Background/Aims
Quantifying baseline biodiversity is fundamental to detecting and interpreting faunal change, particularly in regions predicted to undergo significant shifts under future climate scenarios. Lady Elliot Island, located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, has been identified as a putative climate refuge for species undergoing poleward shifts in response to warming waters further north. Preliminary modelling indicates that local species richness at this site is likely to be maintained or enhanced under projected climate trajectories. However, despite its ecological significance, at the outset of this study, no comprehensive vertebrate species catalogue existed for this location.
Methods
Between 2020 and 2025, the Leaf to Reef research team catalogued the vertebrate diversity found on and around the island using a range of survey techniques, including underwater visual census surveys, citizen science data collection, acoustic monitoring, camera trap deployments, and interrogation of existing species databases such as eBird and the Atlas of Living Australia.
Results
This resulted in the collation of 800 species comprising 178 birds, 36 elasmobranchs, 562 teleost fishes, eight marine mammals, 15 reptiles, and one amphibian. Here we present these findings, including notable species range shifts and new records for the Great Barrier Reef. We additionally present the resulting comprehensive field guide to the vertebrate species of Lady Elliot Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef.
Conclusion
The biodiversity catalogue is maintained as a living resource on iNaturalist, subject to ongoing updates as survey effort continues, ensuring the catalogue remains a dynamic and evolving resource. Collectively, these outputs provide a robust benchmark against which future changes in vertebrate composition and diversity can be measured.