Hydrocarbons in Great Barrier Reef Organisms and Environment

Abstract

[Extract] Hydrocarbons have been analyzed in specimens from six coral reefs in the Capricorn Group in the southern Great Barrier Reef area, from Arlington Reef near Cairns, from reefs near Lizard Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef area, and from Northwest Reef near Thursday Island in Torres Strait. Sediments and the same suite of seven species were analyzed from each site. Water samples were analyzed in the region of Heron Island ... The Capricorn Group of coral reefs and cays lies within the newly established Capricornia Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. In the interests of conservation, and management, of the park it is important to have knowledge of the present, baseline levels of hydrocarbons in the reef ecosystems. This study of the Capricorn Group is part of a larger baseline study of hydrocarbons in the Great Barrier Reef region, the first to be undertaken.