Coral reefs can be separated into three distinct zones: the back reef, reef crest, and fore-reef (Figure 7). The back reef includes the shallow lagoon between the shore and coral reef. This ...

Coral reefs are some of the world's most diverse ecosystems. Despite making up less than 1% of the world's oceans, one ...

Those polyps clone themselves over and over again, eventually forming larger coral colonies that build reefs. That’s how typical reef-building corals, like the iconic elkhorn and staghorn ...

Off the coast of the Maldives, the coral reef “twilight zone” is buzzing with life. This section of reef — categorized as coral reefs at depths between 100 and 500 feet — provides safety ...

Coral reefs are hot spots for more than fish. Fish and corals in reefs across the Pacific Ocean may harbor nearly 3 million varieties of bacteria, researchers report June 1 in Nature Communications.