Coral Triangle

The Coral Triangle is often called the “Amazon of the Seas”, but the reason for its unparalleled biodiversity is still debated. Scientists have proposed multiple explanations:

•  Center of Origin Hypothesis
  • Some scientists believe that the Coral Triangle is the birthplace of coral reef species. From here, species spread out and dispersed across the wider Indo-Pacific region, making it the evolutionary center of reef diversity.
•  Center of Accumulation Hypothesis
  • Another view is that the Coral Triangle’s richness is due to its location at the junction of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Species from both oceans converge here, creating an overlap and accumulation of fauna that results in high biodiversity.
•  Geological History and Isolation
  • Geological processes also played a major role.
  • During the Ice Age, sea levels were about 200 meters lower, reducing marine habitats and isolating species into small marine lakes and shallow seas.
  • In these isolated pockets, species evolved genetically and morphologically, adapting to different conditions.
  • When the ice melted around 10,000 years ago, sea levels rose again, connecting these waters into an open seaway. By then, isolated populations had already evolved into distinct species, greatly increasing the diversity in the Coral Triangle