Ningaloo_Reflections_on_the_Reef_Preview.compressed.pdf

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NINGALOO ƪ NINGALOO Reflections on the Reef

Transcript of Ningaloo_Reflections_on_the_Reef_Preview.compressed.pdf

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NINGALOO��ƪ�������������������

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NINGALOO Reflections on the Reef

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Leith Holtzman

NINGALOO Reflections on the Reef

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Ningaloo: Re!ections on the ReefLeith Holtzman

Photography Leith Holtzman of Indian Ocean ImageryAdditional photography supplied by Violeta Brosig, Krystal Keynes, Je! & Sabine Zuccolo, Esther McDonald and Wayne Osborn

Published in Australia in 2015 by RenBro [email protected]

ISBN: 978-1-925198-01-0

Copyright © 2015 Leith Holtzmanwww.indianoceanimagery.com.au

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisation), in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission in writing from the publisher.

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Getting the most from this book

This book is not just beautiful to look at - it is a unique multimedia reading experience. Not only can you can read the words on the page and marvel at the stunning images but, if you choose, you can more fully immerse yourself in the underwater world at Ningaloo using the technology in this book and your smart device.

You may already be familiar with QR codes, the knobbly little boxes that appear all over the place: marketing brochures, advertising billboards, corporate PR materials, and even on the sides of public buses. If so, no instructions are needed. But for many of you, this may be your "rst experience with these useful little tools.

A QR (Quick Response) code is a block of usually black and white squares. This code stores information that can be retrieved by the many free QR reader apps1 available for your smart-phone or tablet. By scanning the code, the QR reader will deliver the information to you.

In this case, that information is a collection of amazing videos taken by the author over the 10 years he has been swimming with the sea creatures at the Ningaloo Reef. Don’t stop with enjoying his photography—marvel as the reef and its inhabitants come to life in the videos.

Where a video is available, it is indicated by a numbered icon similar to the one shown here: Simply turn to the QR Code Gallery in the back of the book and scan the appropriate QR code.

You are invited to take the plunge with this new way of reading a book, using a smart-phone or tablet. Or you can enter the web addresses that accompany each QR code into a search engine on your computer and watch the videos on a bigger screen with even better sound.

Enjoy this exciting new way of reading a book!

1 Note that the QR codes in this book have been thoroughly tested. However, not all QR readers/scanners are of equal quality. If you "nd that your scanner has persistent di#culty loading photos or videos, please try another app.

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Getting the most from this book iii

THE NINGALOO REEFThe World Heritage Ningaloo Reef 2A History of the Ningaloo Reef 4Whale Sharks and the Ningaloo Reef 8The Navy Pier 13

WHALE SHARKSThe Largest Fish 20ECOCEAN 24Australian Institute of Marine Science 28Whale Shark Biology 30Feeding Whale Sharks 32Whale Shark Defence 34

OTHER INHABITANTSThe Humpback Whale Migration 38Dolphins 46Orca Kill! 50The False Killer Invasion 54Dugongs 56Turtles 58Manta Rays and Mobula Rays 62The Pelagic Predators 66Demersal Fish 70Herbivorous Fish 76Sharks 80Tiger Sharks 84Stingrays 89

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THE WHALE SHARK INDUSTRY

The Whale Shark Industry 94

Ningaloo from the Air 104

Whale Shark Skippers 108

Whale Shark Spotters 114

Behind the Lens 119

Whale Shark Rock Stars! 122

TALES FROM THE REEF

My First Whale Shark 126

Bait Ball Bewitches Whale Shark 128

Swimming with Humpback Whales 132

The Spinners & Humpies Show 134

Oceanic Manta Rays’ Dance of Love 139

Crystal Clear 144

FINAL THOUGHTS

Ningaloo: the Future 150

About the Author 154

Thanks and Acknowledgements 160

References 164

QR Code Gallery 166

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1THE NINGALOO REEF

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The World Heritage Ningaloo Reef

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The World Heritage Ningaloo Reef — 3

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A History of the Ningaloo Reef

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A History of the Ningaloo Reef — 5

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Oyster Bridge, Coral Bay Nomadic Aboriginal groups used this unique rock formation to help trap !sh

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6 ! T H E N I N G A L O O R E E F

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A History of the Ningaloo Reef — 7

Vlaming Head Lighthouse One of the few places in Australia where it is possible to observe the sun rise and set over the ocean

An aerial view of the Ningaloo Reef

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8 ! THE NINGALOO REEF

Whale Sharks and the Ningaloo ReefThe home of the gentle giants

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Whale Sharks and the Ningaloo Reef — 9

