1. Mapping of Coral Reef Research: A global perspectivesBy
V. Mohan
Guide
Prof. (Dr.) S. Ravi
Department of Library & Information Science
Annamalai University

2. What ??? Corals are living beings, belonging to marine Invertebrate
Phylum Coelenterata or Cnidaria
occurring in the depth ranging from the low tide to 6000 metres mainly in the tropical regions of the oceans and seas.
Hard corals, soft corals, precious corals and hydrocorals
It may grow about half a centimetre to several centimetres in a year and a branch may have taken 15 years to grow

3. Distribution of Coral reefs in the major oceanic regions.
Reef area
X 1000 Km2
Percentage of
Total reef Area
Asiatic Mediterranean
182 30
Indian ocean
146 24
South Pacific 77 13
North Pacific 76 12
Caribbean 57 9
North Atlantic 32 5
Red Sea 27 4
Persian Gulf 2
South Atlantic 8 1
Total
617
100

8. Coral reef distribution…

9. Global Level Distributions of Coral Reefs

10. Distribution
of coral reefs in India

11. Benefits of coral reefs…
Make biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on the earth.
Constitute feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for many fishes and invertebrates, thus supporting a unique coral reef ecosystem in the fisheries sector.
Provides natural protection between the open seas and coastlines from tidal, water currents, winds etc
Act as wave breaks and effectively prevent coastal erosion
Protect coastal areas from the consequences of predicated damages
Potentially act as bio-indicators for climate changes
Bio-indicators of coastal pollution
Potential store house of medicinally valuable bio-active compounds
Reef related aquarium and tourism plays an important role in the economics of many countries
Ornamental purposes
Some industries are exploiting the coral reefs illegally for industrial purposes such as cement production and wall paints.

12. Economic Value of Coral Reefs
Potential net benefits per year and Net Present Value (NPV) Coral Reefs per region (in US$ million)
Economic Value of Coral Reefs
Southeast Asia
Caribbean
Indian Ocean
Pacific
Japan
USA
Australia
World
Reef Area (Km2)
89,000
19,000
54,000
67,000
3,000
49,000
2,84,000
Fisheries
2,281
391
969
1060 89 70
858
5,718
Coastal Protection
5,047
720
1,595
579
268
172
629
9,009
Tourism /Recreation
4,872
663
1,408
269
779
483
1,147
9,621
Biodiversity Value
458 79
199
529
401
3,645
5,483
Total
12,658
1,853
4,171
2,079
1,665
1,126
6,278
29,830
NPV (at 3%)
3,38,348
49,527
1,11,484
55,584
44,500
30,097
1,67,819
7,97,359
Ref: Cesar, et. al. 2003

13. Source: FAO fish statistics
Fish Production Global level
Source: FAO fish statistics

14. THANKS

19. Sponge coral

20. Coral Acropora sp. Spawning
Atoll