Chapter 13, Problem 19RQ

Summary Introduction

To distinguish: Fringing reefs, atolls, barrier reefs, and patch or bank reefs.

Introduction: Coral reefs are large underwater structures, and they are composed of skeletons of colonial marine invertebrates called corals. Coral reefs are made up of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Coral reefs are divided into four classes, namely, barrier reefs, fringing reefs, atolls, and barrier reefs.