How many species live in The Houtman Abrolhos reef?
List of corals of the Houtman Abrolhos
The marine waters of the Houtman Abrolhos, an island chain off the coast of Western Australia, have been recorded as containing 194 species of coral in 50 genera. This is a surprisingly high coral diversity, considering the high latitude of the reef, and the relatively low diversity of other biota. This is a list of corals of the Houtman Abrolhos:
Abbottella
A third complex consists of species with rather large, openly coiled to nearly planispiral shells with pronounced prickly sculpture and widely expanded outer lips; the shells are often strongly patterned. The group contains "Abbottella haitensis", and "Abbottella moreletianus". Bartsch (1946) broke "Abbottella moreletianus" into five subspecies. Zoogeographically, this group presents a problem: the two species occur at opposite ends of the island (Thomazeau, Haiti and the Samaná Peninsula and environs). This group will be addressed in a future study.
North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
A western rock lobster fishery developed on the island in the early 20th century. There are records of the island being used as a base for crayfishers as early as 1902, and for many years it was used as an anchorage by anglers. It was not until 1947, however, that a seasonally inhabited permanent camp was established there. According to former crayfisher Ron Bertelsen, the first camp was established by skippers George Barker and George Nelson and deckhand John Long, who relocated there when lobsters around Pigeon Island grew scarce. They camped at the southern end of North Island in a camp initially built from packing case timbers. A local carrier boat, the "Betty Margaret", serviced the camp. From about 40 seasonal inhabitants in 1940, the population grew to about 130 by 2003. An airstrip was built in 1979.
The Flat (Houtman Abrolhos)
The Flat is an anchorage just north of North Island in the Houtman Abrolhos. It is located at .
Pigeon Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
The Houtman Abrolhos is wholly vested in Western Australia's Minister for Fisheries for purposes of "Conservation of Flora and Fauna, Tourism, and for Purposes Associated with the Fishing Industry". Pigeon Island is one of a small number of islands given over almost entirely to the last of these. As a result of guano mining in the 19th century, and the development of fishing infrastructure in the 20th century, the island has very little conservation value.
Houtman Abrolhos
Sea lions come ashore to rest on leeward beaches throughout the island chain, but only a small number of these "haulout sites" are used for breeding. Breeding has been observed on Serventy Island, Gilbert Island, Alexander Island, Suomi Island, Keru Island, Square Island, Stick Island, Gibson Island, Gun Island, Morley Island and Wooded Island. All but the last three of these are considered current breeding sites, and are therefore considered by the Department of Fisheries to have a high conservation value.
Sandscale Haws
The reserve's sand dunes support a population of natterjack toads ("Bufo calamita"). The species, which is nationally rare in Britain, is adapted to breed in ephemeral waterbodies. Another amphibian present is the great crested newt ("Triturus cristatus").
Houtman Abrolhos
Other books include William Bede Christie's 1909 "Christmas on the briny: the innocents abroad, or, a holiday trip to the Abrolhos islands", and Alison Louise Wright's 1998 "Abrolhos Islands Conversations". The latter, a book of interviews and portraits of the people of the Abrolhos, won the Special Award in the 1999 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.
Flora of the Houtman Abrolhos
A grey background indicates a naturalised species.
Houtman Abrolhos
There is no published information on wave heights in the Abrolhos. In the open ocean, waves are typically a little over two metres high all year round. Nearer the mainland, they are usually less than 1.2 metres, with a calmer period in March and April, and another in October and November.
Melo miltonis
This species is found amongst shallow seagrass beds, on sand, and around reefs - at depths up to 20 m. The range extends from the Houtman Abrolhos, off the Western Australian coast, to South Australia.
North East Reef
North East Reef is a reef in the Wallabi Group of the Houtman Abrolhos, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia. Located at , it takes its name from the fact that it is situated to the north-east of the main body of islands that makes up the Wallabi Group. The island is part of the Houtman Abrolhos Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for supporting large numbers of breeding seabirds.
Island Conservation
In this region, Island Conservation works primarily in Puerto Rico, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. In May 2012, Island Conservation and the Bahamas National Trust worked together to remove invasive house mice from Allen Cay to protect native species including the Allen Cay Rock Iguana, and Audubon's Shearwater. Since 2008, Island Conservation and the USFWS have worked together to remove invasive vertebrates from Desecheo NWR in Puerto Rico, primarily benefiting the Higo Chumbo cactus, three endemic reptiles, two endemic invertebrates, and to recover globally significant seabird colonies of Brown Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, and Bridled Terns. Future work will focus on important seabird populations, key reptile groups including West Indian Rock Iguanas, and the restoration of Mona Island, Alto Velo, and offshore cays in the Puerto Rican Bank and The Bahamas. Key partnerships include the USFWS, Puerto Rico DNER, the Bahamas National Trust, and the Dominican Republic Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
East Wallabi Island
As one of the few islands in the Houtman Abrolhos large enough to support dune systems, East Wallabi Island supports a relatively high diversity of plant life. Both the dunes and the pavement limestone support species-rich vegetation complexes dominated by chenopod shrubs, and these communities have been identified has having species conservation importance, because they are so diverse, yet so easily disturbed and so slow to recover.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef supports an extraordinary diversity of life, including many vulnerable or endangered species, some of which may be endemic to the reef system.
Thirty species of cetaceans have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef, including the dwarf minke whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the humpback whale. Large populations of dugongs live there. More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef, including the clownfish, red bass, red-throat emperor, and several species of snapper and coral trout. Forty-nine species mass spawn, while eighty-four other species spawn elsewhere in their range. Seventeen species of sea snake live on the Great Barrier Reef in warm waters up to deep and are more common in the southern than in the northern section. None found in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are endemic, nor are any endangered.
List of islands in the Houtman Abrolhos
In addition to the gazetted islands, six island groups have been gazetted. The three main groups are the Wallabi Group, the Easter Group and the Pelsaert Group. In addition, the Easter Group contains a group known as the Eastern Islands, and the Pelsaert group contains groups known as the Mangrove Group and the Numbered Islands.
Flora of the Houtman Abrolhos
The distribution of each species within each island group is provided. A list of islands is provided for species that occur on fewer than ten islands in a group; for species that occur on ten or more islands in a group, an island count is provided. Islands without a formally gazetted name are referred to by informal names, given in quotation marks.
