Research

1928/29
Due to Low Isles being the southern most reefs that contained both a coral cay and a mangrove island, and the fact that it was serviced by lightships Low Isles was elected as the sight of the 1928/29 Great Barrier Reef Expedition.
The Expedition incorporated a number of academic disciplines. These studies included detail plankton and hydrographical investigations. Detail surveys of phytoplankton, zooplankton, water chemistry and sedimentation around Low Isles carried out
This was the most ambitious marine expedition of its day. C. M. Yonge and his research team discovered countless new species of marine organisms and conducted experiments that were farsighted. They created base line data that can be used today as a reference for comparison to today’s data to measure mans impact on the Great Barrier Reef.
A comprehensive study of the physiology of corals feeding, digestion, excretion and respiration and the influence and significance of zooxanthellae were also undertaken. Results from the expedition were published in the British Natural Museum in six large volumes. (Low Isles Preservation Society website)
The findings of this expedition established our understanding of coral reef ecology.

Current research
Eye on the Reef Monitoring Program, a marine and environmental data collecting system is a partnership between reef managers, tourism operators, and coral reef researchers is undertaken by the crew at the sites we visit (guests are invited to assist). Data is used in the Marine Park Authority decision making proces