Mapping of Coral Reef Research: A global perspectives

1. Mapping of Coral ReefResearch: A global perspectives By V. Mohan Guide Prof. (Dr.) S. Ravi Department of Library & Information Science Annamalai University

2. What ??? • Corals are living beings, belonging to marine Invertebrate • Phylum Coelenterata or Cnidaria • occurring in the depth ranging from the low tide to 6000 metres mainly in the tropical regions of the oceans and seas. • Hard corals, soft corals, precious corals and hydrocorals • It may grow about half a centimetre to several centimetres in a year and a branch may have taken 15 years to grow

3. Distribution of Coral reefs in the major oceanic regions.

8. Coral reef distribution…

9. Global Level Distributions of Coral Reefs

10. Distribution of coralreefs in India

11. Benefits of coral reefs… • Make biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on the earth. • Constitute feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for many fishes and invertebrates, thus supporting a unique coral reef ecosystem in the fisheries sector. • Provides natural protection between the open seas and coastlines from tidal, water currents, winds etc • Act as wave breaks and effectively prevent coastal erosion • Protect coastal areas from the consequences of predicated damages • Potentially act as bio-indicators for climate changes • Bio-indicators of coastal pollution • Potential store house of medicinally valuable bio-active compounds • Reef related aquarium and tourism plays an important role in the economics of many countries • Ornamental purposes • Some industries are exploiting the coral reefs illegally for industrial purposes such as cement production and wall paints.

12. Potential net benefits per year and Net Present Value (NPV) Coral Reefs per region (in US$ million) Ref: Cesar, et. al. 2003

13. Fish Production Global level Source: FAO fish statistics

14. THANKS

19. Sponge coral

20. Coral Acropora sp. Spawning Atoll