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7KH�ZKDOH� VKDUNV� VHHQ�RQ� WKH�1LQJDORR�5HHI� UDQJH�EHWZHHQ� ����� PHWUHV� ORQJ� EXW� RQO\� D� KDQGIXO� DUH�VHHQ�DW�WKH�XSSHU�DQG�ORZHU�HQGV�RI�WKDW�UDQJH��PRVW�PHDVXUH�EHWZHHQ�����PHWUHV�ORQJ�ZLWK�����RI�WKRVH�EHLQJ�LPPDWXUH�PDOHV��,W�LV�QRW�NQRZQ�ZK\�WKHUH�DUH�VR�PDQ\�PDOHV�VHHQ�DW�1LQJDORR��EXW�LW�LV�D�PDOH�WR�IHPDOH�UDWLR�VLPLODU�WR�PRVW�RWKHU�ZKDOH�VKDUN�DJJUH-JDWLRQV�DURXQG�WKH�ZRUOG��

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2QO\�D�KDQGIXO�RI�ODUJHU�VH[XDOO\�PDWXUH�PDOHV�DUH�VHHQ�HYHU\�\HDU�DW�1LQJDORR�DQG�DOPRVW�QR�SRWHQWLDOO\� PDWXUH� ODUJH� IHPDOHV�� ,WȠV� RQH� RI�WKH� ELJJHVW�P\VWHULHV� IRU� WKH� WZR�PDLQ�ZKDOH�VKDUN�UHVHDUFKHUV�RQ�WKH�1LQJDORR�5HHI��'Ub0DUN�0HHNDQ�DQG�%UDG�1RUPDQ��$V�'U�0HHNDQ��SULQFL-SDO�PDULQH� UHVHDUFK�VFLHQWLVW�ZLWK� WKH�$XVWUDO-LDQ� ,QVWLWXWH� RI�0DULQH� 6FLHQFH� �$,06��� SXWV� LW��“Where the hell are the big females and where do they pup?”� 6KDUN� ELRORJLVW� 1RUPDQ�� ZKR�KDV� VWXGLHG� ZKDOH� VKDUNV� DW� 1LQJDORR� VLQFH������ DQG� LV� FR�IRXQGHU� RI� (&2&($1ȠV� JOREDO�ZKDOH� VKDUN� GDWDEDVH�� DJUHHV�� “Where they pup is still the biggest mystery along with where they migrate to and from when they’re not at Ningaloo,” KH� UHˊHFWV�� “Perhaps the whale sharks mate far offshore but we still don’t know.”

:KHQ� SUHVVHG� IRU� KLV� ȢJXW� IHHOLQJȣ� RQ� WKH�DQVZHU�WR�WKDW�TXHVWLRQ��'U�0HHNDQ��ZKR�KDV� EHHQ� VWXG\LQJ� ZKDOH� VKDUNV� DW�1LQJDORR�IRU�RYHU�D�GHFDGH��UHSOLHG��“Results from our tagging program suggest the whale sharks head north once they have left Ningaloo so perhaps whale sharks breed and pup around the seamounts off Cocos and Christmas Islands. The pups then stay well out in the deep water away from most predators and only turn up at Ningaloo when they have reached a size that makes them immune to predation. But every time you answer one question it makes the next bigger and more interesting.”

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10 ! THE NINGALOO REEF

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An injured golden trevally shelters close to a whale shark. Injured !sh are occasionally seen hiding around whale sharks to avoid predators.

Whale Sharks and the Ningaloo Reef — 11

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12 ! THE NINGALOO REEF

Remora and juvenile golden trevally using the whale shark as a mobile reef for protection and food

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The Navy Pier — 13

A “must-do” diving experience

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The Navy PierAll photos by Violeta Brosig/Blue Media Exmouth

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The Navy Pier isn’t all about big !sh. It is also home to countless small creatures like this brightly coloured nudibranch

Big eye trevally swarm around the pier pylons

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14 ! THE NINGALOO REEF

Nudibranch Lion"sh with their beautiful but venomous spines are common around the pier

The fearsome looking but harmless grey nurse shark

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The pier structure itself is encrusted with barnacles, sponges, ascidians and algae that provide food and shelter from the smallest creature to the biggest !sh

Three white tip reef sharks rest on the bottom awaiting nightfall to hunt prey

The Navy Pier — 15

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16 ! THE NINGALOO REEF

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The Navy Pier — 17

Diver Wes Sutcli!e gives the BFG (Big Friendly Groper) a scratch to keep him happy