Question.
Discuss the favorable conditions required for the growth of coral reefs and explain the causes of coral bleaching. ( 63rd BPSC, 2019)
>Answer.
Coral reefs are one type of bio landforms in the ocean or it is one type of beautiful and colorful marine ecosystem. Coral reefs are the work of many types of small coral animals such as coral polyps, shell-forming creatures, calcareous algae, and other marine organisms.
The following are favorable conditions required for the growth of coral reefs in the ocean:
- Ocean water temperature should be between 23 to 25 degrees centigrade with some tolerance variation.
- The average salinity should be between 27 to 40 ppm.
- Required shallow water and depth of ocean water should not be more than 200 meters. The favorable depth is 50 m to 200 m.
- Ocean water must be Mud free or sedimentation-free.
- Required nearly stable water.
Cause of coral bleaching:
- When algae (the color provider of coral) left the coral polyps, polyps become white; this phenomenon is called coral bleaching.
- The following are causes of coral bleaching:
- The rise in seawater temperature[ climate change]
- Ocean acidification[ acid rain]
- Pollution in the ocean[ human activities]
- Increase of sedimentation in the ocean water[ river siltation caused by deforestation and unscientific mining].
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