Are there different types of coral reef structures?
Yes, there are! The main types of coral reef structures are: the fringing reef, patch reef, barrier reef, atoll and bank or platform reef. Lets look at each one separately. Fringing Reef This type of reef is directly attached to the shore. Fringing reefs grow quickly in shallow water but their growth furtheraway from shore is slower. Fringing reefs have a shallow platform that spreads outward to a sharply defined edge. Imagine the reef like a shelve with an edge that drops down to the sea floor. Patch Reef Patch reefs communities are found in waters 10-30 feet in depth. The outer edge of each patch reef is surrounded by a ring of sand. It is the feeding fish that determine how wide this sand ring is. If the fish feel safe close to the reef then the sand ring will be narrow. A wide ring of sand means that the feeding fish feel safe further away from the reef. Each patch reef is different in size, development, and species living on them. Mostly large colonies of star and brain corals mak
