3. INTRODUCTION…..
Definition
The term Coral reefs are generally refers to
marine ecosystem in which the main
organisms are corals that house algal
symbionts within their tissue
Coral reefs – tropical rain forest of the sea
4000 species living housing in the corals
4. DISTRIBUTION….
Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay and
Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep
area
total area of coral reef ecosystem is 2,375
sq.km
It comprises a chain of 21 tiny islands that lie
between Tuticorin to Rameswaram of Tamil
Nadu South East coast of India
5. Provides shelter, shade and food to the
many organisms and attracts the migration
of organism towards the coast.
According to (Melkani et al., 2007;
Kannaiyan & Venketraman, 2008)
The islands area harbor
104 species of hard corals,
6. 13 species of sea grasses which are
supporting population of Green and
Olive-ridley turtle, Dugongs.
450 species of fishes
79 species of crustaceans,
99 species of echinoderms,
108 species of sponges and
484 species of molluscs
7. CORAL REEFS OF INDIA
Dominant coral genera in this region are
Acropora, Montipora and Pocillopora
massive forms of corals found to occur in this
region are Porites, Favia, Favites,
Goniastrea, Platygyra and rarely Symphyllia
The dominant reef building coral species
belong to the family Poritidae and Faviidae
(Gopinatha pillai 1971)
8. Coral reefs serve as spawning grounds for
fishes, seagrass beds serve as nursery
grounds and mangroves give shelters and
thus form a unique component of life –
support system for coastal biodiversity that
relates to global benefits and local needs.
9.
10. CORAL TYPES
Non- reef builders – ahermatypic corals
Reef builders - hermatypic
Ahermatic corals- soft corals,solitary hard
corals.
They do not form reefs ( they do not possess
symbiotic algae )
Soft corals are colonial corals that have a
flexible skeleton and depend on toxic chemicals
in their tissues to protect themselves from
predators.
11. Hermatypic corals are reef forming corals and
this is possible for them because they are
known to harbour zooxanthallae in their body
wall.
These are hard corals that form large colonies
from thousands of connected polyps living
together, sharing food and energy.
Hard corals use zooxanthallae to combine
calcium and carbonate from water for
respiration.
12. MAJOR TYPES OF CORAL REEFS.
Three major types….
1.Fringing reefs
2.Barrier reefs
3.atolls
Fringing reef
It extends along the shore line,
close to land or separated only by a narrow
stretch of water, but that can extend of to sea
long distances and its also exist in shallow
waters.
13. Barrier reefs….
It form usually 10-100kms
from the coast and often form massive walls
of corals separated from the coast by a large
channel or lagoon.
Atolls….
atolls are circular reefs surrounding
a lagoon that form when volcanic islands sink
into the ocean over millions of years.
14. FACTORS LIMITING THE DISTRIBUTION OF
CORAL REEFS
Temperature
Depth
Light
Salinity
Sedimentation
Wave action
Exposure to air
15. IMPORTANCE
1.corals remove and recycle carbon
dioxide.
2.It acts as shelter for many marine
organisms.
3.it provide resources and it also acting
as breeding , nursery, and feeding grounds
for large no. of animals.
16. 4. They attracts millions of tourists
every year.
5. it is also used as bone substitutes
in reconstructive bone surgery.
6.it provides a living laboratory for
both students and scientists.
17. CONSERVATION MEASURES TO PROTECT THE
CORALS
Ban coral mining involved in or those who
encourage the exploitation of corals for any
purpose.
The department of forest and fisheries
should take steps to stop anchoring of
vessels on coral reefs.
They also regulate and stop the trawl boat
operation.
18. Commercial shell collection should be
controlled and closely monitored.
Ban of untreated sewage and urban wastes
into the coastal waters.
Ban dumping of any material that would
affect the coral ecosystem.