Andros Conservancy &amp; Trust Bahamas
Andros Island is home to the world's largest collection of blue holes, and the world's third largest barrier reef, as well as extensive internationally endangered habitats. It is approximately the size of Puerto Rico, but has only approximately 8000 residents. Its vast expanses of undeveloped land and low population density (1.31/km), together with Andros' unique combination of undisturbed environmental features, presents a rare opportunity for environmental preservation. Globally-imperiled pine rocklands are prime habitat for migratory songbirds such as the Kirtland's warbler, one of North America's rarest birds. These forests are abutted by Hardwood forests and expanses of freshwater marshes. Other fauna found on the island include giant land crabs, the Bahama woodstar hummingbird, the West Indian whistling duck and the Northern Bahamian rock iguana, listed as threatened with extinction. Palm savannas contain mahogany, Bahamian pine, palmetto, maidenhair ferns and several endemic orchids. Beautiful yellow and red blossoms adorn the island's blue mahoe, an endemic hibiscus.
Cuxtal Ecological Reserve
The amphibians of the Reserve are represented by 13 species comprised in 12 genera, 8 families and 2 orders (Annex 4). The order with the greatest number of species is Anura (12 species), with tree frogs being the most representative with 4 species. In counterpart, the Urodela order is represented only by Bolitoglossa yucatana. The genus Leptodactylus has two representatives and more than 85% (11) are monotypic species. Four species are cataloged at risk by NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 (Bolitoglossa yucatana, Rhinophrynus dorsalis, Triprion petasatus and Rana brownorum) all with the special protection category. Bolitoglossa yucatana and Triprion petasatus are endemic species. Globally, all species of amphibians with distribution in the Reserve are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as of minor concern.
Houtman Abrolhos
492 species of marine mollusc have been recorded from the shallow waters of the Houtman Abrolhos. These are predominantly gastropods (346 species, 70%) and bivalves (124, 25%); the remaining 5% of species consist of cephalopods (14 species), chitons (5 species) and scaphopods (3 species). About two thirds of the species have a tropical distribution, temperate species account for 20%, and the remaining 11% are endemic to Western Australia. For a full list, see List of molluscs of the Houtman Abrolhos.
Houtman Abrolhos
Scallop fishers mainly operate east of the Houtman Abrolhos and between the island groups, in waters deeper than 30 metres. Activity is targeted at sheltered areas of bare sand, where scallops tend to settle. Catches vary greatly from year to year; from 2001 to 2003, for example, the total annual catch totalled 1182 tons, 195 tons and 5840 tons (whole weight) respectively. This variability is apparently related to the strength of the Leeuwin Current, as strong current is correlated with low scallop recruitment.
Amazon Reef
The majority of the reef is made up of beds of rhodolith, various species of red algae, which superficially resemble coral. While it has been described as "impoverished", and "not having the biodiversity of some of the more prominent coral reefs of the world", 61 species of sponge and 73 species of fish, in addition to various coral and starfish species, have so far been identified as inhabiting the reef, including staghorn corals, and spiny lobsters. Pockets of coral species, discovered as early as 1999, were found to be similar to those found in the Caribbean Sea, hinting at the possibility that Caribbean corals dispersed to the Amazon Reef. Marine biologists have also entertained the idea that the reef serves as a stepping stone to facilitate dispersal of species from reefs in southern Brazil northwards to the Caribbean. The biology of the reef is mostly dictated by the discharge of the Amazon into the Atlantic. Northern sections of the reef are often shrouded in the shadow of the sediment layer above for half a year on average, producing an environment similar to a "shadow zone". These northern areas are populated with sponges and carnivorous species such as hydroids. Southern sections of the reef, which are covered by the Amazon's plume only three months a year on average, are more populated with diverse coral-centric life, where photosynthesis can occur. It is believed that single-celled organisms are central to the reef's ecosystem, providing the main source of nutrients to sponges, corals and other inhabitants. Fabiano Thompson, along with other researchers on the reef, describe the system as a new class of biome.
Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve
The importance of the mosses as a scarce habitat has been recognised, and as well as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve, it is now part of the Midland Meres and Mosses Ramsar site, a designation that recognises internationally important wetlands. Some of the restoration of the mosses has been funded by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Together with Wem and Cadney Mosses, it is also a European Special Area of Conservation. Among the primary reasons for the designation of the site are the presence of three types of sphagnum, all three British types of sundew, cranberry, bog asphodel, royal fern, white beak-sedge and bog-rosemary. It is one of the few places where the moss Dicranum affine can be found, and provides habitat for over 1,700 species of invertebrates, including 29 which are rare in Britain. Following restoration, the mosses have become wetter, and this has allowed populations of curlews and mallards to expand, while in winter, there are breeding populations of teal and shovellers. The increased numbers of small birds has also resulted in the numbers of predatory peregrine falcons increasing. Raft spiders abound near the peaty pools, and 28 species of dragonfly have been recorded on the mosses.
List of molluscs of the Houtman Abrolhos
About two thirds of the species have a tropical distribution, temperate species account for 20%, and the remaining 11% are endemic to Western Australia.
Islas Marietas National Park
The islands are home to 44 different species of plants and wildlife. This has led to the inclusion of National Park in RAMSAR sites its designation as a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve. Many species of seabirds use the location as feeding and breeding grounds, these include blue-footed boobies as well as the red-billed tropicbirds. It also has many different varieties of coral, which, in turn, is home to a large variety of reef fish species. The island ecosystem is also home to dolphins, Manta Rays and a number of tropical fish. Eels and many species of sea turtles are also found in the reefs and the many caves that dot the site. During the winter months humpback whales arrive at the islands and can be observed all through winter.
Houtman Abrolhos
95% of the pearl aquaculture is carried out in the Pelsaert Group. Most licenses are over areas of sand, but some areas contain small amounts of coral reef. The colour of the pearls produced is quite different from that of Pacific black pearls, and this is considered a potential marketing tool.
North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
Reptiles recorded on North Island include Binoe's prickly gecko ("Heteronotia binoei"), the gecko "Christinus marmoratus", the Jew lizard ("Pogona barbata"), King's skink ("Egernia kingii"), the western limestone ctenotus ("Ctenotus australis"), the western worm lerista ("Lerista praepedita"), the common dwarf skink ("Menetia greyii"), and the Abrolhos bearded dragon ("Pogona minor minima"). The carpet python was reported as present on the island in very low numbers before 1960, but it has never been observed there by naturalists, and is now absent.
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
Visibility varies greatly from species to species due to the nocturnal habits of some and seasonal hibernation of others. Most rodent species exist in terrestrial habitats where they provide important food resources for raptors and other predators. During winter months, rodents provide food for heron and egret species as well. Muskrats are present in freshwater drains and ponds where their feeding and burrowing activities help maintain marsh habitats for various other wildlife species.Due to environmental factors, amphibians are not found in large numbers or diversity at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR. Species occurring on the refuge include bullfrogs and lowland leopard frogs. Lowland leopard frogs respond well to shallow, permanent wetland habitat created for the Yuma clapper rail. They are not present elsewhere on the Refuge due to competition from exotic bullfrogs. Woodhouse's toad and red-spotted toads are also found on the refuge.
