star • Human activity (inappropriate boating, Coral (Goniastrea aspera, Goniastrea fishing and diving practices) palauensis), Small Knob Coral (Plesiastrea • Pollution versipora), Lesser Knob Coral (Cyphastrea • Climate change causing increased water serailia), No common name (Barabattoia temperature, low salinity. amicorum), Head Coral (Favia favus), Brain Coral ( russelli, Favites flexuosa), DID YOU KNOW? Larger Star Coral (), Moon/ Corals are actually thousands of individual Pineapple/Star Coral (), organisms called polyps. A is made Brain Coral (Symphyllia wilsoni), Doughnut up of tentacles surrounding a mouth which Coral (Scolymia australis), Flowerpot leads to the digestive system inside the coral (Alveopora fenestrata, Goniopora . Each individual coral polyp occupies pendulus), Mound Coral (Porites lutea), a skeletal cup. This cup is called a corallite. No common name (Coscinaraea mcneilli), Wrinkle Coral (Coscinaraea marshae), HOW CAN I HELP? Sergeant Major (Abudefduf vaigiensis), Help keep Rottnest’s coral reefs healthy. Blue-barred Orange Parrotfish (Scarus Please don’t tread on or touch live corals, ghobban), Green-finned Parrotfish be careful of your fins! Don’t collect coral (Scarus sordidus), Western Rock Lobster to take it home. (Panulirus cygnus), Truncate Coralfish (Chelmonops truncates), Western

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