Global warming threatens Lakshadweep corals

HYDERABAD: The hard corals of Porites species, found in abundance in the blue-water lagoons of the picturesque Lakshadweep islands, are facing a threat to their existence.

Global warming caused by high CO2 levels has retarded the growth of these corals, leading to fears that they might eventually disappear.

Around 25 per cent decrease in the growth rate (calcification rate) of two hard corals was observed between 1993 and 2003 in studies conducted along the lagoon of Kavaratti Island, by scientists of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) here.

S. Masood Ahmad, head of the paleo-climate group at NGRI, who led the study said while the Porites corals grew by two cm every year from 1920 to 1992, the growth rate decreased to 1.25 cm per year between 1993 and 2003.

Source: The Hindu Daily

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