Likewise,70% of all GBR hard coral species have previously
been recorded on inshore reefs of the Whitsunday
Islands (Devantier et al., 1998). Our study therefore
added evidence to the suggestion that turbid shallow
inshore reefs can represent highly diverse coral reef
habitats. The inshore reefs of Princess Charlotte Bay
that have remained relatively undisturbed by terrestrial
runoff and other anthropogenic influences were particu-
larly rich, both in ecological and aesthetic terms. Other
inshore reefs closer to human influences appear depau-
perate in comparison, but it has been unclear whethe