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9 September 2026

Climate change impact on soft corals

The topic provides a specific scientific example of climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, which serves as useful context for environmental degradation questions but lacks a direct link to Indian policy or specific syllabus-mandated reports.

1 min read 1 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Soft corals differ from hard corals by lacking rigid calcium carbonate skeletons, relying instead on internal fluid pressure for structural support.
  • The 'slumping' phenomenon occurs when environmental stressors disrupt internal fluid pressure, causing corals to collapse, turn white, and deteriorate.
  • Repeated slumping events lead to a decline in the recovery capacity of soft coral colonies.
  • Key environmental triggers for slumping include rising water temperatures, extreme weather events (typhoons and heavy rains), and fluctuations in water salinity.
  • Research indicates that freshwater runoff from the Yangtze River can alter local salinity levels, contributing to coral stress.
  • The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology documented significant slumping events in 2024, noting that prolonged high temperatures through September exacerbate the condition.

Questions

  1. Explain the biological mechanism of 'slumping' in soft corals and discuss how climate-induced environmental stressors threaten their long-term survival in marine ecosystems. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00

Prelims

  1. Which of the following distinguishes soft corals from hard corals?

  2. What is the primary cause of the 'slumping' phenomenon in soft corals as identified by marine researchers?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-09-09/climate-change-impact-on-soft-corals