Distribution of two species of sea snakes, Aipysurus laevis and Emydocephalus annulatus, in the southern Great Barrier Reef: metapopulation dynamics, marine protected areas and conservation

Coral Reefs ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lukoschek ◽  
H. Heatwole ◽  
A. Grech ◽  
G. Burns ◽  
H. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Metapopulation Dynamics ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Sea Snakes

Marine Protected Areas

Overfishing ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Hilborn ◽  
Ulrike Hilborn
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Northeast Coast

What are marine protected areas? One of the crown jewels of marine ecosystems is the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) off the northeast coast of Australia. The reef stretches along 2,600 km of the Queensland coast and consists of 900 islands and 2,900 reefs. It...

Establishing Representative No-Take Areas in the Great Barrier Reef: Large-Scale Implementation of Theory on Marine Protected Areas

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1733-1744 ◽  
Author(s):  
LEANNE FERNANDES ◽  
JON DAY ◽  
ADAM LEWIS ◽  
SUZANNE SLEGERS ◽  
BRIGID KERRIGAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Barrier Reef

Growth, sexual dimorphism, and population biology of the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis, on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Burns ◽  
Harold Heatwole
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Sea Snake ◽  
Sea Snakes ◽  
Equivalent Length ◽  
Reef Edge

AbstractThe olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis (Lacépède) grows at a rate of 0.22-0.95 cm/month, with young animals growing faster than older ones. Males reach sexual maturity in their third year and females in their fourth or fifth year. There is sexual dimorphism in size, with females larger than males; at snout-vent lengths greater than 80 cm, females are heavier than males of equivalent length. Small snakes were uncommon. Apparent sexratio favours males in winter but moves toward equality or even a preponderance of females in summer, probably reflecting changes in reproductive behaviour. Numbers of snakes are approximately 0.70-0.86 snakes per metre of reef edge. Olive sea snakes live to about 15 years or older.

Distribution of sea snakes in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: observations from 10 yrs of baited remote underwater video station (BRUVS) sampling

Coral Reefs ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 777-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Udyawer ◽  
Mike Cappo ◽  
Colin A. Simpfendorfer ◽  
Michelle R. Heupel ◽  
Vimoksalehi Lukoschek
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Underwater Video ◽  
Sea Snakes ◽  
Marine Park

scholarly journals Mistaken identity may explain why male sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis, Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) “attack” scuba divers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim P. Lynch ◽  
Ross A. Alford ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Mistaken Identity ◽  
Sea Snakes ◽  
Scuba Divers ◽  
Focal Animal ◽  
Tropical Coral ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractScuba-divers on tropical coral-reefs often report unprovoked “attacks” by highly venomous Olive sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis). Snakes swim directly towards divers, sometimes wrapping coils around the diver’s limbs and biting. Based on a focal animal observation study of free-ranging Olive sea snakes in the southern Great Barrier Reef, we suggest that these “attacks” are misdirected courtship responses. Approaches to divers were most common during the breeding season (winter) and were by males rather than by female snakes. Males also made repeated approaches, spent more time with the diver, and exhibited behaviours (such as coiling around a limb) also seen during courtship. Agitated rapid approaches by males, easily interpreted as “attacks”, often occurred after a courting male lost contact with a female he was pursuing, after interactions between rival males, or when a diver tried to flee from a male. These patterns suggest that “attacks” by sea snakes on humans result from mistaken identity during sexual interactions. Rapid approaches by females occurred when they were being chased by males. Divers that flee from snakes may inadvertently mimic the responses of female snakes to courtship, encouraging males to give chase. To prevent escalation of encounters, divers should keep still and avoid retaliation.

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