NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Fungi in coral reefs exist as endoliths, endobionts, saprotrophs and as pathogens. Although algal and fungal endoliths in corals were described way back in 1973, their role in microboring, carbonate alteration, discoloration, density banding, symbiotic or parasitic association was postulated almost 25 years later.

Detailed explanation-2: -Nevertheless, fungi have been found in nearly every marine habitat explored, from the surface of the ocean to kilometers below ocean sediments. Fungi are hypothesized to contribute to phytoplankton population cycles and the biological carbon pump and are active in the chemistry of marine sediments.

Detailed explanation-3: -Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: Fringing Reef: The coral reefs that are found very close to the land and form a shallow lagoon known as Boat Channel are called Fringing Coral Reefs.

Detailed explanation-4: -A famous example of parasitism on reefs is the tongue-eating louse of the species Cymothoa exigua. Also referred to as “fish lice”, this marine isopod is known to remove the tongue of fish hosts by extracting blood, and then to replace the organ by acting as the fish’s new tongue!