Consider the following statements : 1. Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters. 2. More than one-third of the world's coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. 3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Statement 1 is correct: reef-building corals need warm (18–30 °C), clear, shallow water, so most reefs lie between 30° N and 30° S.
• Statement 2 is correct: Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines together hold over a third of the world's reef area (Indonesia alone about 18%).
• Statement 3 is correct: reefs host representatives of about 32 of the 34 animal phyla, versus about 9 in tropical rainforests — they are the 'rainforests of the sea'.
• Hence 1, 2 and 3, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- Statement 3 on animal phyla is also correct.
- (b) 3 only
- Statements 1 and 2 are also correct.
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 2 on the three countries is also correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.