Episode 2 | 54m 40s | Video has closed captioning.
Witness the explosion of life on the reef as the wet season approaches: corals spawn, sea birds nest and thousands of turtle hatchlings erupt over the beaches. Soon torrential rain and storms will bring change and upheaval to the delicate ecosystem.
Aired: 07/29/15
Expired: 08/10/15
[ROLLING THUNDER] ♪♪ ♪♪ NARRATOR: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IS THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPLEX LIVING THING ON EARTH, INHABITED BY SOME OF THE STRANGEST CREATURES.
WILDLIFE FROM ALL OVER THE PACIFIC RELY ON THIS PLACE.
PREDATORS AND PREY ARE LOCKED IN A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.
BUT AS SUMMER APPROACHES, THE MOOD IS SHIFTING FROM SURVIVAL TO SEX, ON A GRAND SCALE.
FROM MAJESTIC TO DEADLY, [INAUDIBLE RADIO CHATTER] LIFE ON THE REEF IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
LATE SPRING IN NORTH QUEENSLAND AND THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING.
HUMIDITY ON THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS HAS KICK-STARTED LIFE IN THE UNDERGROWTH.
OUT AT SEA, A PERFECT CONFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE, TIDES AND CURRENTS ARE ABOUT TO TRIGGER THE BIGGEST MARINE EVENT OF THE YEAR.
POWERFUL FORCES OF NATURE ARE PRIMING THE REEF FOR REPRODUCTION.
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE NOVEMBER FULL MOON, BILLIONS OF TINY ORGANISMS HAVE SYNCHRONIZED THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS.
CORALS FOR OVER 1,000 MILES AROUND HAVE SET THEIR BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS TO THE LUNAR CYCLE.
A GRADUAL RISE IN SEA TEMPERATURE HAS RIPENED THE EGGS AND SPERM.
THE SLACK CURRENTS OF THE NEAP TIDE SIGNAL TO CORALS IT'S A SAFE TIME FOR SEX.
IT COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME OVER THE NEXT FIVE NIGHTS.
THE ONLY WAY TO TELL, IS TO BE IN THE WATER.
SKIPPER: CAIRNS VTS, CAIRNS VTS, CAIRNS VTS, THIS IS TUSA 6.
DIVING FOR SAXON REEF FOR A NIGHT DIVE SESSION, 2400.
NARRATOR: THESE DIVERS HAVE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO BE IN THE CENTER OF THE ACTION.
DIVE INSTRUCTOR, PADDY CALWELL, WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.
HE'S BEEN DIVING OUT HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
PADDY: NIGHT DIVING IS MY FAVORITE, BY FAR MY FAVORITE DIVING.
AND TONIGHT, BEING THE CORAL SPAWNING, IT'S LIKE BIG TIME GOOD.
I STILL FIND NEW STUFF EVERY TIME AND THE MORE YOU KNOW THE MORE YOU SEE.
NARRATOR: BUT THE OCEAN GUARDS ITS SECRETS WELL AND YOU NEED TO BE LUCKY TO SEE IT.
PADDY: THE BEST PART IS JUST THE WHOLE BUILDUP OF EMOTION GOING OUT IT'S JUST A GREAT FEELING.
DIVER: AWESOME BABY!
OKAY!
NARRATOR: THE TELLTALE SIGNS OF SPAWNING ONLY APPEAR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE EVENT...
WHEN BUNDLES OF EGG AND SPERM BECOME VISIBLE CLOSE TO THE MOUTH OF THE CORAL POLYPS.
AND THEN, THE COLLECTIVE CLIMAX.
THE SEXUAL TENSION OF A BILLION SEA CREATURES IS BEING RELEASED.
PADDY: YOU WATCH THESE TINY LITTLE BALLS INSIDE THE ANIMAL'S GUTS.
AND LITTLE BALL RISES SLOWLY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM SPINNING.
NARRATOR: THEY POUR INTO THE WATER COLUMN LIKE CHAMPAGNE BUBBLES, FLOATING TO THE SURFACE.
POLYPS OF BRANCHING CORAL HAVE BOTH SPERM AND EGGS BUT THEY CANNOT SELF-FERTILIZE.
THE TIMING OF THEIR RELEASE WITH THE OTHER CORALS AROUND THEM HAS TO BE PERFECT.
MICROSCOPIC SPERM WRIGGLE THROUGHOUT THE WATER IN A BLIND QUEST FOR EGGS.
SOME WILL FIND THEIR MATCH, FERTILIZING AND DEVELOPING INTO TINY CORAL LARVAE.
PADDY: IT'S QUITE AMAZING JUST TO WATCH IT ALL HAPPENING ON THE ONE NIGHT.
IT'S LIKE IT'S SNOWING ON THE WATER EXCEPT THE SNOW IS FALLING UPWARDS INSTEAD OR DOWNWARDS.
AND WITH THE TRANQUILITY OF NIGHT DIVING AND JUST WATCHING THAT LITTLE CIRCLE OF LIGHT IT'S LIKE YOUR OWN PRIVATE LITTLE VIEW INTO THIS AMAZING EVENT.
NARRATOR: SINGLE-SEX CORALS ALSO SEND OUT MISTY CLOUDS, THE FEMALES PRODUCING A MILK OF MICROSCOPIC EGGS WHILE THE MALES SEND OUT A LIGHTER MIST OF SPERM.
PADDY: THE TIDE DROPS AND EVERYTHING'S DRAGGED AWAY FROM THE REEF.
MICROSCOPIC LITTLE LARVAE STAGE HEADS OFF INTO THE DESERT SEAS HUNDREDS OF KILOMETERS FROM WHERE IT WAS BORN AND LANDS IN A FAR AWAY REEF.
NARRATOR: OTHER CREATURES CHOOSE THIS NIGHT TO SPAWN AS WELL.
UNDER THE SEA, GROUP SEX IS SAFE SEX.
THESE ORGANISMS GET THEIR PROTECTION BY REPRODUCING EN MASSE.
MINIATURE PREDATORS SIMPLY RUN OUT OF APPETITE.
BY SUNRISE SLICKS OF EGGS AND SPERM DRIFT ON OCEAN CURRENTS AND COLOR THE BEACHES PINK.
A SICKLY SWEET ODOR HANGS ON THE BREEZE, A REMINDER OF THE NIGHT BEFORE.
