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From the preface:
"This is a comprehensive report on the ecology of corals and coral reefs. It is one of the mandates of Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation to study the ecology of various ecosystems of Gujarat along with creating awareness for their continual growth and conservation.
The present report, Ecology of Coral Reefs of Gulf of Kachchh, covers various aspects of corals and coral reefs from the palaeontological perspective up to the current state of corals. Coral reefs are considered to be a very complex ecosystem; however, it requires a balanced trophic structure to function properly and efficiently. Coral ecology embraces understanding of the factors such as trophic levels and their structure and function in the maintenance of a healthy reef. Thus, for the functioning of coral reefs, a variety of biotic and abiotic factors are responsible. Hence, the report covers the biology of corals, the myriad charismatic organisms inhabiting the reefs, the evolutionary history of the reef, the physico-chemical aspects of the Gulf of Kachchh, mapping of the islands, and systematic accounts of corals, coral diversity, and coral distribution along the Gujarat coast. Natural resource managers desperately need maps of coral reefs and adjacent land areas in order to identify the factors causing reef decline, but usually face difficulties in getting such maps. This report provides such data.
Multiple scientific disciplines such as zoology, botany, geology, oceanography and remote sensing converge on coral reefs; hence, the present report will be useful across many fields of research and conservation, including marine researchers, remote sensing and GIS investigators, and conservationists."
