Differences
1. Fringing reefs are reefs that form along a coastline.
2. Barrier reefs grow parallel to shorelines, but farther out, usually separated from the land by a deep lagoon.
3. Coral Atolls are rings of coral that grow on top of old, sunken volcanoes in the ocean.
4. Fringing reefs grow on the continental shelf in shallow water.
5. Coral Atolls begin as fringe reefs surrounding a volcanic island; then, as the volcano sinks, the reef continues to grow, and eventually only the reef remains.
Similarities
1. Spur-and-groove formations develop primarily on reef slopes that are exposed to consistent strong winds which are found on atolls and some fringing reefs as well as barrier reefs.
2. All grow different types of corals
3. All consist of a reef flat and a reef slope
4. All are home to many different types of fishes
5. All are type of coral reefs
CITE
http://www.glennevanish.com/Saipan/saipan-map.gif
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/ocean/Coralreef.shtml
