A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water.[1] Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes—deposition of sand,[citation needed]wave erosion planing down rock outcrops, etc.—but there are also reefs such as the coral reefs of tropical waters formed by biotic processes dominated by corals and coralline algae, and artificial reefs such as shipwrecks and other anthropogenic underwater structures may occur intentionally or as the result of an accident, and sometimes have a designed role in enhancing the physical complexity of featureless sand bottoms, to attract a more diverse assemblage of organisms. Reefs are often quite near to the surface, but not all definitions require this.[1]
There is a variety of biotic reef types, including oyster reefs and sponge reefs, but the most massive and widely distributed are tropical coral reefs.[1] Although corals are major contributors to the framework and bulk material comprising a coral reef; the organisms most responsible for reef growth against the constant assault from ocean waves are calcareous algae, especially, although not entirely, coralline algae.
The preferred substrate for oyster larvae is the shells of oysters so they tend to settle on adult oysters and thereby develop layers building upwards, eventually forming a fairly massive hard stony calcium carbonate structure on which other reef organisms like sponges and seaweeds can grow, and provide a habitat for mobile benthic organisms.[1]
These biotic reef types take on additional names depending upon how the reef lies in relation to the land, if any. Reef types include fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. A fringing reef is a reef that is attached to an island. A barrier reef forms a calcareous barrier around an island, resulting in a lagoon between the shore and the reef. An atoll is a ring reef with no land present. The reef front (ocean side) is a high energy locale, whereas the internal lagoon will be at a lower energy with fine grained sediments.
Mounds
One definition distinguishes reefs from mounds as follows: both are considered to be varieties of organosedimentary buildups – sedimentary features, built by the interaction of organisms and their environment, that have synoptic relief and whose biotic composition differs from that found on and beneath the surrounding sea floor. Reefs are held up by a macroscopic skeletal framework. Coral reefs are an example of this kind. Corals and calcareous algae grow on top of one another and form a three-dimensional framework that is modified in various ways by other organisms and inorganic processes. By contrast, mounds lack a macroscopic skeletal framework. Mounds are built by microorganisms or by organisms that don't grow a skeletal framework. A microbial mound might be built exclusively or primarily by cyanobacteria. Examples of biostromes formed by cyanobacteria occur in the Great Salt Lake in Utah, United States, and in Shark Bay on the coast of Western Australia.[citation needed]
Cyanobacteria do not have skeletons, and individuals are microscopic. Cyanobacteria can encourage the precipitation or accumulation of calcium carbonate to produce distinct sediment bodies in composition that have relief on the seafloor. Cyanobacterial mounds were most abundant before the evolution of shelly macroscopic organisms, but they still exist today; stromatolites are microbial mounds with a laminated internal structure. Bryozoans and crinoids, common contributors to marine sediments during the Mississippian, for instance, produced a very different kind of mound. Bryozoans are small and the skeletons of crinoids disintegrate. However, bryozoan and crinoid meadows can persist over time and produce compositionally distinct bodies of sediment with depositional relief.[citation needed]
Rocky reefs are underwater outcrops of rock projecting above the adjacent unconsolidated surface with varying relief. They can be found in depth ranges from intertidal to deep water, and provide a substrate for a large range of sessile benthic organisms, and shelter for a large range of mobile organisms.[3]
This section needs expansion with: relative abundance of rocky vs biotic reef and global distribution, ecological importance. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021)
Ancient reefs buried within stratigraphic sections are of considerable interest to geologists because they provide paleo-environmental information about the location in Earth's history. In addition, reef structures within a sequence of sedimentary rocks provide a discontinuity which may serve as a trap or conduit for fossil fuels or mineralizing fluids to form petroleum or ore deposits.
Corals, including some major extinct groups Rugosa and Tabulata, have been important reef builders through much of the Phanerozoic since the Ordovician Period. However, other organism groups, such as calcifying algae, especially members of the red algae (Rhodophyta), and molluscs (especially the rudist bivalves during the Cretaceous Period) have created massive structures at various times. During the Cambrian Period, the conical or tubular skeletons of Archaeocyatha, an extinct group of uncertain affinities (possibly sponges), built reefs. Other groups, such as the Bryozoa, have been important interstitial organisms, living between the framework builders. The corals which build reefs today, the Scleractinia, arose after the Permian–Triassic extinction event that wiped out the earlier rugose corals (as well as many other groups), and became increasingly important reef builders throughout the Mesozoic Era. They may have arisen from a rugose coral ancestor. Rugose corals built their skeletons of calcite and have a different symmetry from that of the scleractinian corals, whose skeletons are aragonite. However, there are some unusual examples of well-preserved aragonitic rugose corals in the Late Permian. In addition, calcite has been reported in the initial post-larval calcification in a few scleractinian corals. Nevertheless, scleractinian corals (which arose in the middle Triassic) may have arisen from a non-calcifying ancestor independent of the rugosan corals (which disappeared in the late Permian).
