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A brief update on Lizard Island science and conservation ... and a chance to win a wonderful draw prize
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Dear Subscriber, 

Thanks again for subscribing to receive occasional updates on reef science and conservation at lirrf.org.  

Continue with us through 30 June for a chance to win a 3-night stay for 2 people at the Lizard Island Resort.    Please tell your friends to Subscribe as well  - we want everyone to know why field research at the  Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station is so important.

Be sure to watch the next episode of Life on the Reef - 7:40pm Sunday on ABC TV.  It is about sex, reproduction and the joys of Spring.  If you are not in Australia or happen to be otherwise occupied,  see it later on iView.  

Regards,

David Shannon
Chairman
Lizard Island Reef Reseach Foundation (LIRRF)
This fish is one of the athletes of the Great Barrier Reef.  Research by Dr Jodie Rummer and her team shows how the predicted increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will affect its performance. The results are quite surprising.
Abbot Point.  Our August 2014 post reported on the plan to dump dredging spoils in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.  The new plan is to dump the spoils in the Caley Valley wetlands.  A WWF video provides perspective.
LIRRF has funding from the Ian Potter Foundation to undertake research on how to contain outbreaks of the  crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) - a major cause of coral loss.  See our 5 projects for 2015.
The Australian Museum has coral fossils that date from the Devonian period, 400 million years ago. That is a remarkably long period of survival.  Studies of ancient (paleo) reefs also show periods during which coral contracted to the point of extinction. Paleo reefs are an invaluable source of information on the effects of historic changes in climate and water quality. 
 

Research by Dr Frederieke Kroon and other scientists has confirmed that agricultural run-off carrying sugar farm pesticides is affecting reef and estuary fish.  Fish around Lizard Island are more fortunate.  They are not directly exposed to flood plumes from rivers that run through sugar country.

Our mailing address is:
c/o The Australian Museum, 6 College Street,  Sydney NSW 2010

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