Coral cover as a proxy of disturbance： A case study of the biodiversity of the hermatypic corals in Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands in the South China Sea

The Yongxing Island is the biggest island of Xisha Islands in the middle part of the South China Sea. It occupies 1.8 square kilometers of land area and has permanent residence on it. There are only a few papers on the coral community of the Xisha Islands, reporting the species composition, structure and zonations of the hermatypic coral community in 1970s. The present study describes the hermatypic coral community based on the quadrat survey after almost 30 years in Yongxing Island in August 2002. It was the first time to present the percent cover data of live corals of Yongxing Island via a systematic scheme of quantitative quadrat sampling. The average total percent cover of the live coral is 68.4%. We found the total percent cover （TPC） could be an idea proxy of the overall disturbance regime impinging on the coral community. TPC can be used as an integrated measure of disturbance to coral reef. Using this surrogate, the best fit relation between TPC of the live corals and species richness, species diversity, or the species evenness is the unimodal second-order polymorphic parabola equation. This result is expected by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis （IDH）. From the fitted parabola equations, we calculated the best TPCs corresponding to the maximal species richness, the highest species diversity, or the most evenness respectively. They are surprisingly stabilized between 55% and 58%. Coral cover is the basic parameter widely available for most observation, research or monitoring programs. The good qualitative characteristics of percent cover provide powerful tool for the experimental, theoretical and modeling studies of coral reef in response to the disturbance.     

Calcimicrobialite after end-Permian mass extinction in South China and its palaeoenvironmental significance

Calcimicrobialites, which could be correlated to the layer 27 in Meishan section according to the Hindeodus parvus, occur abruptly on the end-Permian mass extinction boundary in South China. Microbialites mainly distribute on the top of reef facies or shallow carbonate platforms, thinning into deep facies. All the microbialites discovered are composed of micrite and coarse crystal digitate carbonate or patch carbonate. Microfossils usually dominate in the microbialites, and small gastropods, bivalves and ostracodes can also be found. This fossil assemblage represents a simple but particular remanent biota after the end-Permian mass extinction on the top of reefs or shallow carbonate platforms.Abrupt occurrence of microbialites above the mass extinction boundary is the ecological response to the end-Permian global event in reef or shallow carbonate facies. Many studies have been done on the Permian-Triassic boundary and event in deep water facies sections or middle to lower shelf facies sections. However, the calcimicrobialites in South China are mainly located above reef facies or shallow carbonate platform facies. It will surely be helpful for people to know more about the different responses in different depths of ancient marine environment during the transition between Permian and Triassic by the study of petrology,palaeontology and palaeoecology of the calcimicrobialites.     

Interspecies and spatial diversity in the symbiotic zooxanthellae density in corals from northern South China Sea and its relationship to coral reef bleaching

Coral reef bleaching is usually characterized by expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae, loss of zooxanthellae pigmentation, or both. We collected 128 samples comprising 39 species of 21 genera of reef-building corals from Luhuitou and Xiaodonghai in Sanya of Hainan Island and Daya Bay of Guangdong Province, respectively, and analyzed the symbiotic zooxanthellae population density. The results show that： （1） the symbiotic zooxanthella density varies from 0.67×10^6 to 8.48×10^6 cell/cm^2, displaying significant interspecies variability, with branch corals usually having relatively less zooxanthellae （ranging from 0.67×10^6 to 2.47×10^6 cell/cm^2） than massive species （from 1.0×10^6 to 8.48×10^6 cell/cm^2）; （2） corals inhabiting within 4 m water depth have higher levels of symbiotic zooxanthellae than those living at the bottom （-7 m depth） of the reef area; （3） there is no discernable difference in the zooxanthellae density between corals from relatively high latitude Daya Bay （-22°N） and those from relatively low latitude Sanya （-18°N） at comparable sea surface temperatures （SST）; （4） in partially-bleached corals, the density of zooxanthellae shows the following order： healthy-looking part〉 semi-bleached part 〉 bleached part. Based on the above results, we suggest that （1） the zooxanthellae density difference between branching and massive coral species is the main cause that branching corals are more vulnerable to bleaching than massive corals. For example, symbiotic zooxanthellae levels are low in branching Acropora and Pocillopora corals and thus these corals are more susceptible to bleaching and mortality; （2） symbiotic zooxanthellae density can also be affected by environmental conditions, such as sediment loads, diving-related turbidity, and aquaculture-related nitrate and phosphate input, and their increase may reduce symbiotic zooxanthellae density in corals.     