Houtman Abrolhos
Other shipwrecks, notably the "Zeewijk" (also spelled "Zeewyk"), have also become the subject of books and other works. Shipwrecks aside, however, cultural references to the Houtman Abrolhos are rare. By far the best known book on the Houtman Abrolhos itself is Malcolm Uren's "Sailormen's ghosts: The Abrolhos islands in three hundred years of romance, history, and adventure". First published in 1940, this book saw numerous editions published in the 1940s, and was even republished in 1980 as a "West Australian classic". In it, Uren tells both the history of the islands and the story of his own visit to the islands.
Wakatobi National Park
It is the third largest marine park in Indonesia. Jacques Cousteau is said to have called the Wakatobi islands – then known as the Tukangbesi islands: an “Underwater Nirwana”. Now a national marine park covering the entire Waktobi District, it comprises 1.4 million hectares, of which 900,000 host tropical coral reefs. Wakatobi has the highest number of reef and fish species in the world. The islands are form the largest barrier reef in Indonesia, second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is the habitat of large and small fish species, dolphins, turtles and whales. The island group comprises 143 islands of which 7 are inhabited, counting a total population of around 100,000. Most notable are the Bajo communities, seafaring nomads who inhabit many of Indonesia’s remote islands.
Abrolhos Marine National Park
Ilha Guarita and Ilha Sueste are home to many seabirds. 
Frigate birds nest on the steep sides of Ilha Redonda, which is visited by loggerhead turtles for spawning in the summer.
Diving along the reefs and the Rosalinda shipwreck is allowed, and humpback whales may be observed from boats.
Since 2003 the park has been an outpost of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RBMA: Reserva de Biosfera da Mata Atlântica).
In 2010 it was recognized as a Ramsar Site.
Houtman Abrolhos
Ninety-five exotic species from 29 families have been recorded. In general, islands that have or had human settlements are the weediest. Of greatest concern is the noxious weed "Lycium ferocissimum" (African boxthorn), which has long spines that can trap birds. This weed was recorded on the islands as early as 1970. Efforts to eradicate it began in 1990; there was a lull in eradication in the late 1990s, but the program was later reinstated, and in July 2007, the Department of Environment and Conservation reported that the species had been eradicated from 14 of the 18 islands on which it had been recorded. Other noxious weeds include "Opuntia stricta" (prickly pear), "Verbesina encelioides" and "Echium plantagineum" (Paterson's curse).
The Big Breaker
The Big Breaker is the most northerly geographic feature in the Houtman Abrolhos islands in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia. It is located at the extreme tip of a reef that extends about three kilometres north of North Island. Its gazetted location is , but in fact it is located about 270 metres south-east of there, at . It is so named because it is a breaker, a portion of submerged reef over which waves break.
Bahia
The Abrolhos archipelago in the extreme southern part of Bahia is an ecotourism attraction for diving and whale watching. Whales are frequent between July and November. This region contains one of the largest concentrations of fish, in terms of volume and variety, per square meter on the planet. There are 17 species of corals. The Whale Coast includes the municipalities of Alcobaça, Caravelas, Nova Viçosa and Mucuri and its main attraction is the Abrolhos Marine National Park.
Houtman Abrolhos
The Houtman Abrolhos maintains a breeding population of Australian sea lions ("Neophoca cinerea"), probably numbering between 75 and 100. Historical data suggests numbers were previously much higher; for example, in 1727 survivors of the "Zeewyk" shipwreck killed over 150 sea lions in the Southern Group alone. This has led to a 1727 population estimate of between 290 and 580 animals for the entire Houtman Abrolhos. Populations apparently fell dramatically between the 1840s and the 1880s, largely due to extensive commercial sealing in the area. In addition to direct killing of the animals, it is likely that much of the mangrove habitat on the islands was cleared as fuel for trypots, and this may have affected the survival of young pups. Populations are thought to have been fairly stable for the last fifty years, although the lack of genetic diversity in the smaller population remains of concern, as does climate change.
Pigeon Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
Pigeon Island is a small island located need the middle of the Wallabi Group of the Houtman Abrolhos, an archipelago off the coast of Western Australia. It is almost entirely given over to western rock lobster fishers' camps, and as a result is far more disturbed than most other islands in the archipelago. A nearby island also seasonally populated by fishers is named Little Pigeon Island, hence Pigeon Island is sometimes referred to as "Big Pigeon Island".
Houtman Abrolhos
Unlike most other major ocean currents, there is no large-scale coastal upwelling associated with the Leeuwin Current. There is limited evidence for some sporadic, localised upwelling in the vicinity of the Abrolhos, but if so it appears to have little effect on the extremely low levels of nutrients in the water.
Houtman Abrolhos
The Houtman Abrolhos (often informally called the Abrolhos Islands) is a chain of 122 islands, and associated coral reefs, in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia. Nominally located at , it lies about eighty kilometres (50 mi) west of Geraldton, Western Australia. It is the southernmost true coral reef in the Indian Ocean, and one of the highest latitude reef systems in the world. It is one of the world's most important seabird breeding sites, and is the centre of Western Australia's largest single-species fishery, the western rock lobster fishery. It has a small seasonal population of fishermen, and a limited number of tourists are permitted for day trips, but most of the land area is off limits as conservation habitat. It is well known as the site of numerous shipwrecks, the most famous being the Dutch ships "Batavia", which was wrecked in 1629, and "Zeewijk", wrecked in 1727.
Flinders Reef
The reef has more than 175 fish species. There are more species and varieties of corals in this one area than any other single reef on the Great Barrier Reef. The diverse amount of marine life include schools of wrasse, sweetlip, trevally, parrotfish, bat, surgeon, turtles and tropical fish. Manta rays, wobbegongs and leopard sharks are among the larger creatures that reside here. Sightings of whaler sharks are sometimes seen on the eastern side of Flinders. During the months of June to September, humpback whales can be seen on the surface as they pass by.
Houtman Abrolhos
When numbers of individuals are taken into account, the tropical birds overwhelmingly dominate. The islands are one of the most important breeding sites for tropical seabirds in Australia and have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). They contain by far the largest colonies of wedge-tailed shearwater in the eastern Indian Ocean, with over a million breeding pairs recorded there in 1994. They also contain Western Australia's only breeding colonies of the lesser noddy, and the largest colonies in Western Australia of the little shearwater, white-faced storm petrel, common noddy, Caspian tern, crested tern, roseate tern and fairy tern. In addition, they contain important breeding areas for the Pacific reef heron, Pacific gull, bridled tern, white-bellied sea eagle and osprey.
Houtman Abrolhos
A total of 38 hydroid species have been collected at the Houtman Abrolhos. 34 of these are leptothecates, the remainder being anthoathecates. 92% of the species attach to temperate algae, the others to coral rubble. For a list of species, see list of hydroids of the Houtman Abrolhos.
