Significance of Dead Coral Reef

Researchers from University of Queensland, Australia have revealed that more life can be supported by dead coral remains as compared to the live corals. Cryptic organisms such as hidden sea creatures, fishes, snails, tiny crabs and worms get support by the Dead coral reefs.

Methods and Findings

  • Three-dimensional printed coral stacks called Rubble Biodiversity Samplers (RUBS) to survey cryptic organisms.
  • Changes in the cryptic population could be identified by sampling the RUBS′ structures over time.
  • Missing link was found in the coral reef food webs by the researchers.
  • Research findings further helped in knowing the importance of dead coral reef rubble to the ocean ecosystem.

Cryptic Organisms

  • Organisms that are morphologically indistinguishable (identical in appearance) .
  • Genetically distinct.
  • There are many species classified as single species but are found to be genetically different known as cryptic species.
  • The African elephant is an example of cryptic species.

Coral Reefs

  • Large underwater structures.
  • They are composed of the skeletons of colonial marine invertebrates called coral.
  • To create a hard, durable exoskeleton corals extract calcium carbonate from seawater that protects their soft, sac-like bodies.
  • Zooxanthellae is the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae.
  • Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor.
  • They are the most productive and diverse ecosystems on Earth.
  • Coral reefs are also referred to as “the rainforests of the sea” for their biodiversity.

Death of Coral Reefs

  • Due to any changes if corals become stressed either due to pollution or global warming they can expel algae and get bleached which means the death of the coral reef.
  • To restore corals reefs using “biorock” or mineral accretion technology, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) along with Gujarat՚s forest department is attempting a process.

Examrace Team at Dec 28, 2021