Heron Island Research Station is just steps away from a wealth of coral reef and cay habitats, offering a range of research and educational opportunities.
Heron Island is fringed by a flourishing platform reef that drains at low tide and includes a large lagoon and reef flat that is accessible on foot. It is home to thousands of species of marine invertebrates, fish, plants and algae, nesting turtles and more than 100,000 seabirds, and is on the migratory pathway of humpback and minke whales.
The island’s eastern side is part of the protected Capricornia Cays National Park.
Island forest
The forests on Heron Island are complex, and comprise a diversity of canopy and ground plants, insects, lizards and birds. A lush Pisonia and an open Scaevola-Argusia-Pandanus forest dominate the island, with stands of coastal she-oak fringing the beach. In summer, these forests are home to black noddies as well as wedge-tailed shearwaters and other migratory seabirds.
Beach and beach rock
The beach on Heron Island connects the reef flat to the forest and is comprised of coarse-to-fine calcareous sand. The intertidal beach is inhabited by a host of invertebrates, and two species of turtles regularly lay their eggs in the dunes. Extensive areas of compressed beach rock around the island are havens for crabs, chitons, snails and anemones.
Reef flat and lagoon
The reef flat extends from the beach to the reef crest and into a long, deep lagoon that dominates the interior of Heron Island Reef. At low tide, the reef flat and lagoon separate from the open sea. At this time, you can explore on foot the reef flat and its obvious biodiversity – including corals, sea cucumbers, molluscs, fish and sharks – and cryptic rubble and algal patches.
Reef crest
The reef crest is the highest part of the reef and is exposed at low tide, creating a continuous rim around the flat and lagoon that is breached by tidal channels. This zone includes robust stands of coral and algae, and coral rubble that hosts a diversity of sessile and mobile species.
Reef slope
The reef slope extends from the reef crest to the inter-reefal floor and has dense coral growth and diversity. Fish and invertebrate diversity is also very high in this region. You can observe large oceanic species here, including manta rays and sharks. You can access the slopes easily by boat.
Open ocean
Adjacent to Heron Island Reef is Wistari Reef. A deep channel connects these reefs and is part of the sea surrounding the Capricorn Bunker Group. These waters are rich in pelagic and planktonic species and are part of the migratory path for humpback and minke whales.