Chapter 53, Problem 4Q

Summary Introduction

To review:

The effect of declining coral population due to highly acidic warm water on the population of fish in the three study areas. Also, give reasons for the occurrence of these changes in the coral population and variations that would occur in these regions.

Given:

Figure 1 shows the study area of the experiment in the Indo-pacific region with high coral reef species. The three sites are Kimbe Bay in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Moorea Island in French Polynesia, and Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast of Australia.

Figure 1: Experimental sites across the Indo-pacific region.

Graph 1 shows the results of the number of fish species found in the coral species region. A relationship was established between the index of sensitivity and the number of coral species.

Graph 1: Relationship between the index of sensitivity and number of coral species.

Introduction:

As a result of increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the acidity of air and water is increasing day-by-day. Global warming, which is again contributed by greenhouse gases, has raised the temperature of oceanic water. These events have impacted the coral reefs to a great extent.