How does coral form

Video: Growing Against the Odds. Watch the bioGraphic video. Connections to the Next Generation Science Standards. How do coral reefs as solid structures influence the living system or landform shape around them? MS-LS How does ocean acidification affect populations within the coral reef ecosystem? Crosscutting Concepts Structure and Function. Related Resources. What Animals Live in a Coral Reef?

Dive underwater to meet some of the many creatures that inhabit a coral reef. Why Do Corals Bleach? Warming water can cause coral bleaching, when an entire colony of coral polyps loses its color.

Bottom topography, depth, wave and current strength, light, temperature, and suspended sediments all act to create characteristic horizontal and vertical zones of corals, algae and other species. These zones vary according to the location and type of reef.

The major divisions common to most reefs, as they move seaward from the shore, are the reef flat, reef crest or algal ridge, buttress zone, and seaward slope. Corals usually develop into one of three characteristic structures: fringing reefs, barrier reefs or atolls. Learn more and view a larger image. As coral reefs grow, they establish characteristic biogeographic patterns.

Fringing reefs grow near the coastline around islands and continents. These types of reefs are the most common type we see and are considered to be the youngest of the 3 types of coral reefs. They are separated from the shore by shallow lagoons. The first stage of the formation is when the coral larvae attach itself to rocks or soil near the coasts.

In certain parts of the world, they tend to form where volcanoes have also formed due to the shallow sloped walls being ideal to make shore reefs. The larvae become polyps and excrete calcium carbonate , which forms their exoskeleton. The secreted calcium carbonate sediments on the rocks and provides a substrate for more polyps coming to attach themselves. As more and more polyps attach, and layer over time, they create a coral reef. Calcareous Algae also add their sediments to the structure.

Other organisms with calcareous skeletons, also add their own remains to the reef as they die and sink. Since fringing reefs are the youngest and grow onshore, they tend to have less diversity of species within that ecosystem. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

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Jennifer Kennedy, M. Updated January 30, Featured Video. Cite this Article Format.