THE FERTILIZED EGG DEVELOPS INTO AN EMBRYO WITHIN 24 HOURS AND AFTER ABOUT 5 DAYS, THE TINY BABY CORAL IS READY TO SETTLE AND CREATE A COLONY OF ITS OWN.
BUT THE SPAWNING IS ONLY PART OF THE CORAL REEF CYCLE.
IN DEATH, WAVES AND CURRENTS GRIND CORAL TO SAND WHICH IN TURN FORMS SMALL ISLANDS KNOWN AS CAYS.
AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE REEF ARE THE UNIQUE CAYS OF THE CAPRICORN BUNKER GROUP AND A TEAM OF PARK RANGERS AND VOLUNTEERS LEAD BY DOCTOR GRAHAM HENSON ARE OUT ON NORTH-WEST ISLAND TO COUNT SOME OF ITS SEASONAL GUESTS.
GRAHAM: IT'S A PRETTY SPECTACULAR PLACE TO WORK.
THESE ARE VERY UNUSUAL ISLANDS, A LOT OF CAYS YOU SEE FURTHER NORTH HAVE ALMOST NO VEGETATION ON THEM.
THERE'S A VERY RICH ECOSYSTEM HERE, CASUARINA ON THE EDGE OF THE CAYS, GOING IN TO THESE UNIQUE PISONIA FORESTS.
OF ALL THE PARTS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IN TERMS OF ISLANDS, THIS HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST NATURAL VALUES.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S PRETTY HARD WORKING HERE.
IT'S VERY HOT, IT'S VERY HUMID AND ONCE YOU'RE AWAY FROM THE BEACH IT'S NOT ALL BIKINIS AND MARTINIS, WE'RE ROLLING AROUND IN THE DIRT WITH OUR ARMS IN BURROWS, GETTING PECKED BY BIRDS AND UM, CRAPPED ON TOO.
THE ISLANDS DURING THE SUMMER HOSTS THE LARGEST BREEDING POPULATIONS OF TWO SPECIES OF SEABIRD: THE WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER AND THE BLACK NODDIES, WHICH FORAGE ACROSS THE PACIFIC AND COME HERE DURING THE SUMMER TO BREED.
GLOBALLY SEABIRD POPULATIONS ARE DECLINING FAIRLY RAPIDLY, SO WE WANT TO GET A BIT OF A HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE POPULATIONS.
THE NEXT ONE'S 50 METERS DOWN THE TRACK AND 300 OR 400 METER'S OFF.
SO BIT OF A YONK OFF.
NARRATOR: TODAY THE CREW ARE OUT TO COUNT THE WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATERS, ALSO KNOWN AS MUTTON BIRDS BUT THE FOREST FLOOR IS LIKE HONEYCOMB, WITH THOUSANDS OF UNDERGROUND NESTS.
THEY WEAR SNOWSHOES TO AVOID CRUSHING THE BURROWS AS THEY WALK.
CAN YOU SEE AN EGG AT ALL, OR ANYTHING?
VOLUNTEER: NO, JUST GO SLIGHTLY LOWER WITH THE SCOPE.
SEE, IF YOU GO LEFT.
GRAHAM: AH, THERE WE GO, PARENT ON AN EGG.
NARRATOR: THE BREEDING PAIRS TAKE TURNS GUARDING THE EGG.
VOLUNTEER: SO THIS ONE'S TOO DEEP, I NEED TO FEEL WITH THE [INAUDIBLE].
OW!
THAT ONE'S A BIT FEISTY.
GRAHAM: THAT WAS A BIG ONE.
NARRATOR: EACH BIRD SPENDS A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON THE EGG AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OUT AT SEA FEEDING.
THESE SHEARWATERS GET THEIR NAME FROM THE HABIT OF SOARING JUST ABOVE THE OCEAN SURFACE, FOLLOWING THE CONTOURS OF THE WAVES, SHEARING THE WATER WITH THEIR WINGTIPS.
GRAHAM: YOU'RE ON A PRISTINE ISLAND SURROUNDED BY A WILDLIFE MIGRATION OF ALMOST BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS.
IT'S HARD WORK, BUT YOU GET TO WORK IN WHAT MUST BE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST, BEAUTIFUL AREAS IN THE WORLD.
NARRATOR: EVERY NIGHT JUST AFTER SUNSET, THOUSANDS OF SHEARWATERS RETURN TO THE ISLAND.
EACH BIRD SOMEHOW FINDS ITS WAY BACK THROUGH THE THICK FOREST TO THEIR EAGERLY AWAITING PARTNER.
THE BIRDS PAIR FOR LIFE, BUT ONLY RARELY SPEND ANY TIME TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE A QUICK CATCH-UP AS THEY SWAP OVER CHILDCARE DUTIES.
GRAHAM: IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THAT HE OR SHE WILL BE SITTING DOWN THERE FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS, WAITING FOR THEIR MATE TO RETURN AND TAKE OVER THE TASK OF INCUBATING.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE PRETTY MIND-NUMBINGLY BORING EXISTENCE, STAYING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF A HOLE.
IT WOULD BE LIKE SITTING IN A, I DON'T KNOW, A TOILET CUBICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WAITING FOR YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE TO RETURN.
I'M NOT SURPRISED THEY'RE EXCITED WHEN THEIR MATES COME BACK.
HEY, EASY.
IT'S LIKE WATCHING AN ELEPHANT BLOWING PING PONG BALLS OUT OF ITS NOSE.
IT REALLY IS!
[LAUGHING AND TALKING INAUDIBLY] THESE PISONIA FORESTS ON THESE ISLANDS ARE A VITAL REFUGE FOR THESE BIRDS.
IN SO MANY PLACE ACROSS THE WORLD THEIR BREEDING HABITAT IS BEING COMPROMISED BY, BY HUMAN INTERFERENCE AND HERE YOU HAVE A REMARKABLY INTACT AND TOTALLY UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM WHERE THESE ANIMALS CAN RETURN TO EVERY YEAR TO BREED, BRING UP CHICKS AND IT'S OUR ROLE TO ENSURE THAT THESE ISLANDS ARE HERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY RETURN.
NARRATOR: IN THIS SEASON FOR SEX, FISH ARE ALSO GETTING IN THE MOOD.
SURGEON FISH GET TOGETHER IN MASS SPAWNING SESSIONS CASTING THEIR EGGS AND SPERM INTO THE OPEN SEA.
THE FEMALES LEAD AND THE MALES CHASE.
FERTILIZATION OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT.
BUT SOME FISH TAKE A MORE 'FINS-ON' APPROACH.
