Difference between revisions of "Reef"
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{{Definition|title=Reef | {{Definition|title=Reef | ||
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| − | Reefs are hard mineral substrates such as rocks, till, or stones, primarily moraine ridges with block and stone cover in gravel/sandy surroundings, which rise mildly to prominently above the seafloor <ref>[[Threats_to_cold_water_coral_reefs%2C_sand_banks_and_seagrass_habitats_in_the_North_Sea_by_climate_change_effects:_sea_level_rise%2C_temperature_rise_and_storm_surges | Theseus wiki]]</ref>. | + | Reefs are hard mineral substrates such as rocks, till, or stones, primarily moraine ridges with block and stone cover in gravel/sandy surroundings, which rise mildly to prominently above the seafloor; |
| + | * biogenic hard substrates such as honeycomb (Sabellaria) reefs and mussel banks are present; | ||
| + | * they are permanently submerged; | ||
| + | * often they are overgrown with mussels and a characteristic macrofauna. | ||
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| + | Reefs have a number of ecological functions: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * feeding grounds for birds and marine mammals; | ||
| + | *habitat and retreat; | ||
| + | *habitat and nursery area with high species diversity; | ||
| + | *spawning grounds and feeding ground for fish; | ||
| + | *stepping-stone and regeneration reservoir for the expansion of benthic organisms. | ||
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| + | |||
| + | <ref>[[Threats_to_cold_water_coral_reefs%2C_sand_banks_and_seagrass_habitats_in_the_North_Sea_by_climate_change_effects:_sea_level_rise%2C_temperature_rise_and_storm_surges | Theseus wiki]]</ref>. | ||
}} | }} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 08:40, 17 July 2012
Definition of Reef:
Reefs are hard mineral substrates such as rocks, till, or stones, primarily moraine ridges with block and stone cover in gravel/sandy surroundings, which rise mildly to prominently above the seafloor;
Reefs have a number of ecological functions:
This is the common definition for Reef, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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