CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM

Presented by Raja rajan

Coral reef ecosystem

Presented by Raja Rajan Periyasamy

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION… DISTRIBUTION… DIVERSITY OF CORAL REEFS… TYPES OF CORAL REEFS… FACTORS AFFEECTING… IMPORTANCE… THREATS AND CONSERVATION…SW

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

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

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,

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

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FACTORS LIMITING THE DISTRIBUTION OF CORAL REEFS

Temperature Depth Light Salinity Sedimentation Wave action Exposure to air

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.

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.

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.

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.