Context: A notable example of colony resilience during a bleaching event is found near Japan’s Iriomote Island, where a colony bleached in 2016 exhibited signs of recovery by 2020.

Iriomote Island

• Iriomote Island is located in the Yaeyama Islands, part of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.
• It is the largest and southernmost inhabited island in the Yaeyama archipelago.
• The island is known for its lush jungles, mangrove forests, and diverse wildlife.
• People often refer to it as the “Galapagos of the East” due to its unique ecosystem.
• The Iriomote cat, a critically endangered species of wildcat, exclusively inhabits this island.
• The island’s rivers and estuaries are home to a variety of bird species, fish, and other wildlife.
• Iriomote Island is part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, aiming to preserve its unique ecosystem and cultural heritage.

Quick Revision

Bleaching of Coral Reefs

Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel algae that live inside their tissues. Normally, coral polyps live in an endosymbiotic relationship with these algae, which are crucial for the health of the coral and the reef.

Impact of Coral Bleaching

• Ecological Impacts: Bleaching leads to reduced species diversity, coastal erosion risk, and alterations in coral communities impacting dependent organisms.
• Socioeconomic Impacts: Local human groups rely on the ecosystem services that coral reefs offer, but degraded coral reefs are unable to provide these services.
• Bleached coral reefs can quickly lose aesthetic appeal, impacting their importance for reef tourism. As a result, there is a loss in tourism revenue.
• It has the potential to cause major changes in fish populations. Fishers targeting reef fish species catch less fish as a result, affecting food availability and accompanying economic activity.
• Pharmaceutical substances are abundant in coral reefs. Degraded or dead reefs are less likely to provide vital therapeutic resources.

Security Measures

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests offers financial assistance to Union Territories/ Coastal States to help with coral reef and mangrove guarding and maintenance.
• It is listed as Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 which grants it the highest degree of protection that is possible
• The United States has protected areas for marine life, including coral reefs, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The government created the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to enhance the enforcement of laws against poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife.

FAQs Related with Iriomote Island

Ques 1: Where is Iriomote Island located?

Answer: Iriomote Island is located in the Yaeyama Islands, part of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.

Ques 2: What is the significance of Iriomote Island’s ecosystem?

Answer: Iriomote Island earns the nickname “Galapagos of the East” for its lush jungles, mangrove forests, and diverse wildlife.

Ques 3: What endangered species can be found on Iriomote Island?

Answer: The Iriomote Yamaneko, or Iriomote cat, which is a critically endangered species of wildcat, exclusively inhabits Iriomote Island.

Iriomote Island: Place In News,Iriomote Island: Place In News

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