BankReefs
From coraldigest
Bank Reefs
Description
Discussion
Formation
- These reefs are built upward from the seafloor.
- A single species often builds these deep-water reefs up.
- Photosynthesis is not typically the primary energy source for this system.
Morphology and Ecology
- Coral forms into linear or semi-circular clusters that are often larger than similar coral formations such as patch reefs.
- Bank reefs have a high species diversity living in and around them as is typical for most coral reefs.
- These coral formation typically consists of three regions that are distinct in location and the type of coral from which they are formed.
- Reef Flat. The inshore side of the bank reef.
- This consists of broken coral skeletons and coralline algae.
- Spur and groove patterned region.
- Spurs are low ridges of coral. These areas are dominated by fire corals and zoanthids at shallower depths. At around 5-6 feet these species give way to elkhorn, star, and brain corals along with sea fans, seawhips, and sea plumes.
- Grooves are the sandy bottom channels that separate the spurs. These areas consist mostly coarse white limestone sand composed of fragments of shells, coral, and algae.
- These regions are inhabited by smaller invertebrates that only venture out at night.
- Forereef. Open-sea edge of the bank reef.
- At its shallowest points this section of the reef if composed primarily of Star coral and inhabited by benthic (residing on rock or sediment) organisms.
- As depth continues to increase and becomes limiting, coral begins to form plate-like formations that increase their surface area and photosynthetic ability.
- From here the bank reef slopes down into the depths of the ocean until sponges and non-reef building community compose the majority of the ecosystem.
- Reef Flat. The inshore side of the bank reef.
- French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru), Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus), Queen Parrotfish (Scarus vetula), Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula), Rock beauties (Holacanthus tricolor), Goatfish (Parupeneus cyclostomus), Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus), and Snappers (Lutjanus spp.) commonly inhabit these coral formations.
Location
- Found at deeper depths than other coral formations at 20-60 feet down.
- An example of one such formation is off the central east coast of Florida. Here Oculina varicosa is known to form bank reefs from the sea floor.
Notes
Jaap, Walter C. "Corals and Coral Reefs." Water: Science and Issues 1 (2003): 212-20. GVRL. Cengage Learning. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
"Cool Things: Bank Reef." Web World Wonders. Apache, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://webworld.freac.fsu.edu/cameras/keys/cool/bankreef.htm>.
"Coral Reefs." Nature Foundation St. Maarten, 2009. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.naturefoundationsxm.org/education/coral_reefs/coral_reefs.htm>.
"Bank Reef." South Florida Aquatic Environments. FLMNH Ichthyology Department, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/southflorida/coral/bankreef.html>.