Overall, the coral fish fauna are still in a degraded state -- after 30 generations.'

Bellwood has devoted almost 20 years to the study of what many might imagine to be the least significant of fish on the reef. He feels that they may be far more important than might appear, as indicators of the health status of the reef, said an ARC Centre release.

'Gobies are among the reef's most plentiful species. They live fast and die young, in vast numbers. Many big reef fish live 10 years or more: a typical goby lasts just 100 days. Everything eats them -- they are the 'Tim Tams' of the reef. For every 10 that wake up in the morning only nine go to sleep at night,' he said.

Because their generations turn over so quickly, gobies provide a highly sensitive indicator of changes that may be taking place, far more so than the longer-lived species, like large fishes or turtles.