Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park

Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Nearest town/city	Cairns
Coordinates	16°36′30″S 145°58′21″E / 16.60833°S 145.9725°E / -16.60833; 145.9725
Area	30 km²
Established	1975
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Official site	Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park

Michaelmas and Upolu Cays is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 1409 km northwest of Brisbane and 33 km east of Cairns. It comprises two small cays on Michaelmas Reef, which forms the north-eastern section of the Arlington reef complex, within the Great Barrier Reef.

Flora and fauna

Plants

The vegetation on Michaelmas Cay is characteristic of cays found on the outer barrier reef. Low-growing, it consists of Beach Spinifex, Stalky Grass, Goatsfoot, Bulls-head Vine, Sea Purslane and Tar Vine. Nutrients fertilising the vegetation come from seabird droppings and carcasses. The smaller Upolu Cay is unvegetated.^[1]

Animals

Michaelmas Cay is important as a breeding site for several species of terns. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports over 1% of the world populations of Greater and Lesser Crested Terns.^[2] Sooty Terns and Common Noddies also breed there. Other terns that have nested on the cay in the past include Roseate and Black-naped Terns.^[3]

Green Turtles sometimes nest on the cays. The surrounding reefs have a rich marine fauna, including Giant Clams.^[1]

View of Michaelmas Cay

National Park sign from Michaelmas Cay

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park". National parks, marine parks and forests. Queensland Government. http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/michaelmas-upolu-cays/index.html. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
2. ^ "IBA: Michaelmas Cay". Birdata. Birds Australia. http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
3. ^ BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Michaelmas Cay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 15/08/2011.

See also

• Protected areas of Queensland