Consider the following statements :
- 1. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters.
- 2. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines.
- 3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
1 and 2 only
3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
1. **Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters:** This statement is correct. Corals require specific environmental conditions for growth, including warm water temperatures (typically between 20-30°C), shallow depths allowing sunlight penetration (for symbiotic algae), clear water, and normal marine salinity. These conditions are predominantly found in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
2. **More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines:** This statement is correct. These three countries are part of the “Coral Triangle,” a marine region considered the global center of marine biodiversity. Australia hosts the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system. Indonesia and the Philippines have extensive reef systems within the Coral Triangle, which collectively hold the highest diversity of corals and reef fish globally. Together, these three nations account for a very significant proportion of the world’s coral reefs.
3. **Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests:** This statement is correct. While tropical rainforests are incredibly rich in species (especially insects and plants), marine ecosystems, in general, host a greater diversity of animal *phyla* compared to terrestrial ecosystems. Coral reefs, being highly complex and productive marine environments, are known to support a vast array of marine life representing a wide range of animal phyla, including sponges, cnidarians (corals, jellyfish), mollusks, arthropods, annelids, echinoderms, chordates (fish, turtles, etc.), and many others. The number of phyla found in marine environments is substantially higher than on land, and coral reefs are hotspots for this phylogenetic diversity.