Consider the following statements : 1. Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters. 2. More than one-third of the world's coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. 3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

The correct answer is (d) 1, 2 and 3.

Statement 1 is correct: The vast majority of coral reefs are found in tropical and subtropical waters between 30°N and 30°S latitudes. Corals require warm water (20-28°C), clear water with adequate sunlight, and specific salinity levels — conditions found predominantly in tropical waters.

Statement 2 is correct: The Coral Triangle, which encompasses the waters of Australia (Great Barrier Reef), Indonesia, Philippines, and nearby nations, contains more than one-third (some estimates say over 75%) of the world's known coral species. Australia's Great Barrier Reef alone is the world's largest reef system.

Statement 3 is correct: Coral reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea" but they actually host more animal phyla (about 32 of the 34 known animal phyla) than tropical rainforests. This makes them the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth in terms of phyletic diversity. While rainforests may have more total species, reefs have greater diversity at the phylum level.