Q. Consider the following statements:
1.A primary factor that distinguishes deep water coral reefs from shallow water coral reefs is salinity levels.
2.Shallow-water coral reefs are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, while deep-water coral reefs are found in various latitudes, typically in deeper, colder waters with different light and nutrient conditions.
3.Shallow-water coral reefs cover more areas of the ocean floor than deep-water coral reefs.
Which of the state statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect. The primary factor that distinguishes deep water coral reefs from shallow water coral reefs is the depth at which they are found. Deep water coral reefs are typically found at depths greater than 30 meters, while shallow water coral reefs are found in shallow, sunlit waters, usually less than 30 meters deep. Shallow-water coral reefs generally cover fewer areas of the ocean floor compared to deep-water coral reefs.
Statement 2 is correct. Shallow-water coral reefs are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive in warm, clear, shallow waters. On the other hand, deep-water coral reefs are found in various latitudes, from tropical to polar regions, but they are typically found in deeper, colder waters with different light and nutrient conditions. Deep-water coral reefs are often found in waters below 30 meters, where the light intensity decreases significantly, and the water temperature is colder than in shallow waters.
Researchers have mapped the largest deep sea coral reef found in the ocean off the Atlantic coast of the United States using new underwater mapping. The width of the reef is about 68 miles (109 kilometers). The depth of reef ranges from 200 meters to 1000 meters where even sunlight does not penetrate.
Source: Forum IAS