North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
North Island is considered to have high conservation value with respect to its populations of brush bronzewing and Abrolhos painted buttonquail, and its dune, limestone and salt lake vegetation communities. The potential existence of historically significant artefacts on Record Hill, namely the bottle left by Wickham and Stokes in 1840, has not been assessed.
Pigeon Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
Pigeon Island is roughly triangular in shape, with a short side on the south west, and two long sides coming together at a point in the north east. The island is covered with infrastructure, with a high density of huts covering the entire island, right down to the water line; in total there are 54 camps, a school and a pub. There are also around 20 jetties, mainly along the northwest side, as this is the only direction from which the island may be approached by boat. The island is surrounded by reef to the south and east, but a passage known as Pigeon Island Anchorage runs along the northwest side.
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve is a nature reserve off the shore of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, on the southern boundary of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. It is linked to the mainland by a causeway, which acts as the northern breakwater for the harbour. With over 5,500 breeding pairs, it is a major breeding ground for wedge-tailed shearwaters ("Puffinus pacificus"), known locally as muttonbirds, which migrate annually to the Philippines but return to breed on the island.
North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
On the eastern side is a seasonally inhabited permanent fishers' camp. There is an unnamed lighthouse on the western side, a trig point on the eastern side, and a gravel airstrip near the centre.
The island is surrounded by a coral reef flat. This extends about  km (1 mi) to the west of the island, and over 3 km (2 mi) to the north and south, but the reef margin lies quite close to the island on the eastern side. Most of the reef is not navigable, but a passage through the reef just north of the island is named Suda Bay Passage; one just south of the island is named Barker Passage; and there are a few breaks or channels on the eastern side of the island where boats may obtain shelter in bad weather. An area of reef immediately north of the island is named The Flat, and at the northern extreme of the reef is a breaker named The Big Breaker. About 200 m (660 ft) west of the island is a small rock informally known as "Shag Rock", but with no official name; it differs from Shag Rock in the Wallabi Group further south.
List of birds of the Houtman Abrolhos
The Houtman Abrolhos, an island chain off the coast of Western Australia, is one of the most important areas in the world for breeding colonies of seabirds. Around 90 species of seabird occur there, as well as three species of shore bird, and six species of land bird.
Pelsaert Group
The Pelsaert Group is the southernmost of the three groups of islands that make up the Houtman Abrolhos island chain. Nominally located at , it consists of a number of islands, the largest of which are Gun Island, Middle Island, and Pelsaert Island. The group is named after a Dutch "opperkoopman" who stranded nearby with the VOC-ship "Batavia" in 1629. The group contains the most southerly true coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. The group is part of the Houtman Abrolhos Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for supporting large numbers of breeding seabirds.
List of islands in the Houtman Abrolhos
This is a list of islands in the Houtman Abrolhos, an island chain off the west coast of Australia. It is complete with respect to the 1996 Gazetteer of Australia. It is widely reported that the Houtman Abrolhos contains 122 islands, but only 93 islands had gazetted names in 1996. In the gazetteer of 2011 Hartley Island appears no more, but Barge Rock, Second Sister and Shag Rock appear, which raises the number of gazetted names to 96 (30 in the Wallabi Group, 38 in the Pelsaert Group and 28 in the Easter Group).
Baía da Babitonga Wildlife Reserve
In 2007 the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) estimated that over 2,000 families of fisherfolk used the natural resources in the proposed reserve area for their livelihood. Aquatic farms cultivated mussels and oysters in the bay, and tourism was expanding.
Endangered species such as the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), La Plata dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) and Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) depended on the environmental quality of the bay.
There were of mangroves in the area, the sole habitat of the over-exploited Uçá (Ucides cordatus) species of mangrove crab.
Houtman Abrolhos
Petroleum exploration wells were drilled in Abrolhos waters in the 1960s and 1970s, but were capped and abandoned. The Abrolhos was amongst the areas released for further exploration in 2002.
North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
Other birds known to breed on North Island include the osprey ("Pandion haliaetus cristatus"), greater crested tern ("Thalasseus bergii"), Caspian tern ("Hydroprogne caspia"), silver gull ("Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae novaehollandiae"), and welcome swallow ("Hirunda neoxena"). Birds commonly recorded as resident on the island but not recorded as breeding there include the Pacific reef heron ("Egretta sacra"), white-bellied sea eagle ("Haliaeetus leucogaster"), red-capped plover ("Charadrius ruficapillus"), fairy tern ("Sterna nereis nereis"), Australasian pipit ("Antus novaseelandiae australis") and western silvereye ("Zosterops lateralis chloronotus"). The sooty oystercatcher ("Haematopus fuliginosus fuliginosus") and white-backed swallow ("Cheramoeca leucosterna") have also rarely been observed as resident on the island.
Hans Lollik Island
The most common cetacean species to move through the waters of the greater Hans Lollik area include bottlenose dolphins ("'Tursiops truncatus") and humpback whales ("Megaptera novaeangliae"). Some pilot whales ("Globicephala melaena") may also occur in the area. The presence of humpback whales is seasonal, with peak migrations occurring during January through March. In addition to reef fish, schooling fish have been evaluated in the area around GHL and Litte Hans Lollik. Fish abundance is greatest in the offshore area of the east coast fringing reef and in the deep-water areas off the northwest corner of GHL. Three sea turtle species occur around the island, the hawksbill turtle, green turtle, and leatherback turtle..
Houtman Abrolhos
Only two species of land mammal are indigenous to the Houtman Abrolhos, the tammar wallaby ("Macropus eugenii") and the bush rat ("Rattus fuscipes"). Both are native only to West and East Wallabi Islands, although "R. fuscipes" has not been collected on East Wallabi Island since August 1967, and is probably extinct there. The tammar wallabi was seen on West Wallabi Island by survivors of the 1628 "Batavia" shipwreck, and recorded by Francisco Pelsart in his 1629 "Ongeluckige Voyagie". This represents the first recorded sighting of a macropod by Europeans, and probably also the first sighting of an Australian mammal. Tammar wallabies were introduced to North Island from East Wallabi Island by fishermen, probably in the 1950s, but failed to establish themselves. In 1987 they were reintroduced again, this time successfully. By the 2000s, there were over 400 wallabies on the island, resulting in overgrazing of native vegetation and increased erosion. Research into the effectiveness of controlling population levels by the use of implanted contraceptives was begun in 2005, but in July 2007 the research was discontinued and the population culled instead.
