Research Findings on Coral Reefs

Context:

Ocean temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef hit their highest level in 400 years over the past decade. The reef suffered mass coral bleaching events between 2016 and 2024.

Relevance:

Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Environment and Ecology, Environmental Pollution and Degradation)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Research Findings on Coral Reefs

1. Great Barrier Reef
2. About Coral Reefs

Research Findings on Coral Reefs:

• Extent of Bleaching: Aerial assessments identified significant bleaching across two-thirds of over 300 reefs surveyed along Australia’s northeast coast, particularly in shallow water regions.
• Global Threat to Coral Reefs: Even with adherence to the Paris Agreement’s objectives, an estimated 70% to 90% of coral reefs worldwide remain at risk.
• Adaptation and Loss: Over the last 25 years, coral reefs have adapted to increasing temperatures by evolving more heat-resistant varieties. Despite these adaptations, there’s a looming threat of substantial decreases in both the diversity and the spatial extent of these crucial marine ecosystems.

Great Barrier Reef

• The Great Barrier Reef, located in the Coral Sea (North-East Coast), off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world’s most extensive and spectacular coral reef ecosystem composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.
• This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps which are tiny, soft-bodied organisms and their base which is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, forms the structure of coral reefs.
• It was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

About Coral Reefs

• Indonesia has the largest coral reef area in the world and the Great Barrier Reef of the Queensland coast of Australia is the largest aggregation of coral reefs.
• India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Chagos have the maximum coral reefs in South Asia.
• Coral Reefs protect humanity from natural calamities acting as a barrier, provide revenue and employment through tourism and recreation and also provide habitats for fishes, starfish and sea anemones.
• Coral blocks are used for buildings and road construction, the lime supplied by corals is used in cement industries and coral reefs may also be used in jewellery.
• India has four coral reef areas:
  • Gulf of Mannar,
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
  • Lakshadweep islands
  • Gulf of Kutch.

Risks and threats to coral reefs

• Due to anthropogenic activities such as coastal development, destructive fishing methods and pollution from domestic and industrial sewage.
• Due to increased sedimentation, over-exploitation and recurring cyclones.
• Coral diseases such as black band and white band due to infectious microorganisms introduced by the human population that live on the coastal regions.

-Source: The Hindu