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Canton Island typifies the isolated coral atolls dotting the Pacific Ocean. The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs, Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. during the years 1832 to 1836, was published in 1842 as Charles Darwin's first monograph, and set out his theory of the formation of coral reefs and atolls.
Spur and groove formations are a geomorphic feature of many coral reefs. They are ridges of reef formed by coral ("spurs") separated by channels ("grooves") which often have sediment or rubble bed. Spur and groove formations vary in their size and distribution worldwide but are a common feature on many forereefs of fringing reefs , barrier ...
The atoll of Tetiʻaroa in French Polynesia. An atoll (/ ˈ æ t. ɒ l,-ɔː l,-oʊ l, ə ˈ t ɒ l,-ˈ t ɔː l,-ˈ t oʊ l /) [1] is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. [2] [3] Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans
The reef lies in Mexican waters 35 kilometres (22 mi) offshore in the Caribbean Sea, or about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of the city of Chetumal. It is approximately 40.2 kilometres (25.0 mi) long from north to south, and approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) wide at its widest point. It covers an area of 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi).
As the subsidence continues, the fringing reef becomes a barrier reef and ultimately an atoll reef. Darwin's theory starts with a volcanic island which becomes extinct As the island and ocean floor subside, coral growth builds a fringing reef , often including a shallow lagoon between the land and the main reef.
There are two types of lagoons, coastal and oceanic/atoll lagoons. [23] A coastal lagoon is, as the definition above, simply a body of water that is separated from the ocean by a barrier. An atoll lagoon is a circular coral reef or several coral islands that surround a lagoon. Atoll lagoons are often much deeper than coastal lagoons. [24]
This is more than three times the species diversity of corals in the main Hawaiian Islands. The ecosystem of the reef and its subsequent food chain is known for the distinct quality of being primarily predator-based. Sharks comprised 74% of the top predator biomass (329 g·m −2) at Kingman Reef and 57% at Palmyra Atoll (97 g·m −2).
Scott and Seringapatam Reefs is a group of atoll-like reefs in the Timor Sea more than 300 kilometres (190 mi) northwest of Cape Leveque, Western Australia, on the edge of the continental shelf. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] There are three or four separate reef structures, depending on whether Scott Reef Central is counted separately.