Wild Caribbean
Around six hurricane-strength storms strike the Caribbean between June and November each year. This episode examines their impact on people and wildlife. Hurricane winds generate destructive waves which can cause catastrophic damage to offshore reefs. Some corals are tough enough to withstand the buffeting, but other are ripped up. However, providing they come to rest in a suitable location, even broken fragments can regenerate. Storm surges cause widespread damage to coastal developments and beaches, and sea turtles are particularly vulnerable. Four-fifths of the green turtle hatchlings on Grand Cayman were lost when Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004. Low-lying islands can be completely inundated by storm surges. The brown anoles of the Bahamas may well drown, but their eggs can survive submersion for six hours. Coastal mangroves provide an important natural buffer against hurricanes. Further inland, the plants and animals of the tropical forests have evolved strategies to survive hurricanes. Tabonuco trees fuse their roots together to form a solid anchor, and hummingbirds move to unaffected parts of the forest. A single extreme event can be devastating for species with a restricted range. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo decimated the Puerto Rican parrot population, leaving only three breeding pairs. By contrast, green iguanas have used floating debris to colonise new islands, showing that resilience and adaptability are the key to survival. With climate change scientists predicting more frequent and intense hurricanes in future, the ability of the Caribbean wildlife to survive and recover from them will be severely tested.
Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve
The coral reefs of the reserve are among the finest in the main Hawaiian Islands. The reefs off of Kanahena were the only Maui reefs to increase coral cover in recent years (17‐30% from 1999‐2006). At least 33 species of coral, 53 species of subtidal invertebrate, and 75 species of fish (17 endemic) were found. Five marine species with protected status frequent the reserve: Hawaiian monk seal or 'ilio‐holo‐i‐ka‐uaua ("Monachus schauinslandi"); hawksbill turtle or ‘ea ("Eretmochelys imbricata"); green turtle or honu ("Chelonia mydas"); spinner dolphin or nai‘a ("Stenella longirostris longirostris"); and humpback whale or koholā ("Megaptera novaeangliae"). The marine portion of the reserve is within the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The Hawaiian monk seal, hawksbill turtle, and humpback whale are all listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Morris J. Berman oil spill
The spill made many important habitat areas unusable by many species for a period of time. One example of lost habitat was the loss of intertidal bay and shallow waters that were used for fish as nursery areas. This affected the population levels of certain species of fish in the years following the spill. Another example of lost habitat was the reef area lost near the grounding site of the "Berman". Over 152 species were estimated to have resided in these reefs. Some of these species include fish, shellfish, algae, and sponges. The reef was the main source of food and shelter for all of these species. The reef also provided a natural breakwater that helped to diminish storm surge from hurricanes. The effectiveness of the reef as a breakwater and habitat area were greatly decreased after it was damaged by the barge. Large pieces of the reef were lost after the barge ran into it.
Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in southern Albany County in the U.S. state of Wyoming and includes 1,968 acres (8 km). The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The refuge is located at higher altitudes over 7,000 feet (2,133 m) and has a total of five natural alpine lakes that are named, as well as associated wetlands. The refuge was set aside in 1932 to protect habitat for migratory bird species and other indigenous plants and animals. Hutton Lake NWR is administered by the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
Kadmat Island
The island has three types of habitats: coral reef, seagrass and nesting ground for marine turtles. Zoning of the coral reef is mapped under three zones of reef flat, reef slope and lagoon. Next to the shore line are the fringing reefs where fish species of fin and shell fishes spawn, and are found in abundance. As of 1986, there were 45 coral species in the reef. These are threatened due to human interference and natural causes. Live coral is reported in less than 1% area. There are 9 species of live corals in the lagoon and reef slope area. The species of live corals reported are: "Acropora formosa" (staghorn coral), "Acropora robusta", "Acropora", "Acropora subglabra", "Acropora tortuosa", "Acropora vaughani", "Favites", "Pocillopora verrucosa" and "Lobophytum" Benthic organisms are reported on the reef slope and lagoon area. Macrobenthos are found in the inter-tidal and sub-tidal area. 23 species of polychaetes, 3 species of bivalves, 3 species of crustaceans, and 3 species of gastropods have been recorded.
The seagrass beds, which forms an area of around across the island, provide crucial food for turtles and dugongs, with four species of marine turtles reported: "Chelonia mydas" (green sea turtle), "Dermochelys coriacea" (leatherback sea turtle), and "Eretmochelys imbricata" (Hawksbill sea turtle) and "Lepidochelys olivacea" (Olive Ridley sea turtle). There are 7 species of seagrass reported here, out of 14 found in the Lakshadweep Islands, including the "Thalassia hemprichii" and "Cymodocea rotundata". Seaweeds recorded consist of 34 species, out of which 14 species are of Rhodophyceae, 13 (red algae) are Chlorophyceae (green algae) and 7 species are Phaeophyceae (brown algae). 20 species of Phytoplankton and 19 groups of Zooplankton have been recorded in the reef slope and lagoon area; 33 species of benthic organisms have also been noted in the same vicinity.
Houtman Abrolhos
In addition to pearl aquaculture, a pilot sea cage finfish farm was licensed in 2004, although the license had not been exercised. Interest has also been expressed in the culture of live rock and coral for the aquarium industry. The Department of Fisheries has identified a number of species as having potential for aquaculture in the Abrolhos, including the Shark Bay pearl oyster ("Pinctada albina"), the maxima clam ("Tridacna maxima"), rock oysters ("Saccostrea" sp.), the saucer scallop ("Amusium balloti"), the western rock lobster, and a number of species of finfish, most of which are filter feeders.
Coral reef
Coral reef systems provide important habitats for seabird species, some endangered. For example, Midway Atoll in Hawaii supports nearly three million seabirds, including two-thirds (1.5 million) of the global population of Laysan albatross, and one-third of the global population of black-footed albatross. Each seabird species has specific sites on the atoll where they nest. Altogether, 17 species of seabirds live on Midway. The short-tailed albatross is the rarest, with fewer than 2,200 surviving after excessive feather hunting in the late 19th century.
Houtman Abrolhos
The Easter Group lies to the southeast of the Wallabi Group, from which it is separated by a 9 kilometres (5 mi) wide channel named Middle Channel. It is about 20 kilometres by 12 kilometres, and consists of a number of islands including Rat Island, Wooded Island, Morley Island, Suomi Island and Alexander Island.
Houtman Abrolhos
Under the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), the islands of the Houtman Abrolhos fall within the Geraldton Hills subregion of the Geraldton Sandplains region. The main biogeographic significance of the islands is their isolation, allowing them to provide refugia for such threatened fauna as tammar wallabies ("Macropus eugenii"), Australian sea lions ("Neophoca cinerea") and rare breeding seabirds.
Houtman Abrolhos
The sponges of the Houtman Abrolhos are poorly studied, although 109 species of demosponge have been collected there. In the most recent survey, 77 species were collected, of which around half are probably new to science. Only two locations were surveyed in this study, however, so this figure is likely to represent only a small proportion of the total sponge fauna of the Houtman Abrolhos; the islands are therefore thought to harbour an extremely rich diversity of sponges. A preliminary assessment suggested that there were more temperate species than tropical, which stands in marked contrast to most other groups.
