{"id":1051,"date":"2021-08-09T06:46:37","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T13:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coral.org\/?page_id=1051"},"modified":"2021-09-09T11:46:35","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T18:46:35","slug":"how-reefs-are-made","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-reefs-are-made\/","title":{"rendered":"How Reefs Are Made"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"hero-section alignfull wp-block-coral-hero\" role=\"banner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1600\" height=\"789\" src=\"https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-reefs-101-hero.jpg\" class=\"hero-background\" alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-reefs-101-hero.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-reefs-101-hero-796x393.jpg 796w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-reefs-101-hero-1024x505.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-reefs-101-hero-768x379.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-reefs-101-hero-1536x757.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"hero-section__inner-container\">\n\t\t\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center hero-subtitle\">Coral Reefs 101<\/p>\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center hero-title wp-block-post-title\">How Reefs Are Made<\/h1>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns coral-reefs-101-container is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-14cf5ab5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:320px\"><nav style=\"font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-coral-classic-menu-1 has-active-indicator has-submenu-indent coral-101-menu wp-block-coral-classic-menu\" aria-label=\"Coral Reefs 101 Sidebar\">\n\t<ul id=\"menu-coral-reefs-101-sidebar\" class=\"menu\"><li id=\"menu-item-1513\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-1513\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/\">Coral Reef Ecology<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1514\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1514\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/coral-polyps\/\">Coral Polyps<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1518\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1518\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/hard-corals\/\">Hard Corals<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1522\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1522\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/soft-corals\/\">Soft Corals<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1521\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1521\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-reefs-are-made\/\">How Reefs Are Made<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2193\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2193\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/what-do-corals-reefs-need-to-survive\/\">What Do Corals Reefs Need to Survive?<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2194\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2194\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/geography\/\">Where Are Coral Reefs Located?<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1519\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1519\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-coral-reefs-grow\/\">How Coral Reefs Grow<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1520\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-corals-reproduce\/\">How Corals Reproduce<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2195\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2195\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/types-of-coral-reef-formations\/\">Types of Coral Reef Formations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2205\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2205\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/reef-threats\/\">Reef Threats<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1517\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1517\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/global-threats\/\">Global<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1516\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1516\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/direct-threats\/\">Direct<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2203\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2203\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/\">Why Care About Reefs?<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2201\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2201\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/biodiversity\/\">Biodiversity<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2200\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2200\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/coastal-protection\/\">Coastal Protection<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2199\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2199\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/food\/\">Food<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2198\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2198\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/medicine\/\">Medicine<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2197\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2197\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/tourism\/\">Tourism<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2361\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2361\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/how-can-you-help\/\">How Can You Help?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Reefs Are Made<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Coral reefs are built by coral polyps as they secrete layers of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The corals that build reefs are known as \u201chard\u201d or \u201creef-building\u201d corals. Soft corals, such as sea fans and sea whips, do not produce reefs. The calcium carbonate that is created by hard corals provides a foundation for baby corals to settle upon, and if the local threats to coral reefs are limited, then the corals will build up over time and create a healthy, vibrant coral reef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other types of animals and plants also contribute to the structure of coral reefs. Many types of algae, seaweed, sponges, sediment, and even mollusks like giant clams and oysters add to the architecture of coral reefs. When these organisms die, they also serve as foundations for new corals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-small\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-how-reefs-are-made-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1573\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-how-reefs-are-made-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-how-reefs-are-made-796x531.jpg 796w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-how-reefs-are-made-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/08\/coral-how-reefs-are-made.jpg 1340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption>Great Star Coral at night, Grand Cayman. Photo by Ellen Cuylaerts \/ Ocean Image Bank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Reefs Are Made Coral reefs are built by coral polyps as they secrete layers of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies. The corals that build reefs are known as \u201chard\u201d or \u201creef-building\u201d corals. Soft corals, such as sea fans and sea whips, do not produce reefs. The calcium carbonate that is created by hard corals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1524,"parent":93,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"coral_transparent_header":false,"coral_hide_siblings_nav":true,"coral_hide_flyout":false,"coral_hide_title":false,"coral_no_footer_gap":false,"coral_subtitle":"","coral_subheading":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1051","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1051\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}