WHITE TIP SHARKS START CIRCLING A FEMALE AS SOON AS THEY SENSE SHE'S FERTILE.
PACKS OF MALES ATTEMPT TO SEIZE HER, BITING AND HOLDING HER PECTORAL FINS.
RESISTING, SHE ARCHES HER TAIL, BUT SHE'S SOON PINNED TO THE SEA FLOOR.
THE MALE'S SEX ORGAN IS KNOWN AS A SIPHON SAC.
IT INFLATES BY SUCKING IN SEA WATER AND FLUSHING HIS SPERM INTO THE FEMALE.
UNLESS WATER IS FLOWING OVER THE GILLS, SHARKS CANNOT BREATH, SO HE NEEDS TO GET A WIGGLE ON.
BY NATURE, SHARKS ARE BORN TO BE BRUTAL AND FEMALES CARRY THE SCARS.
IN 5 MONTHS' TIME, SHE'LL GIVE BIRTH TO A LITTER OF 2 OR 3 PUPS, REPLENISHING THE VITAL POPULATION OF PREDATORS.
THE YOUNG WHITE TIPS WILL MAKE THEIR HOME IN THIS SUPER PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH SUPPORTS A HUGE ARRAY OF MARINE LIFE.
IT'S THIS BIODIVERSITY THAT BRINGS TREASURE HUNTERS OF A DIFFERENT KIND TO THESE OFFSHORE WATERS.
PROFESSIONAL FISH COLLECTOR TIM BENNETT AND HIS SONS ARE PREPARING FOR ANOTHER DAY ON THE ABYSS.
THEY WORK FOR A COMPANY CALLED CAIRNS MARINE, WHICH SUPPLIES AQUARIUM FISH ALL OVER THE WORLD.
COLLECTORS IN AMERICA ARE ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST MARKETS.
TIM: WE'RE HOPING TO GET MAYBE 80 SPECIES OF FISH THIS TRIP BUT THE MAIN ONES THAT WE'LL TARGET WILL BE THE ENDEMIC FISH THAT LIVE OUT HERE IN THE CORAL SEA AND NOBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD CATCHES THEM.
THEY'RE HEADING WAY OUT TO HOLMES REEF, WHICH SITS FAR OUT IN THE CORAL SEA.
THESE REEFS RISE FROM THOUSANDS OF FEET OF WATER AND ARE FED BY NUTRIENT-RICH OCEAN CURRENTS.
NARRATOR: TIM HAS A LIST OF FISH TO CATCH FOR PUBLIC AQUARIUMS AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL AS SMALLER ANIMALS FOR DOMESTIC COLLECTORS.
TIM: THE FISH HAVE GOT THINGS THEY'LL DO AND THINGS THAT THEY WON'T DO.
THEY'LL TRAVEL OVER NICE ROCKY GROUND, BUT THEY WON'T PASS OVER SAND.
WE SET THE NET OVER GROUND THAT WE KNOW THEY'LL GO FROM A TO B AND WE CAN'T MAKE THEM DO ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH.
THEIR OPTION IS SOMETHING A BIT SCARY OR GO SOMEWHERE NICE AND IF YOU CAN WORK THAT OUT, THE FISH ARE EASY.
BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO WORK THAT OUT.
ON A TRIP LIKE THIS WE MIGHT TAKE 30 KILOS OF FISH.
THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY FISH AND THEY'RE REALLY VALUABLE BUT IT DOESN'T DAMAGE ANYTHING.
A BIG FISH WILL EAT THAT MUCH FISH IN A WEEK.
NARRATOR: ON THE SURFACE, TIM'S SON TYSON HAS JUST SPOTTED A SPECIES THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO COLLECT FOR A PUBLIC AQUARIUM.
IT'S A SEVEN-FOOT LEOPARD SHARK.
TIM: ALMOST EVERY AQUARIUM IN THE WORLD WE CAN LOOK THROUGH IT AND GO "I KNOW THAT FISH, I KNOW THAT FISH," LOTS OF THEM.
THEY WERE ALL CAUGHT BY CAIRNS MARINE.
OUR FISH, IF THEY WEREN'T IN PUBLIC AQUARIUMS, PEOPLE JUST WOULD NEVER, EVER SEE THEM.
IT'S TOO HARD TO GO WHERE WE GO.
IF PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE THESE FISH THEY REALLY WOULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT THE REEF.
THEY'RE A REALLY GOOD THING TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF HOW BEAUTIFUL THE BARRIER REEF IS.
NARRATOR: WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SINCE STUDYING FISH IN CAPTIVITY IS THAT THEIR LIVES ARE FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN THEIR FACES EVER GIVE AWAY.
ESPECIALLY THE SEX LIVES OF FISH.
UNLIKE THE SPAWNERS AND THE GANGS OF SHARKS, CLOWN FISH HAVE A STRICTLY MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIP.
SHOULD THE FEMALE DIE, THE MALE WILL CHANGE SEX RATHER THAN FIND ANOTHER FEMALE.
THIS ODD ABILITY TO CHANGE SEX IS THOUGHT TO BE A SURVIVAL MECHANISM TO COPE WITH FLUCTUATING POPULATIONS.
SOME FISH DO IT WHEN THEY'RE WIDOWED, OTHERS CHANGE SEX AT A CERTAIN AGE AND SOME SPECIES SWAP GENDER MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THEIR LIFE SPAN.
EVEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST REEF FISH ARE GENDER BENDERS.
MEET WALLY.
HE'S A PROUD NAPOLEON WRASSE THAT LOVES TO HANG AROUND THE TOURIST PLATFORM POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
HE'S GOT A BIG PERSONALITY THAT LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION.
BUT WALLY WASN'T ALWAYS A HE.
SHE BECAME A HE WHEN HER LOCAL AREA NEEDED A NEW BLOKE IN TOWN.
WRASSE REPRODUCTION IS DONE AT A DISTANCE.
AS WALLY DOESN'T NEED A WILLY, THE SEX CHANGE ONLY REQUIRED HER INTERNAL SEX ORGANS TO MORPH FROM PRODUCING EGGS, TO PRODUCING SPERM.
THE WHOLE TRANSFORMATION WAS TRIGGERED BY AN ABSENCE OF ELIGIBLE BACHELORS IN THE AREA.
IT GOES TO SHOW, SOMETIMES THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH FISH IN THE SEA.
TOURIST: COMES UP TO EVERYONE, YOU STROKE HIM AND.