An artificial reef is a human-created underwater structure, typically built to promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom, to control erosion, block ship passage, block the use of trawling nets,[4] or improve surfing.[5]
Many reefs are built using objects that were built for other purposes, for example by sinking oil rigs (through the Rigs-to-Reefs program), scuttling ships, or by deploying rubble or construction debris. Other artificial reefs are purpose built (e.g. the reef balls) from PVC or concrete. Shipwrecks become artificial reefs on the seafloor. Regardless of construction method, artificial reefs generally provide stable hard surfaces where algae and invertebrates such as barnacles, corals, and oysters attach; the accumulation of attached marine life in turn provides intricate structure and food for assemblages of fish.
See also
Coral reef – Outcrop of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of stony coral skeletons
^ abcd"Resource Library: Encyclopedic Entry: Reef". www.nationalgeographic.org. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
^Schieber, Jürgen (1998). "Possible indicators of microbial mat deposits in shales and sandstones: Examples from the Mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, Montana, U.S.A." (PDF). Sedimentary Geology. 120 (1–4): 105–124. Bibcode:1998SedG..120..105S. doi:10.1016/S0037-0738(98)00029-3.
^"Rocky Reef on the West Coast". www.fisheries.noaa.gov. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
^Gray, Denis D. (2 June 2018). "Cambodia volunteers step up battle against illegal fishing". asia.nikkei.com. Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
^. Bournemouthecho.co.uk. 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
Sources
Shears N.T. (2007) Biogeography, community structure and biological habitat types of subtidal reefs on the South Island West Coast, New Zealand. Science for Conservation 281. p 53. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. [1]
External links
The Wikibook Historical Geology has a page on the topic of: Reefs
- A portal to obtain NOAA National Ocean Service data
Reef formation
Atolls – Distribution, Development and Architecture
January 13, 2023
reef, other, uses, disambiguation, reef, ridge, shoal, rock, coral, similar, relatively, stable, material, lying, beneath, surface, natural, body, water, many, reefs, result, from, natural, abiotic, processes, deposition, sand, citation, needed, wave, erosion,. For other uses see Reef disambiguation A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock coral or similar relatively stable material lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water 1 Many reefs result from natural abiotic processes deposition of sand citation needed wave erosion planing down rock outcrops etc but there are also reefs such as the coral reefs of tropical waters formed by biotic processes dominated by corals and coralline algae and artificial reefs such as shipwrecks and other anthropogenic underwater structures may occur intentionally or as the result of an accident and sometimes have a designed role in enhancing the physical complexity of featureless sand bottoms to attract a more diverse assemblage of organisms Reefs are often quite near to the surface but not all definitions require this 1 Coral reef at Nusa Lembongan Bali Indonesia Pamalican island with surrounding reef Sulu Sea Philippines A reef surrounding an islet Earth s largest coral reef system is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia at a length of over 2 300 kilometres 1 400 miles Contents 1 Biotic 1 1 Mounds 2 Geologic 2 1 Structures 3 Artificial 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksBiotic EditSee also Coral reef Formation and Sponge reef Structure of sponge reefs Part of Great Barrier Reef There is a variety of biotic reef types including oyster reefs and sponge reefs but the most massive and widely distributed are tropical coral reefs 1 Although corals are major contributors to the framework and bulk material comprising a coral reef the organisms most responsible for reef growth against the constant assault from ocean waves are calcareous algae especially although not entirely coralline algae The preferred substrate for oyster larvae is the shells of oysters so they tend to settle on adult oysters and thereby develop layers building upwards eventually forming a fairly massive hard stony calcium carbonate structure on which other reef organisms like sponges and seaweeds can grow and provide a habitat for mobile benthic organisms 1 These biotic reef types take on additional names depending upon how the reef lies in relation to the land if any Reef types include fringing reefs barrier reefs and atolls A fringing reef is a reef that is attached to an island A barrier reef forms a calcareous barrier around an island resulting in a lagoon between the shore and the reef An atoll is a ring reef with no land present The reef front ocean side is a high energy locale whereas the internal lagoon will be at a lower energy with fine grained sediments Mounds Edit One definition distinguishes reefs from mounds as follows both are considered to be varieties of organosedimentary buildups sedimentary features built by the interaction of organisms and their environment that have synoptic relief and whose biotic composition differs from that found on and beneath the surrounding sea floor Reefs are held up by a macroscopic skeletal framework Coral reefs are an example of this kind Corals and calcareous algae grow on top of one another and form a three dimensional framework that is modified in various ways by other organisms and inorganic processes By contrast mounds lack a macroscopic skeletal framework Mounds are built by microorganisms or by organisms that don t grow a skeletal framework A microbial mound might be built exclusively or primarily by cyanobacteria Examples of biostromes formed by cyanobacteria occur in the Great Salt Lake in Utah United States and in Shark Bay on the coast of Western Australia citation needed Cyanobacteria do not have skeletons