Ecology

This Cliona sp. is found on the reef crest, encrusted on top and diffused throughout decaying coral rubble at Heron Island, on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. This is similar to most species of Cliona, which are usually found on reef crests, decaying coral rubble, dense calcareous rock, live corals and mollusc shells (Lopez-Victoria and Zea 2005; Schonberg 2002). However, their distribution can vary according to chemo-physical factors such as flow, sedimentation, risk of exposure and light intensity(Schonberg 2002) and the type of substrata present.  

Based on personal observations on Heron Island, this Cliona sp. was only found on dead, decaying coral rubble

      
Heron Island reef crest where Cliona sp. is found