In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have uncovered the world’s largest coral colony in the Solomon Islands, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

Key Highlights About Largest Coral Colony

• Discovery: Found during an October 2024 expedition by National Geographic’s Pristine Seas team.
  • Discovered accidentally by a videographer documenting climate change impacts on the Pacific Ocean.
• Size and Age: Measures 112 feet by 105 feet, rises 16 feet from the ocean floor, and lies at a depth of 42 feet.
  • Estimated to be around 300 to 500 years old.
• Type of Coral: Identified as Pavona clavus (shoulder blade coral).
  • Distinctive features include column-like structures resembling shoulders and vibrant colors brown, yellow, red, pink, and blue.
• Unique Characteristics: Made up of nearly a billion individual coral polyps functioning as a single organism.
  • Described as resembling an “underwater cathedral,” evoking awe and a connection to the past.

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Significance of the Discovery

• Resilience and Vulnerability: Likely protected from climate change impacts due to its depth, avoiding warmer surface waters.
  • Highlights the dual nature of coral ecosystems that is  beauty and fragility in the face of warming oceans.
• Call for Action: Serves as a reminder of the need for conservation to protect coral reefs, which are vital to marine biodiversity.
  • Stresses the importance of preserving such ecosystems for future generations amidst climate challenges.
• Identification of hidden : Local residents may have mistaken the colony for a rock due to its size and appearance, emphasizing the hidden richness of nature.

About Corals

• Nature and Structure: Corals are sessile animals permanently attached to the ocean floor, resembling colorful plants but are animals.
  • Composed of individual animals called polyps, which build hard, cup-shaped skeletons of calcium carbonate (limestone) using ions from seawater.
• Polyps’ Features:
  • Stomach with a Single Opening: Serves as both mouth and anus.
  • Tentacles: Used for defense, capturing prey, and clearing debris.
  • Functionality: Food enters through the mouth, waste is expelled from the same opening.
• Symbiotic Relationship with Zooxanthellae:
  • Zooxanthellae (Algae): Provides corals with food and nutrients via photosynthesis using sunlight.
    • Responsible for the vibrant colors of corals.
  • Corals: Offer algae shelter and nutrients.
  • This relationship makes corals highly dependent on favorable environmental conditions.

What is a Coral Reef?

• A coral reef is a diverse underwater ecosystem formed primarily by coral polyps, tiny marine animals that secrete a hard calcium carbonate skeleton.
• Over time, these skeletons accumulate, creating complex structures that support a wide variety of marine life.

Regions of Coral Reefs

Coral reefs thrive in warm (23°–29°Celsius), shallow waters with high levels of sunlight. They are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The most significant coral reef regions include:

• Indo-Pacific Region: This region encompasses the Coral Triangle (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Solomon Islands), the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and other reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• Caribbean Region: This region includes the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Keys.

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Types of Coral Reefs Found in India

Ecological Significance of Corals

• Habitat Provision: Coral reefs provide complex three-dimensional structures that serve as homes for a diverse array of marine organisms, including fish, invertebrates, and algae.
  • These intricate habitats offer shelter, breeding grounds, and foraging opportunities for many species.
• Biodiversity Hotspots: Coral reefs are renowned for their exceptional biodiversity, housing a quarter of all marine species.
  • This rich diversity contributes to the overall health and resilience of marine ecosystems.
• Nutrient Cycling: Corals and the associated organisms within reef ecosystems play a crucial role in nutrient cycling.
  • They help in the recycling of essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which are vital for the growth of marine plants and animals.
• Oxygen Production: Corals, through their symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae, contribute to the production of oxygen in the ocean.
  • Although the exact percentage is difficult to quantify, coral reefs undoubtedly play a significant role in maintaining oxygen levels in marine environments.
• Carbon Sequestration: Coral reefs act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • This process helps to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
• Coastal Protection: Coral reefs provide a natural barrier against waves, storms, and erosion, protecting coastlines and reducing the impact of natural disasters.

Climate change poses a severe threat to coral reefs

• Warming oceans: Rising sea temperatures trigger coral bleaching, leading to mass coral death.
• Ocean acidification: Increased CO2 absorption makes it harder for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons.
• Extreme weather events: More frequent and intense storms damage coral reefs.
• Sea level rise: Can smother shallow reefs and alter light conditions affecting photosynthesis.

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