Houtman Abrolhos
The total value of the fishery in 2003 was A$19.6 million, although this figure includes a small prawn fishery operating out of Port Gregory. Most of the catch is frozen and exported to Asia.
Great Barrier Reef
215 species of birds (including 22 species of seabirds and 32 species of shorebirds) visit the reef or nest or roost on the islands, including the white-bellied sea eagle and roseate tern. Most nesting sites are on islands in the northern and southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef, with 1.4 to 1.7 million birds using the sites to breed. The islands of the Great Barrier Reef also support 2,195 known plant species; three of these are endemic. The northern islands have 300–350 plant species which tend to be woody, whereas the southern islands have 200 which tend to be herbaceous; the Whitsunday region is the most diverse, supporting 1,141 species. The plants are propagated by birds.
There are at least 330 species of ascidians on the reef system with the diameter of . Between 300–500 species of bryozoans live on the reef. Four hundred coral species, both hard corals and soft corals inhabit the reef. The majority of these spawn gametes, breeding in mass spawning events that are triggered by the rising sea temperatures of spring and summer, the lunar cycle, and the diurnal cycle. Reefs in the inner Great Barrier Reef spawn during the week after the full moon in October, while the outer reefs spawn in November and December. Its common soft corals belong to 36 genera. Five hundred species of marine algae or seaweed live on the reef, including thirteen species of genus "Halimeda", which deposit calcareous mounds up to wide, creating mini-ecosystems on their surface which have been compared to rainforest cover.
Houtman Abrolhos
In marine terms, the Houtman Abrolhos is located within the Southwest Shelf Transition, an Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia (IMCRA) biotone that takes in the continental shelf from Perth to Geraldton. This province is defined as the area of shelf where tropical waters intergrade into temperate, thus supporting both tropical and temperate biota. In addition, this area contains the highest concentration of west coast endemics.
Blaauwberg Conservation Area
Blaauwberg Nature Reserve conserves three threatened vegetation types: Cape Flats dune strandveld (endangered), Swartland shale renosterveld (critically endangered) and Cape Flats sand fynbos (critically endangered). The rich biodiversity embraces a wetland, 624 plant species, 41 mammal species (including whales, dolphins and seals), 166 bird species, 30 reptile species and four amphibians. The reserve is one of the only City of Cape Town nature reserves where it is possible to find Mystromys albicaudatus (White-tailed Mouse) and Orycteropus afer (Aardvark).
Soutpansberg
A total of at least 116 reptile species have been recorded in the Soutpansberg. This biodiversity is remarkably high for such a small area and makes up 36% of the total number of reptile species that have been recorded in South Africa. This is roughly the same number of species (119) that occur in the Kruger National Park. The diversity is high compared to biodiversity hotspots of the world and the species diversity per unit area is higher than that of most of these hotspots. The Soutpansberg rock lizard, Soutpansberg worm lizard, Soutpansberg dwarf gecko and the Soutpansberg flat lizard are all endemic and named after this range.
Environment of Haiti
The island of Hispaniola is home to more than 6,000 plants, of which 35% are endemic; and 220 species of birds. None of the birds are endemic to Haiti, but La Selle thrush is nearly so. The country's originally high biodiversity is due to its mountainous topography and fluctuating elevations in which each elevation harbors different microclimates. The country's varied scenery include lush green cloud forests (in some of the mountain ranges and the protected areas), high mountain peaks, arid desert, mangrove forest, and palm tree-lined beaches. Since arrival of aboriginal man, the biodiversity of Haiti has been significantly diminished due to human exploitation. For example, the Caribbean monk seal, the only pinniped ever to occur in the Caribbean, is now extinct.
Houtman Abrolhos
It is nearly always windy. During summer a high pressure ridge lies to the south, causing persistent winds from the southeast or southwest, at speeds exceeding 17 knots (31 km/h) almost half the time. During autumn and winter, the ridge moves northwards, increasing the atmospheric pressure over the islands, resulting in highly variable winds. Winter tends to produce both the strongest gales and the most frequent periods of calm.
Humpback whale
Humpbacks inhabit all major oceans, in a wide band running from the Antarctic ice edge to 77° N latitude. The four global populations are North Pacific, Atlantic, Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean populations. These populations are distinct. Although the species has cosmopolitan distribution and is usually not considered to cross the equator line, seasonal observations at Cape Verde suggest possible interactions among populations from both hemispheres. Aside from the Arabian Sea group, year-round presences have been confirmed among British and Norwegian waters. Parts of wintering grounds around the globe have been poorly studied or being undetected, such as around Pitcairn Islands, Northern Mariana Islands (e.g. Marpi and CK Reefs vicinity to Saipan ), Daitō Islands, Volcano Islands, Pasaleng Bay, Trindade and Martin Vaz, Mauritius, Aldabra, and so on.
North Island (Houtman Abrolhos)
North Island is the northernmost island in the Houtman Abrolhos, a coral reef archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mid West Western Australia. Located about 14 km (9 mi) from the nearest island group, it is one of the largest islands in the Houtman Abrolhos, and one of the few to support dune systems. It has relatively diverse flora dominated by chenopod shrubs and fauna that includes the introduced tammar wallaby, around seven species of reptile, and about 15 resident bird species.
Flora of the Houtman Abrolhos
This is a list of the terrestrial flora of the Houtman Abrolhos. Only vascular plants are listed — there have been some collections of mosses, liverworts and lichens from the Houtman Abrolhos, but no information has been published on these non-vascular groups.
Houtman Abrolhos
The islands featured in the first episode of "Surfing the Menu", an eight-part food and travel series produced for the ABC in 2003, and the following year were featured on "Getaway", Australia's longest-running and most popular holiday and travel television programme. They were the subject of a motion picture entitled "Eye opener", published by The Film Centre WA in 1981, and of a piece of classical music entitled "Abrolhos: A ceremonial overture", written by William Stewart in 1988 under commission to the Geraldton Town Council.Works cited
Houtman Abrolhos
The vascular flora of the Houtman Abrolhos has been thoroughly surveyed, and species lists have been published for 119 islands. As of 2001, these lists totalled 239 species from 68 families. A further six species have been collected in the Houtman Abrolhos, but cannot be allocated to islands because insufficient location information was recorded. There have also been collections of mosses, liverworts and lichens, but no information has been published on these non-vascular groups.
