Evolution of a patch reef

Figure 7. Growth model for patch reefs under a near-stillstand scenario, depicting the following stages: (a) patch-reef inception, (b) early lateral lateral growth, (c) octocoral zone initiation, (d) early maturity, and (c)late maturity.
Brock, J.C., Palaseanu-Lovejoy, M., Wright, C.W., and Nayegandhi, A., 2008, Patch-reef morphology as a proxy for Holocene sea-level variability, Northern Florida Keys, USA: Coral Reefs, v. 27, no. 3, p. 555–568.