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Q59 (IAS/2022) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Ecosystem restoration Official Key

"Biorock technology" is talked about in which one of the following situations ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1.

Biorock technology, also known as mineral accretion technology, is a method used for the restoration of damaged coral reefs and the conservation of marine ecosystems. It involves passing a low-voltage electrical current through seawater via a conductive metal structure placed on the seabed. This process triggers a chemical reaction that causes dissolved minerals—primarily calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide—to precipitate and form a limestone coating on the structure.

  • Why Option 1 is correct: This limestone substrate is chemically similar to natural coral skeletons, providing an ideal surface for coral larvae to attach and grow at an accelerated rate. Biorock structures also enhance the resilience of corals against environmental stressors like rising sea temperatures.
  • Why other options are incorrect: Options 2, 3, and 4 refer to construction technology, hydrocarbon exploration, and wildlife management respectively, which are unrelated to the electrochemical process of mineral accretion used in marine biology.
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Q. "Biorock technology" is talked about in which one of the following situations ? [A] Restoration of damaged coral reefs [B] Development …
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 5/10
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This is a classic 'Solution-based' Environment question. While static books cover Coral Bleaching (the problem), UPSC asks about the *technological solution* (Biorock) piloted by the Zoological Survey of India in the Gulf of Kachchh. If you only studied the 'threats', you missed the 'cure'.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is Biorock technology used for restoration of damaged coral reefs?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Tikadar is also looking at other options for coral restoration like the Biorock technology, a patented method based on mineral accretion technology, invented by marine biologists Wolf Hilbertz and Tom Goreau."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies Biorock as an option being considered for coral restoration.
  • Describes Biorock as a patented mineral accretion method and names its inventors, linking it to active restoration practice.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Tikadar is also looking at other options for coral restoration like the Biorock technology, a"
Why this source?
  • Repeats that Biorock technology is being considered for coral restoration in the same context.
  • Supports that practitioners and managers are exploring Biorock as a restoration technique.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4.g.7 Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform > p. 53
Strength: 5/5
“4.g.7. Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform . The Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform is an innovative action-oriented initiative aimed at creating a global research and development (R&D) program to advance research, innovation and capacity building in all facets of coral reef conservation, restoration, and adaptation. It strengthens ongoing efforts and commitments made to enhance coral reefs' conservation and their further degradation.”
Why relevant

Mentions a Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform explicitly aimed at advancing research, innovation and capacity building in coral reef conservation, restoration and adaptation.

How to extend

A student could take this to mean targeted R&D programs explore restoration technologies (like Biorock) and then look up whether Biorock is included in such global R&D or pilot projects.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4.9.4. Threat > p. 52
Strength: 4/5
“mining or collection, thermal pollution, intensive fishing, etc. • Coral reef ecosystems worldwide have been subject to unprecedented degradation over the past few decades. Disturbances affecting coral reefs include anthropogenic and natural events. Recent accelerated coral reef decline seems to be related mostly to anthropogenic impacts (overexploitation, overfishing, increased sedimentation and nutrient overloading)”
Why relevant

States coral reefs worldwide have experienced unprecedented degradation largely from anthropogenic impacts, implying a need for restoration interventions.

How to extend

Using this pattern (widespread damage → need for restoration), a student could reasonably search for restoration methods developed to address these anthropogenic damages, including electrochemical techniques such as Biorock.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > coral Bleaching > p. 56
Strength: 4/5
“Tis bafing disease in coral reefs was identifed by marine scientists in 1983, in Pacifc Ocean. Tis disease causes coral animals to expel their brownish zooxanthellae and turn an uncharacteristic creamy colour. Without zooxanthellae, the coral can not secrete calcium carbonate and generate a skeleton or reef. After one bout of bleaching, corals usually recover, but while they are bleached, they stop growing, leaving the reef vulnerable to erosion. As stated above, the disease was frst discovered in the Pacifc Ocean in 1983. In 1987 it was indentifed in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. At present, most of the coral formations of the tropical oceans are afected by this disease.”
Why relevant

Explains coral bleaching halts coral growth and leaves reefs vulnerable to erosion, highlighting the problem restoration must counteract (restoring growth or substrate).

How to extend

Knowing restoration aims to restore growth or substrate, a student could test whether Biorock’s reported mechanism (accelerating mineral accretion/growth — basic external fact) would logically be applied to bleaching/erosion-affected reefs.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > corAl reefs. > p. 54
Strength: 3/5
“Reef ecosystems are vulnerable to catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, marine pollution and bleaching epidemics, which may cause mass mortality of corals. Human stress such as pollution and increase in sediment load, have damaged reefs in many areas. Recently, there has been much speculation over the future impact of global warming and climatic change on coral reefs. Te main coral reefs of India about 19,000 sq km are: (i) Gulf of Mannar, (ii) Lakshadweep Islands (iii) Rann of Kachchh, and (iv) Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Te National Coral Reef Research Centre has been established at Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).”
Why relevant

Notes human stressors (pollution, sediment) have damaged reefs and that institutional research capacity (National Coral Reef Research Centre) exists, implying organized efforts to study and implement restoration.

How to extend

A student could use this to justify checking research centres' documented restoration trials or technical reports for specific techniques such as Biorock being trialed in damaged Indian or regional reefs.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 17: Major Landforms and Cycle of Erosion > Coral Reefs > p. 219
Strength: 3/5
“The cycle is repeated for millions of years leading to the accumulation of layers of corals. Shallow rock layers created by the depositions of corals are called coral reefs. Coral reefs over a period of time transform or evolve into coral islands (e.g. Lakshadweep).”
Why relevant

Describes reefs as accumulations of calcium carbonate over long periods, indicating restoration would need to re-establish carbonate structures or accelerate their formation.

How to extend

With this basic fact (reefs are calcium carbonate structures), a student could assess whether Biorock-like approaches that enhance mineral deposition are plausible tools for restoring damaged reef framework.

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Statement analysis

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