TOURIST 2: HE CAME UP TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND SHE JUST LIKE, GRABBED HIS NOSE AND WENT LIKE THIS AND THEN HE LIKE FLIPPED OVER, IT'S SO CUTE.
NARRATOR: CREATURES LIKE WALLY DRAW THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS A DAY OUT TO THESE REMOTE OFFSHORE REEFS.
KEEPING THOSE PEOPLE SAFE IS A COMPLEX TASK.
[INAUDIBLE RADIO CHATTER].
A QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT AIR RESCUE HELICOPTER HAS JUST BEEN CALLED TO A JOB 50 MILES OUT TO SEA.
RESCUE PILOT: APPROXIMATELY 12:00, 12:05 OVERHEAD.
WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE ACCURATE ETA AS WE GET CLOSER.
[INAUDIBLE RADIO CHATTER].
NARRATOR: PARAMEDIC VALERIE NOBLE IS PREPARING FOR THE WORST.
VALERIE: WE'RE GOING TO A 65-YEAR-OLD GENTLEMAN WHO HAD A FALL.
ACCORDING TO TWO DOCTORS THAT ARE POSSIBLY ON SCENE, HE'S HIT HIS HEAD AND HE'S HAD TWO SEIZURES.
THAT'S ALL THE INFORMATION WE'VE GOT AT THE MOMENT.
NARRATOR: THE CALL HAS COME FROM A TOURIST PLATFORM ON THE OUTER REEF ABOUT 45 MINUTES FLIGHT AWAY.
THE CREW ON THE PLATFORM ARE PREPARING THE SEMI-CONSCIOUS PATIENT TO MOVE HIM TO A WORK PONTOON FOR EVACUATION.
RESCUE PILOT: WE'RE A WHEELED HELICOPTER SO WE CAN'T LAND ON THESE WOODEN PLATFORMS, WE HAVE TO WINCH.
TRYING TO CHASE THE PONTOON AROUND, WHICH IS MOVING UNDERNEATH US, BECOMES A BIT OF A GAME BETWEEN THE CREWMAN AND MYSELF.
WE'VE JUST GOT THE PONTOON NOW TO OUR 1 O'CLOCK POSITION.
[INAUDIBLE].
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 AND HOLD.
WE ARE READY TO WINCH.
VALERIE: IT'S QUITE WINDY, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 20 KNOTS AND THE SEA'S PRETTY ROUGH.
LOSING EQUIPMENT OVER THE EDGE IS QUITE A HAZARD.
OBVIOUSLY US SLIPPING OFF THE SIDES AND FALLING AND HURTING OURSELVES, SO IT'S QUITE RISKY.
NARRATOR: THE TOURIST COLLAPSED AN HOUR AGO AND IS LAPSING IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
VALERIE: IT'S THE POTENTIAL OF HIM HAVING, UH, BLEED ON BRAIN.
IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN THERE'S A POSSIBILITY IT COULD BE FATAL.
SO AS QUICK AS WE CAN WE GET HIM TO A CENTER TO DO A CT SCAN AND SEE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN HIS HEAD.
NARRATOR: THE LOCATION OUT ON THE PLATFORM MAKES IT A TRICKY PLACE FOR A MEDICAL EVACUATION.
WINCHMAN: HOLD POSITION'S GOOD, RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF THE TARGET.
WE'VE GOT A THUMBS UP.
OKAY GREG, WE'RE READY TO RECEIVE THE PATIENT.
STILL GOT GREEN LIGHT IN THE BACK.
BRING YOUR LOAD INSIDE THE DOOR.
MY EYES ARE INSIDE YOUR REFERENCE.
GOT HIM CONNECTED ON [INAUDIBLE] HARNESS.
I HAVE THE STRETCHER SECURED.
RESCUE PILOT: ANY, ANY TIME WHEN YOU'RE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
I THINK IT, IT REALLY IS VERY FULFILLING.
VALERIE: IT'S ONE OF THOSE JOBS YOU CAN'T GET COMPLACENT WITH.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOING IN ON YOUR MIND IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT IT IS THE MOST AWESOME JOB I RECKON.
I GET TO SEE A BIT OF EVERYTHING I GET TO HELP PEOPLE AND I GET TO FLY OVER THE MOST INCREDIBLE PART OF THE WORLD.
NARRATOR: ANOTHER DAYS WORK, OUT IN THE BLUE OFFICE.
BACK OUT IN THE CORAL SEA, AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTOR TIM BENNET IS PREPARING HIS RE-BREATHER FOR A DEEP DIVE IN SEARCH OF RARE FISH SPECIES.
HIS SPECIALIZED GEAR ALLOWS HIM TO DESCEND ABOUT 230 FEET INTO THE ABYSS.
BUT AT THESE DEPTHS HIS MIND AND BODY ARE BEING PUSHED TO THE LIMIT AND HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON THE EQUIPMENT.
TIM: YOU'VE GOTTA TAKE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CHECKS A DONE CORRECTLY AND THAT THE UNIT IS GOING TO OPERATE NICELY.
IF YOU DO ANYTHING WRONG ON A RE-BREATHER YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT OF IT.
THE POTENTIAL FOR A FATALITY IS JUST WAY HIGHER THAN ON SCUBA.
NARRATOR: AS HE DESCENDS, COLORS GRADUALLY DISAPPEAR.
REDS ARE THE FIRST TO GO, COMPLETELY VANISHING AT JUST 20 FEET.
ORANGE AND THEN YELLOW ARE GONE BY 65 FEET LEAVING ONLY A GREEN AND BLUE WORLD.
TIM: I LOVE THE DEEP WATER, IT FEELS LIKE HOME.
THE SUBDUED LIGHTING, JUST NOT SO MUCH CONFUSION.
NARRATOR: DOWN AT 230 FEET THE WORLD IS AN EERIE LANDSCAPE, IN NEAR PERPETUAL DARKNESS.
TIM IS THE ONLY PERSON IN AUSTRALIA COLLECTING FISH AT THESE DEPTHS.
IT'S DANGEROUS WORK, BUT THE ANIMALS HE FINDS ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
TIM: DON'T SPEND SO LONG ON THE BOTTOM SO YOU GET DOWN AND FIND ONE NICE SCHOOL OF FISH POP A NET ROUND THEM AND DO ONE SCOOP.
NO BUBBLES ON A RE-BREATHER, NICE AND QUIET, YOU CAN APPROACH THE FISH BETTER.
