IASNOVA
Important Points-
–Corals are marine invertebrates.
-They are important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.
– Individual heads grow by asexual reproduction of polyps.
– Corals are major contributors to the physical structure of the coral reefs that develop in tropical and subtropical waters, such as the enormous Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
-Coral reefs have the greatest biodiversity of all marine ecosystems.
-Corals are under threat mainly due to sea temperature rise, sea level rise and pH changes from ocean acidification, all associated with greenhouse gas emissions.
CORAL REEFS IN INDIAN OCEAN
- 2 types found in India– Fringing reefs and Atolls.
- Fringing reefs are common. They occur around the islands in the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kachchh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- The reefs in the Lakshadweep group of islands are oceanic atolls.
- Barrier reefs are not known form Indian seas .
Are there coral reefs on the central east and west coasts of India?
No. The conditions here, especially salinity and high sediment load, are not ideal for coral growth. Most major rivers of India, like the Ganges, flow into the sea on the east coast, bringing in lots of sediments that would not allow the corals to grow. On the west coast, the monsoon is intense from June to August. The fresh water flow into the sea at this time reduces salinity to less than half of the normal and the sea water becomes murky brownish with the sediments.
Did you know that the sea grasses are the only flowering plants that live in water?
Sea Grasses enjoy the protection of the lagoon and proliferate. Many fishes and small crustaceans feed on these grasses. You may find the sea cucumber(remember,its an animal,not a plant.Question has come on sea grass in past years) in abundance in the sea grass beds.
–Turtle Grass is one of the species of sea grass .
