Section 16.2_ Kinds of Coral Reefs

Multiple Choice

Why are coral reefs considered important to marine ecosystems?

• They provide food and shelter for marine life

• They increase ocean pollution

• They decrease biodiversity

• They are sources of freshwater

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the three main types of coral reefs?

• Fringing reefs

• Barrier reefs

• Atolls

• Patch reefs

Fill in the Blank

Growth of corals is slower on the reef flat due to runoff from land, which includes sediment, fresh water, and ___.

Multiple Choice

Where is coral growth typically most intense in a fringing reef?

• On the reef flat

• On the outer reef slope

• On the beach

• On the lagoon side

Multiple Select

Which of the following are features commonly found in a fringing reef?

• Reef flat

• Reef slope

• Lagoon

• Reef crest

Multiple Choice

Which of the following features is typically found between the shore and a barrier reef?

• Lagoon

• Sand cay

• Patch reefs

• Fore-reef slope

Open Ended

Based on the diagrams and descriptions, explain how sediment affects coral growth in barrier reefs and how this relates to the formation of sand cays.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are characteristics of atolls?

• Circular reef surrounding a central lagoon

• Presence of a windward and leeward side

• Formation of spur-and-groove formations

• Sand cays and islands may be part of the structure

Fill in the Blank

The two largest atolls are found in the Maldives (___ Ocean) and the Marshall Islands (Pacific).

Fill in the Blank

What type of reef is often characterized by the presence of spur-and-groove formations?

Open Ended

Describe the process hypothesized by Charles Darwin for the formation of atolls and the evidence that supports this theory.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following correctly describes the process of atoll formation as shown in the diagrams?

• A coral reef forms around a newly formed island, the island erodes over time, and eventually only a ring of coral remains as an atoll.

• A coral reef forms in the middle of the ocean without any island, and then an island appears inside the reef.

• An atoll forms when a lagoon dries up and coral grows on the exposed land.

• A coral reef forms on top of a mountain and then sinks below sea level.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following terms best describes a shallow, sheltered body of water separated from the open sea by coral reefs, sand bars, or barrier islands?

• Lagoon

• Reef crest

• Back-reef slope

• Sand cay

Fill in the Blank

A small island formed on reef flats by wind and waves is called a ___.

Open Ended

How do coral reefs contribute to the overall structure and function of marine ecosystems?

Multiple Choice

What are the main types of coral reefs discussed in Chapter 16?

• Fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls

• Rocky reefs, sandy reefs, and kelp forests

• Deep-sea reefs, shallow reefs, and mangrove reefs

• Artificial reefs, natural reefs, and volcanic reefs