Four new corals recorded from Indian waters

Four new corals recorded from Indian waters

Subject: Environment

Section: Ecosystem

Context: Scientists have recorded four species of azooxanthellate corals for the first time from Indian waters. These new corals were found from the waters of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

What is Azooxanthellate corals?

Corals:

Coral polyps are tiny and fleshy sea anemones that live in tropical and subtropical oceans and seas.

They live in shallow waters along with microscopic algae called Zooxanthellae, with which they share a symbiotic relationship

This It is a group of corals that do not contain zooxanthellate and derive nourishment not from the sun but from capturing different forms of plankton.

These groups of corals are deep sea corals, with the majority of species reporting from between 200 m to 1000 m. Their occurrences are also reported from shallow coastal waters.

Zooxanthellate corals, meanwhile restricted to shallow waters.

algae has photosynthesis abilities that feed the coral polyps with carbon compounds which give them energy. In return, the polyps provide protection to Zooxanthellae.

Coral reefs are one of the most productive, sustainable and pristine ecosystems of the world’s oceans, especially in shallow coastal waters.

It contributes several services associated with human needs and existence.

There are about 570 species of hard corals found in India and almost 90% of them are found in the waters surrounding Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Coral reefs in India are found in a lot of areas including the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands

The pristine and oldest ecosystem of corals share less than 1% of the earth’s surface but they provide a home to nearly 25% of marine life.