NARRATOR: THE RE-BREATHER IS CONSTANTLY RECYCLING TIM'S BREATH BUT HE CAN'T GET COMPLACENT.
AT THESE DEPTHS TIM IS ALSO SEVERELY IMPAIRED BY A MIND BENDING CONDITION CALLED NITROGEN NARCOSIS.
HIGH PRESSURE ON THE GASES HE IS BREATHING CAUSES AN INTOXICATING EFFECT THAT CAN LEAD TO FATAL MISTAKES.
HE NEEDS TO KEEP FOCUSED AND QUICKLY GET BACK TO SHALLOW WATER.
TIM HAS DISCOVERED SEVERAL NEW SPECIES OF FISH ON THESE DEEP DIVES.
IT WILL TAKE HIM AROUND AN HOUR AND A HALF TO ASCEND SAFELY, STOPPING AT DEPTH INTERVALS TO SLOWLY PURGE THE NITROGEN THAT HAS BUILT UP IN HIS TISSUES TO PREVENT DEADLY DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.
THE FISH HE'S CAUGHT ALSO FACE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THEY'LL BE LIFTED SLOWLY TO THE BOAT OVER THE COURSE OF SIX DAYS.
CLOSER TO SHORE ON THE SHALLOW LAGOON FLOOR LIES ANOTHER VITAL ECOSYSTEM.
SEA GRASS BEDS ARE FOUND ALL ALONG THE 1200 MILES OF BARRIER REEF COASTLINE.
THEY PROVIDE BREEDING GROUNDS, HOME AND SUSTENANCE TO A HUGE RANGE OF ANIMALS, INCLUDING THIS AWESOME CREATURE.
DUGONGS CAN GROW TO 880 POUNDS AND LIVE FOR 70 YEARS.
THEY PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN KEEPING THIS ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY, BY PLOWING THE BOTTOM AS THEY GRAZE.
THEY WERE ONCE COMMON ALL OVER THE INDO-PACIFIC, BUT HUMAN PRESSURES HAVE PUSHED THEM ONTO THE ENDANGERED LIST.
AUSTRALIA HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF THESE GENTLE HERBIVORES AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REPRESENTS THE SPECIES' BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
SOME OF THE BIGGEST HERDS ON THE REEF ARE FOUND AROUND HINCHINBROOK ISLAND, IN RUSSELL BUTLER'S COUNTRY.
RUSSELL: ABOUT 1990 I KEPT HEARING ABOUT HOW DUGONG IS GOING DOWN IN NUMBERS, YOU KNOW.
ENDANGERED SPECIES.
SO I'M THINKING, WHY?
AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF THE NETS THAT WERE IN THE AREA WERE TRAPPING THEM AND THEY WERE DROWNING IN THE NET.
I THOUGHT MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT A BAN ON IT, SO WE DID.
NARRATOR: WORKING WITH A RANGE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, RUSSELL MANAGED TO CHANGE THE RULES GOVERNING COMMERCIAL NETTING IN HIS AREA.
AND HE HELPED TO SET UP AN INDIGENOUS RANGER GROUP TO PROTECT THE PLACE.
THE MORTALITY IN THOSE NETS HAS BEEN REDUCED.
BUT THERE'S BEEN AN, AN EVEN BIGGER CHANGE HE'S LED TO TRY AND SAVE THE SPECIES.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ] INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ALL ALONG THE COAST HAVE HUNTED DUGONG FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN REMEMBER.
BUT BEFORE THE ADVENT OF OUTBOARD MOTORS THE NUMBERS TAKEN WERE PROBABLY FAR LOWER THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
RUSSELL: WE ATE DUGONG TOO, BUT I THOUGHT THERE'S NO REAL NEED TO KILL AND EAT THIS ANIMAL, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ALL THIS OTHER TUCKER.
BARRAMUNDI, CRAB, MUSSELS, THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD HERE.
SO YOU'VE GOT CHOICES.
AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT CHOICES THAT MEANS YOUR COUNTRY'S RICH.
WE DON'T HUNT TURTLE OR DUGONG HERE AND THEY'VE COME BACK IN BIG NUMBERS.
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS COME OUT OF BEING ON COUNTRY AND LOOKING AFTER IT.
NARRATOR: RUSSELL IS THE TRADITIONAL OWNER OF THE HINCHENBROOK AREA AND THE KEEPER OF ITS DREAMTIME STORIES.
ONE OF THOSE STORIES RELATES DIRECTLY TO THE LAST SEA LEVEL RISE AROUND 10,000 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE REEF AS WE KNOW IT TODAY WAS FORMING.
RUSSELL: I'M THE YOUNGEST OF EIGHT CHILDREN.
I WAS STUCK WITH MY GRANDMOTHER BECAUSE MY MUM DIED WHEN I WAS A LITTLE PERSON.
SHE TAUGHT ME ALL ABOUT OUR LAND AND HOW OUR OLD PEOPLE COME FROM WAY OUT THERE ON THE BARRIER REEF, ON GULAN, THAT'S WHERE WE USED TO LIVE, WHERE THE GREAT CONTINENTAL SHELF IS.
THE MUDSKIPPER AND THE MOOGOOGERA, WHICH IS CRAB.
WHEN THE LAST LOT OF PEOPLE COME FROM GULAN THEY COME BACK THIS WAY SWIMMING BECAUSE THE WHOLE LAND WAS GETTING FLOODED BY SEA CHANGE.
ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE LAND WAS WAVING THEIR ARM AND SAYING "OVER HERE, OVER HERE, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE" AND THAT WAS A CRAB WAVING HIS ARM AROUND AND THE EBEE JUST COME OVER, WHICH IS US AND SWUM UP AND SAT ON THE MUD THERE WITH THEM AND THEY LIVE TOGETHER NOW IN THE MANGROVE HERE.
NARRATOR: THE HINCHENBROOK MANGROVES IN RUSSELL'S COUNTRY ARE SOME OF THE LARGEST ON THE REEF COAST.
THESE TIDAL SYSTEMS ACT AS A HUGE NATURAL FILTER, CAPTURING MUCH OF THE SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS BEFORE THEY HIT THE SEA.
THEY'RE A RICH AND PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE SORT OF PLACE MOST PEOPLE WANT TO HANG OUT.
MUD, CROCS AND A PLETHORA OF BITING INSECTS MAKE THEM A LITTLE CHALLENGING FOR HUMAN BEINGS.
