What habitats are in the Great Barrier Reef?

Coral reefs: Coral reefs are the main habitat of the Great Barrier Reef. They are made up of colonies of living coral animals that build hard external skeletons out of calcium carbonate. Coral reefs provide food and shelter for a wide variety of marine life, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms.

Seagrass beds: Seagrass beds are made up of dense underwater meadows of seagrasses, which are flowering plants that grow in the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Seagrass beds provide food and shelter for a variety of marine life, including dugongs, turtles, fish, and crustaceans.

Mangroves: Mangroves are coastal forests that grow in the intertidal zone of the Great Barrier Reef. Mangroves provide food and shelter for a variety of marine life, including fish, crabs, and birds.

Sand flats: Sand flats are areas of shallow water with a sandy bottom. Sand flats are home to a variety of marine life, including clams, worms, and starfish.

Rocky shores: Rocky shores are areas of coastline that are made up of rocky substrate. Rocky shores are home to a variety of marine life, including barnacles, mussels, and limpets.

Open ocean: The open ocean is the deepest and most pelagic habitat of the Great Barrier Reef. The open ocean is home to a variety of marine life, including whales, dolphins, sharks, and tuna.