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Study maps regional variation in coral bleaching across India
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
Lakshadweep 37% bleached, Andamans 11.5%: the coral reef contrast and marine parks Prelims tests
Heat stress hits Indian reefs unevenly, with Lakshadweep worst affected.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
A study of coral bleaching across India finds wide regional differences.
Lakshadweep was the most affected, with up to 37 per cent of coral cover bleached or dead at intermediate levels of accumulated heat stress, while Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in the Andaman Islands saw only 11.5 per cent bleaching or mortality.
The study calls for greater attention to local factors.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- Lakshadweep was the worst affected region: up to 37% of coral cover bleached or dead at intermediate accumulated heat stress.
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Andaman Islands) saw only 11.5% bleaching or mortality.
- Coral bleaching occurs when heat stress makes corals expel their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), turning them white.
- Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu) and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Andaman and Nicobar) are marine protected areas.
- The study calls for greater attention to local factors in reef management.
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- Coral bleaching is caused by the expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae from coral tissue under thermal stress, not by the death of the coral polyp itself in the first instance.
- Major Indian coral reef areas include the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kachchh, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is in Tamil Nadu.
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS3 Environment: rising sea-surface temperatures are bleaching Indian reefs unevenly, as the Lakshadweep versus Andaman contrast shows. Existing protection through marine protected areas and wildlife and coastal regulation laws does not fully address regional heat stress. The way forward is region-specific monitoring, local stressor control (pollution, overfishing, tourism) and climate mitigation.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following pairs of marine protected areas and their location:
- Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park — Tamil Nadu
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park — Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Malvan Marine Sanctuary — Goa
- Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh — Odisha
How many of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- All four
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: B — Correct: Only two — Pairs 1 and 2 are correct, while Malvan is in Maharashtra and the Gulf of Kachchh park is in Gujarat. • Only one — wrong: Two pairs are correct, not one: both the Gulf of Mannar and Mahatma Gandhi parks are correctly placed. • Only three — wrong: Pairs 3 and 4 are wrong, so only two pairs, not three, are correctly matched. • All four — wrong: Malvan is not in Goa and the Gulf of Kachchh park is not in Odisha, so not all four match.
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