BUT IF YOU WANT A HEALTHY REEF, YOU NEED HEALTHY MANGROVES.
MARK READ, FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY, IS OUT CHECKING ON THE HEALTH OF THIS SYSTEM.
MARK: ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO TAKE ON THE JOB OF MARKETING MANGROVES IS GOING TO BE, IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PRETTY GOOD, BECAUSE THEY ARE, THEY AREN'T PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY FOR HUMAN BEINGS.
AH, SAND FLIES DRIVE YOU CRAZY.
I THINK SHREK WOULD EVEN BE CHALLENGED BY THE SAND FLIES AND MOSQUITOS BUT WE CAN'T DISMISS THEM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO THINK OF THESE AS BEING THE LUNGS OF THE BARRIER REEF.
THEY PROVIDE AN AMAZING HABITAT FOR A VARIETY OF SPECIES.
YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE THEY'RE A NURSERY HABITAT FOR SO MANY FISH AS LITTLE ONES TO ACTUALLY GET PROTECTION.
SO MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY COME RIGHT UP INTO THE MANGROVES HERE AND FEED AND THEN AS THEY GROW OLDER THEY MOVE BACK OUT.
BUT THERE'S EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES UP IN HERE.
THE GREEN TURTLES COME UP IN HERE AND FEED ON THE VEGETATION, CROCODILES WILL COME UP IN HERE, ALL THE BIRDS WILL COME IN HERE AND ROOST AND FEED, WE GET FLYING FOXES, IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT'S JUST BURSTING WITH LIFE.
EVERY TIME I COME INTO THESE PLACES IT'S; YOU CAN ALMOST GET ZEN-ISH ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE SO PEACEFUL AND IT'S LIKE SO MANY PLACES ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, IF YOU TAKE THE TIME JUST TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL AWED OF JUST HOW SPECIAL IT IS.
NARRATOR: AS SPRING MOVES INTO SUMMER, THINGS ARE HEATING UP IN THE MANGROVES AND RIVERS.
SALTWATER CROCODILES HAVE BEGUN NESTING.
MALES BECOME EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND TERRITORIAL.
FEMALES GUARD THEIR NESTS, WAITING FOR THEIR LITTLE DINOSAURS TO EMERGE.
THE COASTAL WETLANDS AND MANGROVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STRONGHOLD FOR THESE AWESOME PREDATORS.
BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED FOR THEM OVER THE LAST CENTURY.
THE SUGAR CANE INDUSTRY HAS UNDERGONE A RAPID EXPANSION ALONG THE REEF COAST.
MANY COASTAL FORESTS AND WETLANDS HAVE BEEN CLEARED TO MAKE WAY FOR AGRICULTURE.
AND THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHEN THE RAIN FALLS HARD, FERTILIZERS AND LOOSE TOPSOIL RUN OFF THE FARMS AND INTO THE SEA.
THE MOST DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THE FERTILIZER RUNOFF HAS BEEN THE EXPLOSION IN THE NUMBERS OF THIS CREATURE.
MEET ACANTHASTER PLANKI, OR THE CROWN OF THORNS STARFISH.
IT'S A NATIVE SPECIES THAT FEEDS ON CORAL.
THEY HAVE VENOMOUS SPINES AND LIKE AQUATIC TERMINATORS, WHEN YOU CUT THEM INTO PIECES, THE PIECES GROW INTO NEW STARFISH.
WHAT'S MORE EACH FEMALE CAN PRODUCE 60 MILLION EGGS A YEAR.
WHEN THEY REACH PLAGUE PROPORTIONS, THIS IS WHAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND.
QUEENSLAND PARKS AND WILDLIFE RANGERS CONSTANTLY MONITOR THE CROWN OF THORNS POPULATION.
THEY'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR 40% OF CORAL LOSS IN THE LAST FEW DECADES.
EXCESS NUTRIENTS IN THE WATER BOOST STARFISH LARVAE, LEADING TO A BOOM OF THESE DESTRUCTIVE CREATURES.
RANGER: YEAH, LOOKING AT THIS ROD WE'VE STILL GOT ABOUT ANOTHER TEN TRANSECTS TO GO.
ROD: HOW'S HE LOOKING?
RANGER: HE'S STILL THERE.
DRAGGED ALONG ALL DAY LIKE A BIG SHARK LURE.
THE GUYS IN THE WATER THEY'RE RECORDING ALL THIS.
WE'RE NOT JUST COUNTING CROWN OF THORNS AND WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ETCETERA, WERE ALSO LOOKING AT CORAL TYPES AND DOMINANT CORAL TYPES.
WE'VE DONE ABOUT CLOSE TO 1500 KILOMETERS OF REEF, SO IT'S NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST DATA SETS OF ITS TYPE IN THE WORLD.
WE NOW KNOW WHAT THE PARTICULAR MAKEUP OF THAT REEF IS AND YOU GO RIGHTY-OH THAT'S WHERE POTENTIAL OUTBREAKS COULD OCCUR BECAUSE THAT'S THE SORT OF CORAL THAT THE CROWN OF THORNS ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO LIKE TO EAT.
THESE GUYS CAN DO UP TO 85 NAUTICAL MILES IN A TRIP.
SHOULD BE COMING UP, YEAH THERE HE IS.
ROD: RIGHTY-OH, YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL THE MINOTAURS, KNUCKLES DRAGGING ALONG THE GROUND.
NARRATOR: ALL JOKES ASIDE, THE LATEST SURVEY HAS JUST REVEALED SOME ALARMING RESULTS.
HIGH NUMBERS OF CROWN OF THORNS IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR.
THERE HAVE BEEN THREE DESTRUCTIVE OUTBREAKS RECORDED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
THIS COULD SIGNAL THE START OF NUMBER FOUR.
THE OUTBREAKS APPEAR TO BEGIN IN THE NORTH AND THEN SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF ANIMALS SPAWN, MOVING THE OUTBREAKS SOUTH WITH THE PREVAILING CURRENTS.
IT CAN TAKE ABOUT 15 YEARS FOR AN OUTBREAK TO TRAVEL FROM LIZARD ISLAND IN THE NORTH RIGHT DOWN TO THE SOUTHERN REACHES OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, LEAVING BEHIND THEM A PATH OF DESTRUCTION.
AT THE LIZARD ISLAND RESEARCH STATION, PROFESSOR MORGAN PRATCHETT AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING TO TRY AND HALT THIS LATEST OUTBREAK.
