Table coral

Description:

Table corals, spotted at the Agincourt reef on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The fish seen in the first pic is a damselfish.

Habitat:

Agincourt Reef lays 65 km off the coast of Port Douglas, at the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef along the Continental Shelf. These pictures were taken while snorkelling: much of that reef is just under the water level and some of it is exposed at low tide. Extra care must be taken not to damage the reef with flippers.

Notes:

Acropora are one the major reef building corals. Acropora is highly susceptible to environmental threats. Causes of coral bleaching and death include pollution, increase in water temperatures and acidification.