Coral Reefs
- Coral reefs and atolls are formed through the build-up and compression of the skeletons of lime secreting, marine animals called polyps
- Living coral polyps are found in the upper and outer part of the coral reef only
- Their skeletons are hard, calcareous masses, which form when one generation dies and the next grows on top, creating an upward and outward reef
- There must be a solid surface to begin the growth of corals, this can be from a shipwreck or debris from elsewhere
- Coral reefs run parallel to the coast, with breaks where river mouths exit
- Coral reefs are very sensitive and cannot grow anywhere
- Corals are scattered throughout the tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans, generally within 30°N and 30°S latitudes
- Western Atlantic reefs include these areas: Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean Islands, Belize, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico
- The Indo-Pacific Ocean region extends from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf through the Indian and Pacific oceans to the western coast of Panama
- Corals grow on rocky outcrops in some areas of the Gulf of California
- The Great Barrier Reef in northern Australia is renowned for its great biodiversity and size and can be seen from space
- Their distribution is controlled by four factors:
- Temperature
- Light
- Water depth
- Salinity
Features of coral reefs
Global Features | |
Temperature | Corals cannot tolerate water temperatures below 18°C but grow best at 22°C – 25°C. Some can stand temperatures as high as 40° C for short periods. This is why coral reefs normally grow between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer -30° of the equator |
Light | Corals need light for photosynthesis due to the algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissue |
Water | Corals are generally found at depths of less than 25m where sunlight can penetrate. The water must also be clear and clean to allow for optimum photosynthesis to occur |
Salinity | Since corals are marine animals, they need salty water to survive, ranging from 32-42% salt water |
- At a local level, other factors will affect development:
- Wave action - corals need well oxygenated, clean water and wave action provides this
- Exposure to air - although corals need oxygenated water, they cannot be exposed to air for too long or they will die
- Sediment - all corals need clear, clean water. Any sediment in the water will block normal feeding patterns by reducing the availability of light affecting the photosynthesis of the microscopic algae 'zooxanthellae' living in polyp tissue. The corals provide algae with home and compounds for photosynthesis. In return, the algae produce food, oxygen and help remove wastes
Types of coral reefs:
Type | Example | Features |
Fringing | Coral Coast of Fiji | These are low, narrow bands of coral, running parallel to the coast and form around a land mass. They are covered by narrow, shallow lagoons at high tide. Their outer edges slope steeply down into the sea beyond. The landward side of the reef has a higher outer edge that rises to the high tide level. |
Barrier | Great Barrier, Australia | They range from 500m to several kilometres from the coast and are separated by wide deep lagoons below the depth at which the polyps can live. The Great Barrier Reef has almost 3000 reefs, separated by channels stretching more than 2300km. |
Atolls | Maldives Suvadiva Atoll | These are narrow, ring-shaped reefs, consisting of a coral rim that encircles a deep lagoon. Sometimes, they may encircle and protect an island. Channels between islets connect a lagoon to the open ocean or sea. |
Exam Tip
The Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a good example of a barrier reef.
It is the world's largest coral reef system with over 2,900 individual reefs and 600 islands that stretches for over 2,300 kilometres and can be seen from space.