Systematic Review on the Drivers of Coral Bleaching in India
Subhasis Basu MPhil,
Rahi Soren PhD
Abstract: Most of the papers on coral bleaching dealt with some basic knowledges which summarises as corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white is called Coral bleaching. Depending on extent of bleaching, this may be categoriseds healthy coral, stressed coral, bleached coral etc. Coral and algae depend on each other to survive. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues. These algae are the coral’s primary food source and give them their colour Stressed Coral: If stressed, algae leaves the coral. When, the symbiotic relationship becomes stressed due to increased ocean temperature or pollution, the algae leave the coral's tissue. Bleached Coral: Coral is left bleached and vulnerable. Without the algae, the coral loses its major source of food, turns white or very pale, and is more susceptible to disease. Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality. A cold water temperature causes a coral bleaching event that resulted in coral death.
There are several causes of coral bleaching, depending on the location. In this project we have to search the papers where the causes of coral bleaching in that particular location. The extent of bleaching may be concluded on the water Quality index of other global factors. Depending on the nature of finding coral reef in geographical location researchers can conclude the causes of bleaching and vice versa. Depending on the nature of finding coral reef in a oceanic location they can conclude the causes of bleaching and vice versa. Nature of water quality, temperature, fish content etc. of the oceanic water etc. may be also predicted as primary findings without secondary testing. The research work has been carried out at least 10 to 15 arbitrarily chosen oceanic coastal areas in India where coral reefs are generally found in the most of the research papers.
