Question 87
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?
AOptions
BSolution
Let's examine each statement regarding coral reefs:
1. Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters. This statement is correct. Coral reefs thrive in warm, clear, shallow, sunlit marine waters (typically between 30° North and 30° South latitude) where light can penetrate for the photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) that live symbiotically within coral polyps.
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. The Coral Triangle, an area encompassing parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, is recognized as the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, including coral reefs. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is also the world's largest coral reef system. Together, these regions indeed account for a very substantial portion 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 renowned for their incredible species diversity, coral reefs are often cited by marine biologists as hosting a greater number of animal phyla (major biological classifications representing distinct body plans). This reflects the vast evolutionary history and structural diversity of life forms in marine environments, making coral reefs true biodiversity hotspots at the phylum level.
All three statements are correct.
CStrategy
For ecological questions involving comparisons or broad statements about ecosystems, apply general scientific knowledge about their characteristics, distribution, and biodiversity. Understand different levels of biodiversity (species vs. phyla) and where certain types of life are concentrated.
DSyllabus Analysis
This question falls under Environment and Ecology, focusing on biodiversity, specific ecosystems (coral reefs), and their ecological characteristics.
EQuestion Analysis
Medium. While statements 1 and 2 are relatively straightforward for those familiar with coral reefs, statement 3 requires a more nuanced understanding of biodiversity metrics and comparative biology.