Coral Reef Define Example Characteristics and conditions Formation

Fringing A fringing reef is a The Ningaloo reef- -Directly attached to the coast or separated by a narrow, -Corals begin to grow in shallow,
type of coral reef Western Australia. shallow lagoon. warm waters where sunlight
that is directly one of the longest -Narrow in width compared to barrier reefs, extending parallel penetrates for photosynthesis by
attached to the fringing reefs in the to the coastline. symbiotic algae(zooxanthellae)
shoreline, without world stretching -Temp. between 23oc and 29oc, typical of tropical and
an intervening 300 kilometres and subtropical regions. -The reef grows both vertically and
lagoon. It is the is one of two coral -Faces the open sea supports more coral diversity and growth horizontally as long as
most common and reefs in the world due to better water circulation. environmental conditions remain
simplest type of that have formed favourable (e.g. stable temp,
reef. on the western side salinity and water clarity)
of a continent. It
has a proximity
from the coast in
many areas being
only 5-10 metres
offshore. The
Ningaloo Reef
contains over 250
species of coral and
over 500 species of
fish
Barrier Like fringing but Great barrier reef: -Forms a line along the cost and a ring around an island. -Formed when an ancient coastal
separated from a 2600 km north-east -Dominated by hard corals plain flooded/lagoon and created a
mainland or island side of Australia, -Optimum temperature is 23oc to 29oc. shallow, nutrient- rich
shore by a deep formed over 5 - Water ranging from 32 to 42 parts per thousand environment for corals to grow.
channel or lagoon million years, made -When the fringing reefs formed
by at least half a up of 2900 and slowly combine with each
kilometre individual reef and other, it forms a borderline along
900 island. the coast. The calcium carbonate
Home to 1500 structures attract more polyps, and
species of fish, six the spaces are filled up.
species of sea
turtles, 30 species
of whales and
dolphins and 411
species of hard
coal.
29% of corals died
 from the 2016-17,
in the northern
section- warm
water
Atoll A ring-shaped coral Maldives, Indian -Ring shape: often broken in places by channels or gaps that 1. Volcanic island stage: a volcanic
reef with a lagoon Ocean allow water exchange between lagoon and open water island forms, providing a hard
in the middle. -Central lagoon substrate for coral colonization
-Reef structure: 2. Fringing reef stage: corals grow
reef crest: Outer edge exposed to wave action around the base of the volcanic
reef flat: areas inside the ring island, forming a fringing reef.
back reef lagoon: sheltered areas inside the reef with minimal 3: Barrier reef stage: as the
wave action volcanic island subsides, the reef
-Tropical location grows upward and outward
-Biodiversity forming a barrier reef separated
-Shallow clear water from the island by a lagoon.
-Wave action and currents 4: Atoll stage: the volcanic island
-Stable substrate: hard surface like rock to lie on completely submerges below sea
level. The reef continues to grow,
forming a ring-shaped structure
with a central lagoon.
Patch Small, isolated reefs Rhomboid patch -Usually occur within lagoons behind the barrier rim -Formed on rocky fossilized coral
that grow up from reefs in Southern -3-6 m deep outcroppings in 3-6m deep water
the bottom of the Belize lagoon. -Typically found near land -Brain and star corals are typically
island platform or -Various shapes and sizes the first inhabitants, others appear
continental shelf. - Excellent nurseries due to calm shallow waters over time.
-Restricted to growing only on solid surfaces e.g. rocky -As they grow, they grow upwards
outcroppings and fossil ridges. by laying down more calcium
carbonate under themselves