The effect of sediment run-off on the coral populations of fringing reefs at Cape Tribulation

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of sediment run-off caused by the construction in late 1984 of a coastal road through rainforest catchments on the coral communities of the Cape Tribulation fringing reefs. In the absence of any pre-construction baseline we relied on surveys of two similar control locations north and south of the potential impact location adjacent to the new road catchment to determine the significance of any changes that occurred. The southern control was adjacent to the long-established portion of the road south of Cape Tribulation and the northern control adjacent to a small undisturbed catchment.