MORGAN: THE DAMAGE IS PRETTY PROGRESSED SO CORAL COVER AROUND THAT POINT THERE IS LESS THAN 10% AND IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CROWN OF THORNS THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY ABOUT 200 PER HECTARE BUT IT'S STILL ENOUGH TO REALLY CAUSE SOME DAMAGE TO THE REEF.
THERE'S PRETTY MUCH NOTHING LIKE IT, YOU KNOW ONE OF THE EARLY SOLUTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAD TO MANAGE THIS PROBLEM WAS TO GO OUT AND CUT THEM INTO PIECES AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BIT OF AN OLD WIVES TALE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CUT A STARFISH IN HALF YOU GET TWO STARFISH, BUT AT THE MOMENT IN THE TANKS OUT THERE WE'VE CUT THEM INTO THIRDS AND QUARTERS TO SEE WHAT PROPORTION OF THOSE CAN ALSO SURVIVE AND AT THE MOMENT THEY'RE ALL LOOKING PRETTY HEALTHY.
NARRATOR: HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THESE CREATURES FOR 20 YEARS AND HIS TEAM HAVE JUST HAD A BREAKTHROUGH THAT COULD HELP TURN THE TIDE ON CROWN OF THORNS.
MORGAN: WE WANTED TO DEVELOP A SINGLE SHOT METHOD WHERE WE COULD JUST INJECT THEM ONCE AND BE SURE THAT THEY WERE STILL GOING TO DIE AND SO WHAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH IS A PRODUCT MADE FROM BOVINE BILE, DEHYDRATED BILE TAKEN FROM COWS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN SLAUGHTERED AND WE JUST TRY AND INJECT IT INTO THE TOP OF THE ARM AND JUST GIVE IT ONE TEN MIL INJECTION.
NARRATOR: THE METHOD IS ALREADY IN FIELD TRIALS ON A CROWN OF THORNS ERADICATION VESSEL AND THE FIRST RESULTS ARE STAGGERING.
THE BILE INJECTION SYSTEM IS AT LEAST TEN TIMES MORE EFFICIENT THAN PREVIOUS METHODS.
WE NOW HAVE THE MEANS TO BRING THESE CREATURES UNDER CONTROL, REVOLUTIONIZING OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT REEFS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
MORGAN: NEARLY ALL OF THE STARFISH WILL DIE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
IF WE START THE CONTROL REALLY EARLY ON AND WE CAN REALLY ISOLATE WHERE THE STARFISH OUTBREAKS START THEN I THINK IT IS ENTIRELY FEASIBLE THAT WE COULD CONTROL STARFISH OUTBREAKS USING A SINGLE INJECTION METHOD.
NARRATOR: WHILE SCIENTISTS FIGHT TO CONTROL THE OUTBREAK IN THE NORTH, AN EPIC MIGRATION IS OCCURRING AT THE REEFS SOUTHERN TIP.
RESORT OWNER, PETER GASH IS HEADING OUT THERE.
HE RUNS A REMOTE ECO RESORT ON LADY ELLIOT ISLAND, WHICH IS A HOT SPOT FOR MANTA RAYS.
PETER: I THINK WHAT REALLY THRILLS ME ABOUT THE WILDLIFE IS THAT IT'S GETTING BETTER.
LADY ELLIOTT IS ACTUALLY A RECOVERING MINE SITE.
IT SAT BARE FOR 100 YEARS, NO ONE CARED ABOUT THE PLACE.
AND A YOUNG BLOKE CAME OUT THERE IN AN AIRPLANE, PROBABLY A BIT SIMILAR TO MYSELF, BUILT AN AIRSTRIP AND HE STARTED TO BUILD A TINY TOURIST RESORT AND THEN HE PLANTED TREES.
AND HE'S RECOVERED THAT AND WE'VE CONTINUED THAT TRADITION AND LADY ELLIOTT IS AN AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL GREEN SITE NOW.
TOURISM BRINGS ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM.
IT BRINGS PEOPLE OUT HERE WITH THEIR PASSION TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND FALL IN LOVE WITH IT, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY IF YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN, THAT YOU CAN REALLY PROTECT IT.
NARRATOR: THE RESORT ALSO SUPPORTS REEF RESEARCH AND DOCTOR CATHY TOWNSEND IS OUT HERE RUNNING PROJECT MANTA.
SHE'S TRACKING THESE GRACEFUL OCEANIC GIANTS.
CATHY: LADY ELLIOTT IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE CENTER OF THE MANTA UNIVERSE IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT IS REALLY CLOSE TO THE CONTINENTAL SHELF, SO IT'S THE FIRST ISLAND REEF, OR CAY REEF, ON THE VERY START OF THE SOUTHERN END OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF.
AND NUTRIENT-RICH WATER GOES STRAIGHT PAST THE ISLAND, SO WE END UP HAVING THE ANIMALS FEEDING AND WE FIND THEM RELATIVELY CONSISTENTLY AROUND THIS AREA.
NARRATOR: TODAY SHE'S HEADING OUT TO INSTALL AN UNDERWATER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.
A LISTENING DEVICE WILL BE POSITIONED NEAR THE SEVERANCE SHIPWRECK.
THE PROJECT MANTA TEAM HAS ATTACHED ACOUSTIC TAGS TO A NUMBER OF STUDY ANIMALS AND THESE EMIT AN INDIVIDUAL ULTRASONIC PING THAT IS RECORDED BY THE RECEIVERS.
CATHY: WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX LISTENING STATIONS SITUATED AROUND LADY ELLIOTT REEF AND EVERY TIME AN ANIMAL COMES WITHIN 500 METERS RADIUS OF ONE THESE LISTENING STATIONS, IT PICKS UP THAT THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN PAST.
ONE OF THE REALLY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT WORKING WITH MANTA RAYS, UNLIKE MANY WILD ANIMALS, IS THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY QUITE CURIOUS.
THEY ACTUALLY COME TOWARDS YOU AND HANG OVER YOUR HEAD AND COME SO CLOSE THAT THEIR EYE IS JUST RIGHT THERE.
NARRATOR: THE LISTENING STATIONS ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION ON BOTH DAILY MOVEMENTS AND THE LONG DISTANCE TRAVELS THESE ANIMALS UNDERTAKE.
CATHY: MANTA RAYS ARE A LARGE ROAMING ANIMAL.
THEY'LL MOVE UP TO 700 KILOMETERS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.
