Coral reefs in India

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/coral-reefs-in-india

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is Coral reefs in India?Approximately 7,517 km (including islands)
2. What is the dominant reef types?Fringing reefs (mainland/islands) and Atolls (Lakshadweep)
3. What is the ecological role?Support ~25% of marine species; protect coastlines from erosion
4. What are coral reefs in India and where can we find them?They are colorful underwater gardens found along India's 7,517 km coast, especially in places like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Strait, and Lakshadweep Islands.
5. Why are coral reefs called the "rainforests of the sea"?Because they have a huge variety of living things, with many species of fish, shells, and other creatures living in their bright, layered homes.

Hermatypic Corals: Stony corals that build reefs and contain symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae).
Ocean Acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Coral Bleaching: The expulsion of symbiotic algae by corals, causing them to turn white, often due to stress from high temperatures.