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Mahesh

10/08/22 06:07 AM IST

Parts of Great Barrier Reef record highest amount of coral in 36 years

In News 
  • According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) report, the highest levels of coral cover within the past 36 years have been recorded in the northern and central parts of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
Great Barrier Reef 
  • It is the world’s largest and longest coral reef system. It is located in Australia. It is a World Heritage Area since 1981 (the world’s first reef ecosystem to be recognised by UNESCO). It is home to 400 types of coral, 1500 species of fish and 4000 types of molluscs.
  •  Corals are marine invertebrates or animals which do not possess a spine (phylum Cnidaria). They are the largest living structures on the planet.
Coral Reef
  • A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate.
  • Coral Bleaching: Coral bleaching is the process when corals become white due to various stressors, such as changes in temperature, light, or nutrients. Bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel the algae that live inside their tissue, causing the coral to turn white. GBR has faced several mass coral bleaching in the recent past (including the recent one in March 2022)
  • Importance of Corals:Coral reefs support over 25% of marine biodiversity even though corals occupy only 1% of the seafloor. Coral reef systems generate $2.7 trillion in annual economic value through goods and service trade and tourism and other livelihood activities.
Source- The Hindu 

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