THE ANIMALS, WE SUSPECT, LIVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60 TO 80 YEARS OLD, WHICH IS THE SAME SORT OF LIFESPAN AS A WHALE OR AN ELEPHANT, VERY LONG LIVED SPECIES.
NARRATOR: THE LISTENING STATIONS CATHY'S INSTALLED AREN'T JUST PICKING UP MANTA RAYS.
ANYONE THAT'S WEARING AN ACOUSTIC TAG GETS SCANNED BY THE UNDERWATER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.
CATHY: WE'VE HAD BULL SHARKS AND GREAT WHITES BEING PICKED UP ON OUR SYSTEM WHERE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY TAGGED DOWN AT SYDNEY OR VICTORIA.
NARRATOR: AS WELL AS LISTENING FOR TAGGED ANIMALS, THE TEAM KEEPS A PHOTOGRAPHIC FILE OF ALL THE MANTA RAYS THEY ENCOUNTER.
BACK ON LAND CATHY AND HER TEAM GO THROUGH THE IMAGES COLLECTED TO FIND A MATCH IN HER DATABASE.
CATHY: LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT.
THEY HAVE A VERY DISTINCT SPOT AND DOT PATTERN ON THEIR UNDERSIDE.
AND THAT IS UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.
IF WE CAN GET SOMEBODY WHO'S OUT DIVING AND THEY CAN GET UNDERNEATH THE ANIMAL AND TAKE THAT PHOTOGRAPH, WITH THIS ONE SINGLE PHOTOGRAPH, WE CAN GET A LOT OF INFORMATION.
RESEARCHER: SHE'S GONNA COME RIGHT OVER THE CAMERA.
CATHY: OH, THAT'S PERFECT.
PERFECT ID SHOT.
RESEARCHER: THERE WE GO.
CATHY: OH YEAH.
THIS IS SCORPIO, SHE'S A FEMALE THAT WE'VE SEEN QUITE FREQUENTLY ACTUALLY.
RESEARCHER: YEP, THAT'S DEFINITELY THE SAME MARKINGS THERE.
CATHY: YEP.
NARRATOR: TO UNDERSTAND THE MOVEMENTS OF THESE ANIMALS, CATHY HAS ALSO SET UP A LARGE-SCALE CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT.
DIVERS FROM ALL OVER AUSTRALIA CAN UPLOAD THEIR MANTA BELLY PHOTOS TO THE PROJECT MANTA FACEBOOK PAGE WITH A DATE AND LOCATION.
AND THERE ARE NOW ALMOST A THOUSAND MANTAS SHARING THEIR TRAVELS ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
CATHY: WE'VE HAD SOMEBODY BACK IN 1985 HERE ON LADY ELLIOT ISLAND THAT SUBMITTED A PHOTOGRAPH OF TAURUS AND WE SAW TAURUS THE OTHER AND SO YOU KNOW, SHE'S WHAT, 39?
BY HAVING THIS HUGE TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE STUDY WE, WE GAIN SO MUCH MORE THAN IF WE WERE TRYING TO WORK ALONE.
NARRATOR: AS SUMMER HEATS UP, THE ATMOSPHERE IS ELECTRIC OCEAN SQUALLS HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE.
OUT ON NORTH-WEST ISLAND, DR. GRAHAM HENSON AND HIS VOLUNTEERS ARE COMING TO THE END OF THEIR SEABIRD SURVEY.
GRAHAM: IT WAS A SLIGHTLY ROUGH NIGHT FOR US BUT A LOT ROUGHER FOR THE BLACK NODDIES.
THERE'S PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF THEM KNOCKED OUT OF THE NESTS AND I'M GUESSING THE NODDIES IN THE LOWER NEST ARE PROBABLY OK THE NODDIES IN THE HIGHER NEST ARE THE FIRST ONES TO TOPPLE OUT.
VOLUNTEER: OH SO SWEET!
POOR LITTLE THING SHE'S GETTING SO STRESSED.
RESEARCHER: WE CAN'T ALWAYS RETURN THEM TO THE TREE THEY FELL OUT OF 'CAUSE THERE'S NO REAL WAY OF KNOWING.
WE JUST TRY AND GET THEM HIGH ENOUGH SO THAT THEY'RE OFF THE GROUND SO THEY HAVE A BIT OF A CHANCE.
NARRATOR: THE PISONIA TREES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL HABITAT FOR THESE BIRDS.
BUT THEY ALSO DROP SOMETHING LETHAL ONTO THE FOREST FLOOR.
GRAHAM: YEAH, HERE'S AN HORRIFIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT OCCURS HERE ON THE CAYS.
THIS IS A BLACK NODDY CHICK.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S COVERED WITH THESE ADHESIVE, STICKY AND ALSO VELCRO LIKE BURRS, THESE ARE THE SEEDS OF THE PISONIA TREES.
THIS IS HOW THOUSANDS OF THESE NODDIES MEET A VERY LITERALLY STICKY END HERE.
IF THERE IS AN UPSIDE TO THIS STORY, THE BODIES WILL DECOMPOSE IN THE SOIL, ENRICHING THE SOIL, ALLOWING THE TREES TO PROSPER AND THE TREES ARE A VITAL BREEDING HABITAT FOR THE, FOR THE NODDIES.
THE BIRDS ARE RELIANT ON THE ISLANDS BUT ALSO THE ISLANDS THEMSELVES ARE ENTIRELY RELIANT ON THE BIRDS.
NARRATOR: THIS YEAR'S SURVEY IS NOW COMPLETE AND ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF WEDGETAIL SHEARWATERS WERE DOWN, THE BLACK NODDIES APPEAR TO BE STABLE.
GRAHAM: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IS SO DIVERSE FROM ITS NORTHERN EXTREMITIES TO THE SOUTH THAT YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE SWATHE TO ENSURE THAT THE FULL DIVERSITY OF THE REEF AND THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE REEF CAN PERSIST.
BUT IT WOULD BE A CRYING SHAME TO SEE IT GO FOR SHORT-TIME GAIN OR FOR THE SAKE OF SPENDING A BIT OF MONEY TO SECURE IT.
WHICH IS NOT BY ANY MEANS BEYOND OUR, OUR CAPACITY.
IT HAS A, A VALUE WAY BEYOND THE ECONOMIC AND TO REDUCE IT TO THAT IS, IS TO MISS THE POINT I THINK, IT'S A YOU KNOW, IT'S AN AWESOME, LITERALLY AN AWESOME PLACE TO BE.
"LIFE ON THE REEF" IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD.
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