Lizard Island - Consequences of Environmental Change
Overview
Lizard Island is a National Park located in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef. It is 240km north of Cairns, and 33km of Cape Flattery. It is made up of 6 islands including Lizard, Osprey, Palfrey, Seabird Islet, South Islands and Eagle Island.
Field Sites
Mermaid Cove
Mermaid Cove is a shelter bay located on the northern side of Lizard Island.
Watson's Beach
Watson's Beach is located on the north-western coast of the island. It is relatively sheltered, and is located fairly close to the Lizard Island resort.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is located along the southern edge of Lizard Island. It is protected by reefs around it's edge and Palrey and Osprey Islands.
Lizard Island is a National Park located in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef. It is 240km north of Cairns, and 33km of Cape Flattery. It is made up of 6 islands including Lizard, Osprey, Palfrey, Seabird Islet, South Islands and Eagle Island.
Field Sites
Mermaid Cove
Mermaid Cove is a shelter bay located on the northern side of Lizard Island.
Watson's Beach
Watson's Beach is located on the north-western coast of the island. It is relatively sheltered, and is located fairly close to the Lizard Island resort.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is located along the southern edge of Lizard Island. It is protected by reefs around it's edge and Palrey and Osprey Islands.
Flora and Fauna
Terrestrial
The island is named for one of its most common inhabitants the yellow-spotted monitor lizard (Varanus Panoptes). More than 40 species of bird inhabit the islands including the Beach Stone Curlew, Torres Strait Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Golden Plovers, White-breasted Wood Swallows, Osprey, Crested Terns, Pheasant Coucal, Sacred Kingfishers, and Black-naped Terns.
Other species are found on the island including the Green Tree Frog, Black Flying Foxes, and a range of geckos, skinks, pythons and tree snakes.
Aquatic
A large variety of hard corals types such as plate, branching, and boulder are represented around the island. Solitary corals and some soft corals can also be found. Giant clams, feather stars, sponges, Green Sea Turtles, and a wide variety of fish can be seen in and around the reefs.
Terrestrial
The island is named for one of its most common inhabitants the yellow-spotted monitor lizard (Varanus Panoptes). More than 40 species of bird inhabit the islands including the Beach Stone Curlew, Torres Strait Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Golden Plovers, White-breasted Wood Swallows, Osprey, Crested Terns, Pheasant Coucal, Sacred Kingfishers, and Black-naped Terns.
Other species are found on the island including the Green Tree Frog, Black Flying Foxes, and a range of geckos, skinks, pythons and tree snakes.
Aquatic
A large variety of hard corals types such as plate, branching, and boulder are represented around the island. Solitary corals and some soft corals can also be found. Giant clams, feather stars, sponges, Green Sea Turtles, and a wide variety of fish can be seen in and around the reefs.
Development
The limited developments include the Lizard Island Resort and the Lizard Island Research Station operated by the Australian Museum.
Explore the Lizard Island Resort.
Read about the Lizard Island Research Station.
Write diary entries
Pretend you are a time traveller and write a series of diary entries explaining how the reefs at Lizard Island have changed over time. The diary entries may be many years apart or close together.
The limited developments include the Lizard Island Resort and the Lizard Island Research Station operated by the Australian Museum.
Explore the Lizard Island Resort.
Read about the Lizard Island Research Station.
Write diary entries
Pretend you are a time traveller and write a series of diary entries explaining how the reefs at Lizard Island have changed over time. The diary entries may be many years apart or close together.
