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Consider the following statements with reference to Coral:
1. It lives in symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
2. High solar irradiance leads to the bleaching in shallow water corals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
  • a)
    1 only
  • b)
    2 only
  • c)
    Both 1 and 2
  • d)
    Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Consider the following statements with reference to Coral:1. It lives ...
Explanation:

1. Symbiotic Relationship with Zooxanthellae:
- The first statement is correct. Coral lives in a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
- Zooxanthellae live within the coral's tissues and provide them with essential nutrients through photosynthesis.
- In return, the coral provides the algae with a protected environment and compounds necessary for photosynthesis.

2. Bleaching in Shallow Water Corals:
- The second statement is also correct. High solar irradiance can lead to bleaching in shallow water corals.
- When corals are stressed due to factors like high temperatures, they expel the zooxanthellae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white or "bleach."
- This bleaching can be harmful to the coral as it loses a vital source of nutrients and can eventually lead to coral death if the stressors persist.
Therefore, both statements are correct. Coral's symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae and the impact of high solar irradiance on shallow water corals are important factors to consider in the conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems.
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Community Answer
Consider the following statements with reference to Coral:1. It lives ...
Recently, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the fourth global mass coral bleaching event has been triggered by extraordinary ocean temperatures.
  • Corals are essentially animals, which are sessile, meaning they permanently attach themselves to the ocean floor.
  • Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
  • The algae provides the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light.
  • They use their tiny tentacle-like hands to catch food from the water and sweep into their mouth.
  • Each individual coral animal is known as a polyp and it lives in groups of hundreds to thousands of genetically identical polyps that form a ‘colony’.
  • Corals are largely classified as either hard coral or soft coral. It is the hard corals that are the architects of coral reefs — complex three-dimensional structures built up over thousands of years.
  • Hard corals have stony skeletons made out of limestone that are produced by coral polyps. When polyps die, their skeletons are left behind and used as foundations for new polyps.
  • Coral reefs, also referred to as “rainforests of the sea”, have existed on the Earth for nearly 450 million years.
  • Significance of corals: Coral reefs have a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Thousands of marine species can be found living on one reef. 
What is Coral Bleaching?
  • It happens when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity.
  • Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
  • So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which exposes their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance.
  • This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.
  • Reasons for Coral Bleaching
  • Change in Ocean Temperature: Increased Ocean temperature caused by climate change is the leading cause of coral bleaching.
  • Runoff and Pollution: Storm generated precipitation can rapidly dilute ocean water and runoff can carry pollutants, which can bleach near shore corals.
  • Overexposure to sunlight: When temperatures are high, high solar irradiance contributes to bleaching in shallow water corals.
  • Extremely low tides: Exposure to the air during extremely low tides can cause bleaching in shallow corals.
Hence both statements are correct.
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Consider the following statements with reference to Coral:1. It lives in symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.2. High solar irradiance leads to the bleaching in shallow water corals.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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