Q. Consider the following statements:
1.The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living ecosystem in the world.
2.Ocean acidification contributes to coral bleaching by reducing the amount of oxygen in the water.
3.The most significant impact of coral bleaching is the increased fish populations due to reduced coral predation.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is correct. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and the largest living structure on Earth, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres.
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect. Ocean acidification affects corals by reducing the availability of calcium carbonate, which corals need to build their skeletons. It does not directly reduce the amount of oxygen in the water. Coral bleaching is primarily caused by increased sea temperatures, which stress the corals and cause them to expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues. The most critical consequence of coral bleaching is the loss of coral health and biodiversity. Bleached corals are more susceptible to disease and death, which can lead to the collapse of the entire reef ecosystem. This negatively affects fish populations and other marine life that depend on healthy coral reefs for habitat and food.
Source: DD News
