General Knowledge - Basic General Knowledge - Discussion

The most recent scientific ecological survey of the islands has been conducted by Rodrigues (1996). This is based on transect studies conducted in the Lagoons in 1993,1994 and 1995. He reports that corals on the reef flats and lagoons of uninhabited islands was diverse and dense however in most inhabited islands their status can be classified as endangered.

Qualitative observations of Andreas who runs a dive school in Bangaram and has been diving off Bangaram, Agatti and Perumal Par for the last nine years, is that the corals are growing and that he had observed some damage due to Acathanster plancii attack in a portion of the reef five years ago and that today it is one of his favorite dive locations. The fact that the same diving tourist have made even up to four return visits to Bangaram in the past decade also speaks for itself.

Qualitative observations of two dive instructors at Kadmat is that diving is quite fantastic. They however have also observed Acathanster plancii in the dive area and in April 1997 removed two hundred in a matter of twenty minutes of diving time.

There is a unanimous feeling that one had to take proper controls for sewage disposal. The contamination from fecal matter and kitchen waste in the lagoons alone can take its toll of the coral reef.

Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Corals are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters containing few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, and are formed by polyps that live together in groups. The polyps secrete a hard carbonate exoskeleton which provides support and protection for the body of each polyp. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.

Coral reef are aragonite sturcture produce by living animal colonies, found in marine water containing few nutrients. In most healthy reefs, stony corals are predominant.

Rainforest of the ocean.