Title: Coral Reef Zones Coral Zones
1Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones
2Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 1. Head Corals
3Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 1. Head Corals
-Depths of 5-10 m Montastrea annularis,
Montastrea cavernosa, Porites astreoides,
Colpophyllia natans and species of Diploria.
These corals are massive and usually
boulder-like and resistant to storm disturbance
4Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 2. Acropora
palmata Zone
5Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 2. Acropora
palmata Zone
-high to moderate energy reefs -weaker than head
corals but orients branches to minimize shear
forces -faster grower -needs waves to wash
sediment off
6Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
7Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
8Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
-area on the forereef of most diverse coral
growth -lower wave energy but still good light
9Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 4. Sand Areas
10Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 4. Sand Areas
11Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 5. Plate Zone
12Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 5. Plate Zone
-favours growth of plate-like forms of a species
or plate-like species to capture most
light -corals are more fragile