BBC Great Barrier Reef

• Where is The Great Barrier Reef located?

  off the coast of north east australia
• How long is the Great Barrier Reef at its largest?

  1400 miles long and 150 miles wide
• How many islands make up the Great Barrier Reef?

  900 islands
• What are the names of the reefs in the northern range of the Great Barrier Reef?

  ribbon reef
• What are the Great Barrier Reef‘s most important inhabitant?

  the coral
• What is the coral’s claim to fame?

  The largest living structure on earth
• When are the creatures within the coral most active?

  at night
• What are coral reefs often described as?

  as green cities
• How many species of hard coral can be found?

  450 species
• What are coral made of and what live inside?

  limestone and coral polyps
• What microorganisms create clouds in the water?

  zooplankton
• What do the coral polyps never do?

  they never leave home - the limestone shells
• Other than eating, what are coral polyps used for?

  they are used for fighting
• What do the polyps use calcium carbonate (limestone) for and where does it come from?

  they use it to build their homes and it comes from the nearby sea water
• Why has the Great Barrier Reef been able to grow so effectively?

  it has grown on a shallow underwater shelf that leads to a sudden drop
• What is the average depth of the water and why it that important?

  35M and it’s as deep as sunlight can penetrate
• What does the coral offer algae and what does algae do for the coral?

  the algae provide the polyps with energy through photosynthesis and a safe home
• How many years ago was the Great Barrier Reef not in existence?

  10,000 years
• What happened 10,000 / 20,000 years ago that allowed the Great Barrier Reef to form?

  the sea level rise
• What is the Lizard Island’s lagoon famous for?

  for its bio-diversity
• How many different research projects does the station on Lizard Island host?

  Around 100 research projects are carried out each year.
• What other ecosystem does The Great Barrier Reef rival in species numbers?

  The Great Barrier Reef rivals tropical rainforests in biodiversity.
• What environment is key to the reef’s fish populations?

  Mangroves are key nurseries for reef fish.
• What three animals are known to take refuge in these environments?

  1. Juvenile reef fish
  2. Crabs
  3. Shrimps
• Why do these young creatures use the mangrove swamps?

  Young creatures use mangroves for safety, food, and protection from predators.
• What is their biggest challenge once they leave the mangrove swamps?

  Avoiding predators in the ocean.
• What is the special relationship between the clown fish and the reef anemone?

  The clownfish gets protection from the anemone, and the clownfish helps keep it clean.
• What specific clownfish behaviour was filmed for the first time during this program?

  The father helping the baby clownfish.
• What is surprising about the reef that we have only recently discovered?

  They are surprisingly noisy.
• Why do seahorses click?

  To communicate, especially during mating.
• What are the two ways fish can interpret sound?

  1. Through vibrations in the water
  2. Using their inner ear to detect sound waves
• What is the key to success for young clown fish and reef anemones?

  By protecting each other.