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Facts On Reefs

Coral reefs form the basis of a varied and rich ecosystem. The biology of a coral reef is complex and dynamic, with both the reef and its inhabitants cooperating in a variety of different ways. There are four main types of reefs, and each has its own life cycle and function. Charles Darwin was the first to use the following classification system to organize facts about different reefs.

Atoll Reefs
- Atolls form in circles or horseshoe patterns around a deep lagoon. They are more common in the Indo-Pacific region, which has more than 300. The Carribbean only houses 10 or 15, and only four of these are considered well-developed. Atolls are an impressive size and depth, averaging over 100 miles in diameter with lagoons containing several hundred square miles.
Barrier Reefs
- An aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
  
  A barrier reef is aptly named, as it forms a "barrier" around an island. This is apparent when it is viewed from the air. They form along a shoreline and have a few deep portions. The largest barrier reefs form along continental lines, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia being the prime example. The Belize Barrier Reef is another. These types of reefs frequently overlap into fringing reefs, which also usually form near a shoreline.
Fringing Reefs
- Fringing reefs develop very close to the shoreline and have very shallow lagoons. These are very usually found around islands of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, and are the most common in the Caribbean and also in the Red Sea. As these are so close to the shore they are the most accessible but also the most vulnerable to damage resulting from human habitation, development, and pollution.
Patch Reefs
- A small patch reef by the beach.
  
  Patch reefs are not always classified as an official type of reef. These are considered to be a microcosm of the larger reef systems and were not included in Darwin's original classification of the other three types of reef. These are made of of small and isolated outcroppings of sea grass and sand and are often close to shore.

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