Neotropical realm
There are 63 fish families and subfamilies are endemic to the Neotropical realm, more than any other realm (van der Sleen and Albert, 2018 [van der Sleen, Peter, and James S. Albert, eds. Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press, 2017]). Neotropical fishes include more than 5,700 species, and represent at least 66 distinct lineages in continental freshwaters (Albert and Reis, 2011). The well-known red-bellied piranha is endemic to the Neotropic realm, occupying a larger geographic area than any other piranha species. Some fish groups originally unique to the Neotropics include:Examples of other animal groups that are entirely or mainly restricted to the Neotropical region include:Plant families endemic and partly subendemic to the realm are, according to Takhtajan (1978), Hymenophyllopsidaceae, Marcgraviaceae, Caryocaraceae, Pellicieraceae, Quiinaceae, Peridiscaceae, Bixaceae, Cochlospermaceae, Tovariaceae, Lissocarpaceae ("Lissocarpa"), Brunelliaceae, Dulongiaceae, Columelliaceae, Julianiaceae, Picrodendraceae, Goupiaceae, Desfontainiaceae, Plocospermataceae, Dialypetalanthaceae ("Dialypetalanthus"), Nolanaceae ("Nolana"), Calyceraceae, Heliconiaceae, Cannaceae, Thurniaceae and Cyclanthaceae.
Tubbataha Reef
The national park and the rest of the Philippine archipelago is part of the Coral Triangle, recognized as a center of marine biodiversity containing 75% of the described coral species and 40% of the world's reef fish. The area is under a grave threat due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices. Research of scientists visiting the reefs since the 1980s revealed that the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park contains no less than 600 fish species, 360 coral species, 11 shark species, 13 dolphin and whale species, and 100 bird species. The reefs also serve as a nesting ground for Hawksbill and Green sea turtles.
Houtman Abrolhos
The primary piece of evidence for the claim of Portuguese priority is the 16th century Dieppe maps, some of which are said to show the west coast of Australia, including an island at the position of the Houtman Abrolhos. This island is unlabelled on most of the Dieppe maps, but on Pierre Desceliers' 1550 map, it is labelled "Arenes". In 1895, George Collingridge suggested that "Arenes" was a corruption of "Abrolhos", but this was mocked by Heeres in 1898, and according to J. S. Battye "this suggestion can scarcely be regarded seriously. It certainly does not in any way add to the merit of the Portuguese claim".
List of molluscs of the Houtman Abrolhos
These molluscs are predominantly gastropods (346 species, 70%) and bivalves (124, 25%); the remaining 5% of species consist of cephalopods (14 species), chitons (5 species) and scaphopods (4 species).
List of rodents of the Caribbean
The Caribbean region is home to a diverse and largely endemic rodent fauna. This includes the endemic family Capromyidae (hutias), which are largely limited to the Greater Antilles, and two other groups of endemic hystricognaths, the heteropsomyines and giant hutias, including the extinct bear-sized "Amblyrhiza inundata". Lesser Antillean rodent faunas mostly consist of oryzomyines, members of a distantly related group of rodents, and include two of the largest known oryzomyines, "Megalomys desmarestii" and ""Oryzomys hypenemus"". Various other rodents are limited to land-bridge islands such as Trinidad, which were connected to the mainland during glacial-period lowered sea levels in the Pleistocene, or to smaller portions of the Caribbean archipelago. Much of the native rodent fauna of the Caribbean are extinct because of human influences, particularly following the introduction of invasive species such as Old World rats.
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa holds more endemic reptiles than any other region in Africa, with over 285 species total and about 90 species which are found exclusively in the region. Among endemic reptile genera, there are "Haackgreerius", "Haemodracon", "Ditypophis", "Pachycalamus" and "Aeluroglena". Half of these genera are uniquely found on Socotra. Unlike reptiles, amphibians are poorly represented in the region.
List of worms of the Houtman Abrolhos
The marine worms identified at the Houtman Abrolhos comprise 22 species of the polychaete family Terebellidae, and 16 species of the family oligochaete family Tubificidae.
List of algae of the Houtman Abrolhos
The marine waters of the Houtman Abrolhos, an island chain off the coast of Western Australia, have been recorded as containing 260 species of benthic algae. This figure comprises 178 species of red algae (Rhodophyta), 50 species of brown algae (Phaeophyta) and 32 species of green algae (Chlorophyta). Both temperate and tropical species occur there. 
This is a list of algae of the Houtman Abrolhos:
Houtman Abrolhos
The green turtle ("Chelonia mydas") and the loggerhead turtle ("Caretta caretta") both live in the waters off the Houtman Abrolhos, albeit in low numbers. Neither species breeds in the area, as water temperatures are too low.
Houtman Abrolhos
The Houtman Abrolhos lies in the Indian Ocean about 60 kilometres (40 mi) off the coast of Western Australia, near the edge of Australia's continental shelf. At less than 50 metres (160 ft) deep, the shelf is quite shallow. It is also fairly level, the depth increasing to the west at a modest gradient of about 1.3 metres per kilometre (7 ft/mi). About five kilometres (3 mi) to the west of the Houtman Abrolhos lies the shelf break, beyond which the seabed falls away much more steeply, averaging around 50 metres per kilometre (260 ft/mi).
Abrolhos painted buttonquail
The Abrolhos painted buttonquail ("Turnix varius scintillans") is a subspecies of the painted buttonquail endemic to the Houtman Abrolhos. It is common on North Island, and also occurs on other islands of the Wallabi Group, namely East Wallabi, West Wallabi, Seagull and Pigeon Islands.
Houtman Abrolhos
The Houtman Abrolhos is Australian territory. There is no dispute about this, although it has been suggested that Australia claims the island chain under the UNCLOS by extending their continental baseline to encompass it, a breach of Article 7 of the Convention.
Midway Atoll
Over 250 different species of marine life are found in the of lagoon and surrounding waters. The critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals raise their pups on the beaches, relying on the atoll's reef fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans. Green sea turtles, another threatened species, occasionally nest on the island. The first was found in 2006 on Spit Island and another in 2007 on Sand Island. A resident pod of 300 spinner dolphins live in the lagoons and nearshore waters.
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species with more than 250 species of birds and 41 species of land mammals. The bay and estuary of the Dungeness River supports Waterfowl, Wader, Shellfish, and harbor seals. Anadromous fish like Chinook, Coho, pink salmon and chum salmon occur in the waters of Dungeness Bay and Harbor. A number of species of waterfowl stop briefly in the Dungeness area each fall on their way south for the winter and again when they head north in the spring. Many species of waterfowl winter in the area. Dungeness Bay and Harbor support black brant, present from late October through early May, with peak numbers of approximately 3,000-5,000 in April. Shorebirds and water waders feed and rest along the water’s edge. Harbor seals haul out to rest and give birth to pups on the end of Dungeness Spit. The tideflats support crabs, clams, and other shellfish.
Maranhão mangroves
The Maranhão mangroves are home to half the total population of shorebirds in Brazil, and 7% of all shorebirds in South America.
