Coral Flashcards
Who put forward the Subsidence Theory of coral reef formation?
Charles Darwin
In what year did Charles Darwin propose his Subsidence Theory?
1842
What was the context of Darwin’s Subsidence Theory?
After his voyage to Pacific Islands
What are Fringing Reefs?
Coral reefs that began around an island or the topmost portions of extinct volcanoes that stood above the ocean bed.
Fringing reefs are the first stage in the development of coral reef systems.
What happens to Fringing Reefs as the land subsides?
Corals continue to grow upwards and outwards, forming a barrier reef with a lagoon between the island and the reef.
This process allows the reef to keep pace with the subsidence of the land.
What is formed when land is completely submerged?
Atoll.
An atoll is characterized by only the outer rims of reefs being visible after complete submergence.
Fill in the blank: As lands gradually subsided, corals continue to grow upwards and outwards, forming a _______.
barrier reef.
Barrier reefs create a lagoon between the reef and the island.
True or False: Atolls are formed from the complete submergence of land.
True.
Atolls represent the final stage of coral reef development after land submergence.
Condition favourable for coral growth
● Water temperature must not fall below 20°C.
They don’t flourish where there are cold currents because upwelling of the cold water from depths of oceans cools the warm surface water.
It also explains the reason why coral reefs are generally absent on western margins of continents. Water depth should not exceed 180 feet.
Water should be saltish and free from sediment.
Is coral included in WPA 1972
Yes
##footnote
Schedule 1
Other corals included
Reef Building Coral (All Scleractinians); Black Coral (All Antipatharians); Organ Pipe Coral (Tubipora musica); Fire Coral (all Millipora Specias); Sea Fan (All Gorgonians
