With reference to snowflake corals consider the following statements 1 It is a keystone species whic...........

Environment and Ecology Concept of Ecology

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With reference to snowflake corals, consider the following statements:

1. It is a keystone species which promotes marine biodiversity.

2. In India, snowflake corals are found in the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Mannar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 Only

2 Only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Explanation:

Snowflake coral is an invasive species. A native of the tropical Western Atlantic and the Caribbean, Snowflake coral or C. riisei was first reported as an invasive species from Hawaii in 1972. Since then, it has spread to Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Invasive species are alien to an ecosystem and are likely to cause harm to the ecosystem. By crowding out other species it threatens the biodiversity of the ecosystem. It may crowd out other species corals, sponges, algae, ascidians that contribute to the rich marine biodiversity of the region. In India, snowflake coral has been reported from the Gulf of Mannar, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Kutch and Goa.