- Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters.
- More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines.
- Coral reefs host far more animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Coral Reefs are most commonly known as the rainforest of oceans. They are the underwater structures that are formed of coral polyps, held together by calcium carbonate. Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mud free and warm waters. They secrete calcium carbonate. The coral secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits, in the form of reefs, are mainly of three kinds: barrier reef, fringing reef and atolls. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs.
Statement 1 is correct: Mostly the coral reefs are in tropical waters, located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf.
Statement 2 is correct: Indonesia, followed by Australia and the Philippines are the largest reef nations, while France comes in fourth. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia, and Philippines.
Statement 3 is correct: Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. Reefs cover just a tiny fraction (less than one percent) of the earth’s surface and less than two percent of the ocean bottom. Because they are so diverse, coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea. Coral reefs host a greater number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.
