Lady Elliot Island has become a living laboratory for the Leaf to Reef team, and by integrating terrestrial and marine studies, they aim to reveal how restoration efforts influence the entire island ecosystem – from leaf to reef.

Bird Population Surveys & Monitoring

Regular counts track nesting seabirds and migratory visitors, including detailed bird-tree usage studies. Genetic sampling and song recordings focus on Capricorn Silvereyes, while Red-tailed Tropicbirds are monitored through banding and nest site tracking.

Turtle Health Assessments

Visual health checks, genetic sampling, and tagging of juvenile green and hawksbill turtles provide data on growth and population dynamics.

Epaulette Shark Research

Monitoring of spot patterns, genetic diversity, and population structure reveals strong genetic differentiation and unique populations at LEI.

Manta Ray Tracking and Genetics

Satellite and acoustic tagging, photo-identification, and population genetic studies elucidate manta ray movements, residency, and connectivity across the region.

Groundwater and Nutrient Flow Studies

Bore water sampling combined with novel LoupeEM geophysical mapping shows how revegetation affects groundwater levels and how freshwater nutrient discharge impacts surrounding reef systems.

Marine Ecosystem Monitoring

Reef flat benthic and fish surveys, including stereo video transects, document species abundance and biomass, highlighting nutrient hotspots and spatial variation in reef communities.

Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Life

Underwater sound traps record marine megafauna vocalisations, detecting uncommon species such as Dwarf Minke Whales and providing indicators of reef health.

Biodiversity Documentation and Citizen Science

Remote camera traps, staff photo submissions, and social media outreach contribute to cataloguing over 500 marine species and detecting potential new species, enhancing the island’s biodiversity baseline.