and individuals are microscopic Cyanobacteria can encourage the precipitation or accumulation of calcium carbonate to produce distinct sediment bodies in composition that have relief on the seafloor Cyanobacterial mounds were most abundant before the evolution of shelly macroscopic organisms but they still exist today stromatolites are microbial mounds with a laminated internal structure Bryozoans and crinoids common contributors to marine sediments during the Mississippian for instance produced a very different kind of mound Bryozoans are small and the skeletons of crinoids disintegrate However bryozoan and crinoid meadows can persist over time and produce compositionally distinct bodies of sediment with depositional relief citation needed The Proterozoic Belt Supergroup contains evidence of possible microbial mat and dome structures similar to stromatolite and chicken reef complexes 2 Geologic EditRocky reefs are underwater outcrops of rock projecting above the adjacent unconsolidated surface with varying relief They can be found in depth ranges from intertidal to deep water and provide a substrate for a large range of sessile benthic organisms and shelter for a large range of mobile organisms 3 This section needs expansion with relative abundance of rocky vs biotic reef and global distribution ecological importance You can help by adding to it February 2021 Structures Edit Reefs off Vanatinai Island in the Louisiade Archipelago Ancient reefs buried within stratigraphic sections are of considerable interest to geologists because they provide paleo environmental information about the location in Earth s history In addition reef structures within a sequence of sedimentary rocks provide a discontinuity which may serve as a trap or conduit for fossil fuels or mineralizing fluids to form petroleum or ore deposits Corals including some major extinct groups Rugosa and Tabulata have been important reef builders through much of the Phanerozoic since the Ordovician Period However other organism groups such as calcifying algae especially members of the red algae Rhodophyta and molluscs especially the rudist bivalves during the Cretaceous Period have created massive structures at various times During the Cambrian Period the conical or tubular skeletons of Archaeocyatha an extinct group of uncertain affinities possibly sponges built reefs Other groups such as the Bryozoa have been important interstitial organisms living between the framework builders The corals which build reefs today the Scleractinia arose after the Permian Triassic extinction event that wiped out the earlier rugose corals as well as many other groups and became increasingly important reef builders throughout the Mesozoic Era They may have arisen from a rugose coral ancestor Rugose corals built their skeletons of calcite and have a different symmetry from that of the scleractinian corals whose skeletons are aragonite However there are some unusual examples of well preserved aragonitic rugose corals in the Late Permian In addition calcite has been reported in the initial post larval calcification in a few scleractinian corals Nevertheless scleractinian corals which arose in the middle Triassic may have arisen from a non calcifying ancestor independent of the rugosan corals which disappeared in the late Permian Artificial EditMain article Artificial reef An artificial reef is a human created underwater structure typically built to promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom to control erosion block ship passage block the use of trawling nets 4 or improve surfing 5 Many reefs are built using objects that were built for other purposes for example by sinking oil rigs through the Rigs to Reefs program scuttling ships or by deploying rubble or construction debris Other artificial reefs are purpose built e g the reef balls from PVC or concrete Shipwrecks become artificial reefs on the seafloor Regardless of construction method artificial reefs generally provide stable hard surfaces where algae and invertebrates such as barnacles corals and oysters attach the accumulation of attached marine life in turn provides intricate structure and food for assemblages of fish See also EditCoral reef Outcrop of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of stony coral skeletons Reef Hobbyist Magazine Placer geography Submerged bank or reef Pseudo atoll Island that encircles a lagoonReferences Edit a b c d Resource Library Encyclopedic Entry Reef www nationalgeographic org Washington DC National Geographic Society 30 September 2011 Retrieved 15 March 2021 Schieber Jurgen 1998 Possible indicators of microbial mat deposits in shales and sandstones Examples from the Mid Proterozoic Belt Supergroup Montana U S A PDF Sedimentary Geology 120 1 4 105 124 Bibcode 1998SedG 120 105S doi 10 1016 S0037 0738 98 00029 3 Rocky Reef on the West Coast www fisheries noaa gov National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved 3 February 2021 Gray Denis D 2 June 2018 Cambodia volunteers step up battle against illegal fishing asia nikkei com Nikkei Asia Retrieved 17 March 2021 Optimism at Boscombe surf reef s opening day Bournemouthecho co uk 3 November 2009 Archived from the original on March 18 2012 Retrieved 19 June 2012 Sources EditShears N T 2007 Biogeography community structure and biological habitat types of subtidal reefs on the South Island West Coast New Zealand Science for Conservation 281 p 53 Department of Conservation New Zealand 1 External links Edit The Wikibook Historical Geology has a page on the topic of Reefs Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reefs Reef Rescue Smithsonian Ocean Portal Coral Reefs of the Tropics Archived 2011 02 19 at the Wayback Machine facts photos and movies from The Nature Conservancy NOAA Photo Library Reef Environmental Education Foundation NOS Data Explorer A portal to obtain NOAA National Ocean Service data Reef formation Atolls Distribution Development and Architecture Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reef amp oldid 1124848282, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
