Fauna
The habitat types represented within the park include sandy beaches, intertidal and subtidal rocky reefs and subtidal soft sediments. The intertidal rock platforms are extensive and exhibit a diverse range of marine life. The subtidal rocky reefs include numerous microhabitats, extending several kilometres offshore in relatively shallow water. The diversity of intertidal and shallow subtidal invertebrate fauna is the highest recorded in Victoria on sandstone. A high proportion of the common invertebrates occurring along the Victorian coast are found here, for example seven of the eight species of brittle stars, nine of 11 sea cucumbers, eight of eleven barnacles, all 5 sea anemones, and 15 of 20 chitons. The underwater reefs of Bunurong look different to those in other parts of Victoria. For example, crayweed, the large brown seaweed that covers many Victorian reefs, is mostly absent here. Instead, a multitude of more unusual plants and animals flourish. The species richness of the Bunurong seaweeds is comparatively high and includes green, blue-green, brown and encrusting coralline red algal species. The subtidal marine flora of the area is characterised by a mixed assemblage of brown algae consisting predominantly of Acrocarpia paniculata, Seiroccus axillaris, Cystophora retorta, Cystophora platylobium and Cystophora moniliformis. The seagrass Amphibolis antarctica is also an important component. Invertebrates found in the subtidal zone include limpets, barnacles, Blacklip Abalone, several species of crabs, seastars, urchins, feather stars, and brittle stars, numerous sea snails, and small crustaceans. The zone is dominated by macroalgae, particularly brown algae species, with an understorey of other green and red algae. Besides the reefs, there are many other habitats at Bunurong. Extensive intertidal rock platforms are covered in fields of Neptune's Necklace (a brown seaweed that looks like strings of beads), pink coralline algae, barnacles and a diverse range of marine molluscs. Beds of Sea-nymph seagrass grow in the bays, with tough wiry stems and roots that can withstand the waves. Many smaller seaweeds and encrusting animals live on the stems and leaves. The sandy bays also host a specialised community of minute animals that feed on debris from broken pieces of seaweeds and seagrasses, and become an important food source for larger animals such as fish. Several animals and plants have only been recorded in Victoria at Bunurong, and many others are at their most easterly location here, preferring the cool waters of Victoria's west coast. The coastline is also well known amongst marine naturalists for its diversity of flat 8-plated grazing molluscs known as chitons. At least 87 species of fish have been recorded within the waters of Bunurong Marine National Park. Common species of fish sighted by recreational divers within the park include Blue-throated Wrasse, Common Bullseye, Old Wife, Gunns Leatherjacket, Scalyfin, Tasmanian Blenny and Stranger. A range of pelagic species also utilise the area periodically, including many species of shark (eg. Gummy Shark, School Shark, Common Saw Shark, Angel Shark and Elephant Shark), mullet, pike, flathead, snapper, tailor, King George Whiting and Barracouta. Brightly coloured seastars, feather stars, crabs, large marine snails, and many smaller animals are plentiful here. Around the rocks at Eagles Nest and Twin Reefs, numerous Port Jackson Sharks rest under the ledges, rock lobsters fill the crevices and Zebra Fish, sweep and wrasse dart about the seaweed. Eagles Nest provides habitat for breeding peregrine falcons and hooded plovers. The park also adjoins a foreshore area consisting of dunes (in the west) and high cliffs (to the east) which support important remnant coastal and dune vegetation. Creature Features Port Jackson Shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Harmless, docile and gregarious in nature, this seafloor-dwelling shark is commonly seen nestled in groups under rocky ledges in Bunurong. At night Port Jackson sharks venture out and explore the reef, their flattened rows of pointed teeth and their strong jaws enabling them to crush reef animals such as marine snails, urchins, and crabs. Often these sharks will regroup in the same crevice as daylight approaches. Each October the females lay between 10 and 16 dark, corkscrew-shaped egg cases that they wedge into ledges with their mouths. You might be lucky enough to find one of these hatched egg cases on the beach. Pheasant Snail (Phasianotrochus eximius)
With its large, elongated conical shell and pretty colouration, the Pheasant Snail, also known as a Painted Lady, is one of Australia's most beautiful marine molluscs. Growing to a length of 4 centimetres, it can be found grazing in the dense algal growths at Bunurong, and is most conspicuous on brown seaweeds. Like all small snails, Pheasant Snails use their tiny, file-like 'tongue' to rasp tiny algal plants from the surface of the reef and from seaweed fronds. Pheasant Snails are only found in southern Australian waters. Geological, Hydrological and Landform Features
Bururong Marine National Park contains extensive intertidal platforms and subtidal rocky reefs that are uncommon along the Victorian coast, seperated by sandy beaches. They have arisen as a result of the normal weathering and erosion processes affecting coastal sediment formations, including wind, waves, wetting and drying, salt crystallisation, sea water solution and runoff. These processes mainly operate above low tide level and are inhibited below specific intertidal levels, thus accounting for the almost horizontal shore platforms of the area. The rock platforms extend offshore, with a gradual increase in depth to a maximum of 12 ? 15 metres deep, several kilometres seawards. The Bunurong coast is full of amazing natural sandstone sculptures, attractive sandy coves, rambling cliffs and prominent headlands and the marine life is nurtured by an unusual set of environmental conditions. Between Cape Patterson and Inverloch in areas exposed to the southwest, the Cretaceous rocks have formed steep, high headlands and cliffs, with little vegetation covering the rock faces. In the lee of headlands, small sandy beaches occur, with the adjacent bluffs being less steep and usually completely vegetated to the high tide mark. Where more resistant elements of rock occur, weathering has often created differential erosion patterns, sometimes resulting in pronounced shelving. The shallow, gradually sloping nature of the subtidal area protects the coast from the very high-energy waves that occur in other locations such as at Cape Liptrap and Cape Schank. On easterly facing shores and in the lee of headlands, the prevailing southwesterly waves are weakened by refraction. Less frequent, less vigorous, easterly winds (mainly in summer) also result only in moderate wave energy, and consequently cause less erosion on shores facing this direction. The drainage basin of the Bunurong coast is relatively small, and no major creeks or rivers enter the ocean. Coal Creek drains the country south of Wonthagi and several smaller non-perennial creeks including Wreck Creek drain the land north of Bunurong. Along the coast, small watercourses from localised runoff may result in temporary waterfalls, notably at a site west of Eagles Nest. Eagles Nest is also a known fossil dinosaur locality.
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