They are also important areas for feeding and breeding for herons (family Ardeidae) and roseate spoonbills ("Platalea ajaja").
Rare and endangered species include scarlet ibis ("Eudocimus ruber"), wattled jacana ("Jacana jacana"), tucuxi ("Sotalia fluviatilis"), West Indian manatee ("Trichechus manatus") and several species of sea turtle that use the mangroves as a breeding area.
List of molluscs of the Houtman Abrolhos
This list of molluscs of the Houtman Abrolhos includes 492 species of marine molluscs which have been recorded from the waters of the Houtman Abrolhos, an island group in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia.
Houtman Abrolhos
The islands with the greatest floristic diversity are East and West Wallabi Islands, with 124 and 97 species respectively. 54 species occur in all three island groups. The most widely distributed species are "Nitraria billardierei" (nitre bush), which has been recorded on 106 islands; the exotic "Mesembryanthemum crystallinum" (iceplant), on 88 islands; "Threlkeldia diffusa" (coast bonefruit), on 72 islands; and "Atriplex cinerea" (grey saltbush), on 70 islands. On the other hand, "Eucalyptus oraria" (ooragmandee) and "Acacia didyma" occur only on East Wallabi Island.
Tubbataha Reef
Over 1000 species of marine life inhabit the reef with many considered as endangered. Animal species found include manta rays, lionfish, sea turtles, clownfish, and sharks. Tubbataha has become a popular site for seasoned sport divers because of its coral "walls" where the shallow coral reef abruptly ends giving way to great depths. These "walls" are also habitats for many colonies of fish. Giant trevally (jacks), hammerhead sharks, barracudas, manta rays, palm-sized Moorish idols, napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, and moray eels live in the sanctuary. There also have been reported sightings of whale sharks and tiger sharks. Tubbataha is even home to cetaceans and the hawksbill sea turtles ("Eretmochelys imbricata") which are critically endangered species.
Houtman Abrolhos
The marine worms identified at the Houtman Abrolhos include 22 species of the polychaete family Terebellidae, and 16 species of the family oligochaete family Tubificidae. For a list of species, see list of worms of the Houtman Abrolhos.
Pigeon Island Anchorage
Pigeon Island Anchorage is a passage through a reef that runs along the northwest wide of Pigeon Island in the Wallabi Group of the Houtman Abrolhos, an archipelago off the coast of Western Australia. Pigeon Island is seasonally populated by a great many Western Rock Lobster fishers, and Pigeon Island Anchorage represents the only safe approach to the island. It is thus heavily used as both a navigational passage and as an anchorage.
List of islands in the Houtman Abrolhos
The Inventory of the Land Conservation Values of the Houtman Abrolhos mentions many more unofficially named islets, 16 in the Wallabi Group, 26 in the Eastern Group and 15 in the Pelsaert Group, plus the subgroups of the Jackson Islets (7 islets without individual names or numbers) and The Coral Patches (13 islets without individual names or numbers), also in the Pelsaert Group.
Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere Reserve
Three distinct but interrelated environments make up the biosphere reserve area; rural, coastal and marine, and urban. The rural environment contains lowland chalk grassland which is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the country and particularly important for its high botanical species diversity with up to 40-50 vascular plant species per square meter. It also supports the invertebrate communities, notably butterflies with 20 species having a substantial proportion of their breeding populations within this habitat. Characteristic species include: Phyteuma orbiculare, Wart-biter ("Decticus verrucivorus"), and Adonis blue butterfly ("Lysandra bellargus"). The coastal and marine environments are made up of a moderately exposed coast and inshore area of the English Channel with cliffs providing nesting niches for birds such as Northern fulmar ("Fulmarus glacialis"). The discontinuous chalk ledge to the west of Brighton gives rise to a unique series of low underwater north-facing chalk cliffs with biological records of over 300 marine species in the area.
Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch
The fauna found here include:
70 species of sponges are found.
Coral 52 species including 44 
species of hard coral and 10 species of soft coral.
Jellyfish, Portuguese man of war and sea anemones are other coelentrates found here.
Arthropods include 27 species of prawns, 30 species of crabs, lobsters, shrimps and other crustaceans.
Molluscs like pearl oysters and sea slugs are present. Octopus which change colour are also found.
Echinoderms like starfish, sea cucumbers and sea urchins are present.
The fishes found are puffer fishes, sea horse, sting ray, mudskippers and whale sharks which are an endangered species.
Endangered sea turtles such as green sea turtles, olive ridleys and leatherbacks are seen here. There are three species of sea snakes.
There are dugongs and smaller cetaceans like finless porpoises, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Larger whales such as blue whales, sei whales are seen. Humpback whales, and sperm whales may have been almost wiped out due to illegal whaling by the Soviet Union and Japan. Whale sharks can be found in deeper areas. A surprisingly large scale greater flamingo colony, reaching up to 20,000 nests is known to occur along the gulf. There are 42 islands in the Arabian Sea with coral reefs and the park is situated in one of those.
List of hydroids of the Houtman Abrolhos
A total of 38 hydroid species have been collected at the Houtman Abrolhos. 34 of these are leptothecates, the remainder being anthoathecates. 35 of them (92%) attach to temperate algae; the remaining, the others to coral rock. This is a list of hydroids of the Houtman Abrolhos:
Houtman Abrolhos
The Department of Fisheries have issued a number of licences to cultivate black-lip pearl oysters in the Abrolhos. The first recipient of a license was Abrolhos Pearls in 1996. By 2000, another license had been issued and four more applications had been received. A year later, there were 10 square kilometres licensed for the culture of pearl oysters in the Abrolhos, of which about 21% was actually in use, carrying over 210,000 shell. Six licences had been issued by 2002, and by 2007 that number had grown to eight.
Houtman Abrolhos
Why Houtman named the islands using a Portuguese word remains a subject of debate. John Forsyth states that the islands are named after the Abrolhos Archipelago off the east coast of Brazil, which was discovered and named by Portuguese navigators early in the 16th century. This position is supported by the fact that Houtman was familiar with the Abrolhos Archipelago, having sailed through it in 1598. Others assert that "abrolhos" was a Portuguese lookout's cry which, like many other Portuguese maritime terms, was taken up by sailors of other nationalities, becoming by Houtman's time a Dutch loan word for offshore reefs. Additionally, Frederick De Houtman had at least some grasp of Portuguese, having been sent by Amsterdam merchants to Lisbon from 1592 - 1594 with his brother Cornelis to learn about the Portuguese route to the Indies. Frederick also appears to have been a keen linguist, having published the first-known Dutch-Malay and Dutch-Malagasy dictionaries in 1603. He appears to have been fluent-enough in Portuguese that he might have used an evocative Portuguese word if it described the area better than any Dutch word did.