2017-12-01 - Reef Fact of the Week - Fringing Reef

[Mark Shelly]

Fringing reefs are the most common type of reef. A fringing reef starts when corals grow close to the shore along a contour that corresponds to the low water mark at low tides. As the reef ages and if water levels stay constant, the reef grows away from the shore and develops a steep outer or fore reef after it passes the reef crest. The crest is where most of the growth occurs. Behind the reef, a shallow lagoon may form. Earth movement greatly effects these reefs. If sea level rise or land settlement happen slow enough, reefs will try to keep up, growing more vertically. Sometimes it takes a while to catch back up. Others, the reef goes into decline. If the reef level rises, or sea level drops, corals may be left high and dry. Groves in the reef allow muddy sediment to bypass it. But often sediment is deposited onto it, sometimes by parrot fish which chew the reefs.. Storms can dislodge corals. Coralline algae acts to cement these parts together just like they coat our reef tank components. Water temperatures can range from 64 to 86 these reefs. Different fish, corals, types of corals, sponges and other life have different sections of the reef that they like. Shoals of fish often form above the fore reef near the crest. They use the reef to find protection from predators.

This photo from
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=WRcZrvbk&id=20FC203E0C9FFD3B226764BB11DFC4B03B632164&thid=OIP.WRcZrvbkbKU9oIt7TvrJywEsC7&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fomega3d.fr%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Faerien%2Ftahiti_q60.jpg&exph=563&expw=900&q=fringe+reef+in+caribbean&selectedindex=9&ajaxhist=0&pivotparams=insightsToken%3Dccid_V98C7Cmk*mid_4A48021AC5B4146D696CCBB8BED2E26F9F0B53E4*simid_608003878838603750*thid_OIP.V98C7CmkMfcuHDWaRlKeLwEsC9&iss=VSI

Check out these reef videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCRBxtQ55_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHCCih9cHxw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncUVddkK3Q Great example of anemonees

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

great information

 

[Mark Shelly]

I believe this picture is of Tahiti with a few of the nearby islands in the background. The lagoons are the light blue, the fringing reef roughly runs parallel to the shore, and channels letting out sediment are as dark as the ocean.