Is there any coral reefs in India?
The major reef formations in India are restricted to the Gulf of Mannar, Palk bay, Gulf of Kutch, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep islands. While the Lakshadweep reefs are atolls, the others are all fringing reefs. Patchy coral is present in the inter-tidal areas of the central west coast of the country.
What is the importance of coral reefs PDF?
Coral reefs protect the shoreline and reduce flooding. Very importantly, coral reefs protect the shoreline, providing a physical barrier – a wall – against tidal surges, extreme weather events, ocean currents, tides and winds. In doing so, they prevent coastal erosion, flooding and loss of infrastructure.
How many coral reefs are there in India?
four coral reef areas
India has four coral reef areas: Gulf of Mannar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep islands and the Gulf of Kutch.
Which place in India is known for coral?
The Coral reefs in India are mainly restricted to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Strait and the Lakshadweep islands. All of these reefs are Fringing reefs, except Lakshadweep which are Atolls.
Which place is famous for corals?
Gulf of Kutch Source Pirotan Island near Jamnagar with 42 other islands are declared as Marine Sanctuary. It is 58 km wide on the western side and 170 km wide on the eastern side. The total area of the Sanctuary is 162.89 sq km. Some of the finest coral reefs are found at Ajad, Pirotan, Narala and Positara.
How coral reefs are formed?
Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. As the corals grow and expand, reefs take on one of three major characteristic structures — fringing, barrier or atoll.
What is coral bleaching PDF?
Bleaching of corals (reversible loss of endosymbiotic zooxanthellae) is an unspecific indicator for a range of environmental stressors including too high or too low water temperatures, sedimentation, high irradiance or turbidity, mechanical disturbance, or infection by microbial pathogens.
How are coral reefs formed?
How are coral reefs formed Upsc?
Coral reefs are formed when the freely moving larvae of corals attach themselves to sedimentary rocks or hard surfaces near the coastlines. This process is undertaken with the help of several other processes like sedimentation, compaction, cementation and solidification of the skeletons of coral polyps.
What is the largest coral reef?
The Great Barrier Reef
Satellite photograph of the Great Barrier Reef situated off the northeastern coast of Australia. Stretching for 1,429 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles , the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world.
Which is the biggest aggregation of coral island in India?
Lakshadweep is India’s smallest union territory and a group of 36 islands is known for its exotic beaches. These islands have been built up by corals and have fringing coral reefs very close to their shores. The coral group of islands of India are situated at the southern end of the 200-km-broad Nine Degree Channel.
What is the coral reef composed of?
calcium carbonate
A coral reef is made of thin layers of calcium carbonate Coral polyps form a living mat over a calcium carbonate skeleton. Stony corals (or scleractinians) are the corals primarily responsible for laying the foundations of, and building up, reef structures.
What are coral reefs?
Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine water that contain few nutrients. » The major reef formations in India are restricted to the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep islands. » While theLakshadweep reefs are atolls, the others are all fringing reefs.
What is the history of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean?
The reefs of the Indian Ocean have been built up during the tertiary and quaternary periods. The Indian Ocean coral reefs include sea-level atolls, fringing and barrier reefs, elevated reefs and submerged reef platforms.
What is the distribution of coral reefs in India?
In the Indian subcontinent, the reefs are distributed along the east and west coasts at restricted places. The major coral area in the west coast includes Gulf of Kachchh, apart from Lakshadweep and in the east coast, the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.
What are the major reef formations in India?
The major reef formations in India are restricted to the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kachchh, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. Scattered coral growth has also been reported along certain inter-tidal belts and submerged banks both on the east and west coasts of the country.