reef system
Underwater limestone ecosystem
A reef system is a large, interconnected structure of coral reefs and associated marine habitats—including lagoons, channels, and seagrass beds—that function as an ecological unit.
The term often appears in discussions of conservation and marine biology: The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system.
Reef systems support enormous biodiversity and protect coastlines from wave erosion.
- artificial reefsSunken structures fostering marine life
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- coral polypsReef-forming marine invertebrates
- parrotfishBeak-jawed coral-eating fish
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
keystone species · ocean acidification · mangroves · continental shelf · seagrass · lagoon · food webs · coastal development · ecological niches · biodiversity hotspots · underwater world · tropical waters · diving · snorkeling · seabed · ecosystem · scuba diving · coral
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- aquatic habitatsocean, sea, river, lake, pond
- ocean featurestrench, atoll, continental shelf, kelp forest, hydrothermal vent
- ecosystemsrainforest, forest, desert, jungle, ocean
- landformsmountain, cliff, valley, volcano, mountain ridge
- biomesdesert, forest, grassland, jungle, tundra
reef systemseamount
Submerged volcanic elevation
open ocean · deep sea floor · ocean trench · mud flat · mid-ocean ridge
reef systemocean trench
deep sea floor · submarine canyon · Mariana Trench · deep ocean