Lord Howe-Norfolk Islands Marine - A Global Ecoregion
Supports the southernmost true coral reef in the world
Snapshot: Ecoregion 223
Size:
N/A
Habitat type:
Tropical Coral
Geographic Location:
South Pacific off eastern Australia
Conservation Status:
Relatively Stable/Intact
Did You Know!
The largest stretch of land on this ecoregion is only 5 to 6 miles (8 to10 km) long and a few miles wide.
About the Area
The Lord Howe-Norfolk Islands Marine ecoregion has a rich diversity of fish and invertebrates, particularly echinoderms.
Created by volcanic activity millions of years ago, the ancient nature of these islands along with the long isolation has possibly resulted in such unusually high levels of endemism in fish and invertebrates.Local Species
The islands support significant populations of seabirds, including Flesh-footed shearwater (Puffinus carneipes), Wedge-tailed shearwater (P. pacificus), Black-winged petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis), White-bellied storm petrel (Fregatta grallaria), Masked booby (Sula dactylatra), Grey noddy (Procelsterna albivittata), and White tern (Gygis alba).
Fifty-seven coral species are known. Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) breed here, and five species of beaked whales (Family, Ziphiidae), and dusky dolphins (Lagenorynchus obscurus) inhabit these waters.
Marine turtles include Green (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta).
Threats
Coral die-offs as a result of polluted groundwater have been reported. Sub-Antarctic currents periodically denude the coral reef, but tropical currents support the recolonising process.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
