Study to shield coral reefs from global warming

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M G Science Institute has undertaken a project with SPAC to study expanse and condition of coral reefs


By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, October 24, 2009  (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20091024200910240303006565cb55a83)

In a bid to save coral reefs in Gujarat coast from the threat of climate change, M G Science Institute has undertaken a detailed project to study their expanse and condition in association with Space Application Centre (SAC).
Dr Alpana Shukla of M G Science Institute’s botany department is leading the three-member team of the three-year project “Global Coral Reef Mapping”. Two Junior research fellows, Dimpal Sanghvi and Richa Tiwari, would assist her in the research work.
The research team will analyse remote sensing data, acquired through RESOURCESAT-I, for the estimation of aerial extent of coral reefs in the state’s coastal areas. Finally, they will table their findings before Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
“We will assess climate-related threats to coral reefs under the project. To conserve this important resource, we need information about reefs’ spatial distribution, vegetation cover, reef zones and reef morphology. SAC will provide these information to us. After analysing them, we will constantly monitor coral reefs,” said Shukla.
The world is experiencing a rapid loss of coral cover due to climate change. They appear to be the first major eco-system degrading rapidly due to human activities.

Core Issues
♦ Coral reefs, one of the oldest eco-systems of the world, are a major feature of the coastal tropical environments
♦ They are extremely rich in productivity and species composition. They also protect the shoreline
♦ A study claims that they support and shelter at least 25 per cent of all marine species, including butterfly fish, angel fish, jelly fish, star fish, sea cucumber, sea anemone, octopus and several brown algae and green algae
♦ Coral reefs have high medicinal values. Coral calcium is used to develop medicines for cancer, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, kidney stones and gall stones

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