Coral cover as a proxy of disturbance:A case study of the biodiversity of the hermatypic corals in Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands in the South China Sea

The Yongxing Island is the biggest island of Xisha Islands in the middle part of the South China Sea. It occupies 1.8 square kilometers of land area and has permanent residence on it. There are only a few papers on the coral community of the Xisha Islands, reporting the species composition, structure and zonations of the hermatypic coral community in 1970s. The present study describes the hermatypic coral community based on the quadrat survey after almost 30 years in Yongxing Island in August 2002. It was the first time to present the percent cover data of live corals of Yongxing Island via a systematic scheme of quantitative quadrat sampling. The average total percent cover of the live coral is 68.4%. We found the total percent cover (TPC) could be an idea proxy of the overall disturbance regime impinging on the coral community. TPC can be used as an integrated measure of disturbance to coral reef. Using this surrogate, the best fit relation between TPC of the live corals and species richness, species diversity, or the species evenness is the unimodal second-order polymorphic parabola equation. This result is expected by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH). From the fitted parabola equations, we calculated the best TPCs corresponding to the maximal species richness, the highest species diversity, or the most evenness respectively. They are surprisingly stabilized between 55% and 58%. Coralcover is the basic parameter widely available for most observation, research or monitoring programs. The good qualitative characteristics of percent cover provide powerful tool for the experimental, theoretical and modeling studies of coral reef in response to the disturbance.     

Assessment of coral bleaching using symbiotic zooxanthellae density and satellite remote sensing data in the Nansha Islands,South China Sea

Coral bleaching,characterized by a significant loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae,is the primary cause of mass coral mortality and reef degradation throughout the world.The characteristics,processes,and resistance of corals to bleaching varies significantly and is dependent on environmental conditions.We documented a mass coral bleaching event in June 2007 at the Meiji and Zhubi Reefs,Nansha Islands (NS),South China Sea using ecological surveys and measurement of coral zooxanthellae density and sea surface temperatures (SST).More than 35 species of corals (between 0-20 m in depth) were bleached.These bleached corals accounted for 15.6% of total corals in the investigated quadrats.The branching corals Pocillopora and Acropora were the most vulnerable species whereas the massive corals Porites and Favia were more tolerant of the high SSTs.Surprisingly,we found no evidence of bleaching in Agariciidae corals suggesting that this family is resistant to thermal stresses.The bleached corals had lost 72%-90% of their symbiotic zooxanthellae.Furthermore,corals that had no visual signs of bleaching had also lost 31%-53% of their zooxanthellae suggesting that most corals were experiencing the early stage of bleaching.The monthly mean SST during June 2007 was 30.8°C,the highest since 1998.Based on measurements of SST and the Hotspots and DHW data (NOAA),we conclude that it the extremely high SSTs triggered this coral bleaching event.Our results suggest that the previously accepted temperature thresholds used to predict coral bleaching based on satellite data are likely to underestimate the extent and intensity of coral bleaching,at least in the NS.     

Relationship between the later strong gas-charging and the improvement of the reservoir capacity in deep Ordovician carbonate reservoir in Tazhong area, Tarim Basin

Some large-scale oil-gas fields have recently been discovered in marine carbonate in China, especially the significant discoveries in deep reservoir that reveals a favorable exploration prospect. Tazhong area is the first-order tectonic unit in Tarim Basin, where there are nearly trillion cubic meters of natural gas resources in the Ordovician limestone reef flat complex in Lianglitage Formation. The reservoir is shelf edge reef flat complex, characterized by ultra-low porosity, low permeability and strong heterogeneous, with a current burial depth of 4500―6500 m. Studies find that the formation and distribution of deep reservoir of the Lianglitage Formation were controlled not only by the early high-energy sedimentary facies and corrosion, but the fracture network formed by the strong gas-charging process since the Himalayan epoch, which played an important role in optimizing and improving reservoir properties. This paper discusses the relationship between the strong later gas-charging and the improvement of the reservoir capacity in deep Ordovician carbonate reservoir, and also builts the corresponding mechanisms and modes, which is favorable for the prediction and evaluation of the advantageous exploration targets.     

Effects of temperature,hypoxia, ammonia and nitrate on the bleaching among three coral species

Coral bleaching, which is defined as the loss of colour in corals due to the loss of their symbiotic algae (commonly called zooxanthellae) or pigments or both, is occurring globally at increasing rates, and its harm becomes more and more serious during these two decades. The significance of these bleaching events to the health of coral reef ecosystems is extreme, as bleached corals exhibited high mortality, reduced fecundity and productivity and increased susceptibility to diseases. This decreased coral fitness is easily to lead to reef degradation and ultimately to the breakdown of the coral reef ecosystems. Recently, the reasons leading to coral bleaching are thought to be as follows: too high or too low temperature, excess ultraviolet exposure, heavy metal pollution, cyanide poison and seasonal cycle. To date there has been little knowledge of whether mariculture can result in coral bleaching and which substance has the worst effect on corals. And no research was conducted on the effect of hypoxia on corals. To address these questions, effects of tem- perature, hypoxia, ammonia and nitrate on bleaching of three coral species were studied through examination of morphology and the measurement of the number of symbiotic algae of three coral species Acropora nobilis, Palythoa sp. and Alveopora verrilliana. Results showed that increase in temperature and decrease in dissolved oxygen could lead to increasing number of symbiotic algae and more serious bleaching. In addition, the concentration of 0.001 mmol/L ammonia or nitrate could increase significantly the expulsion of the symbiotic algae of the three coral species. Except for Acropora nobilis, the numbers of symbiotic algae of other two corals did not significantly increase with the increasing concentration of ammonia and nitrate. Furthermore, different hosts have different stress susceptibilities on coral bleaching.     

Major factors controlling the formation of middle and large marine carbonate stratigraphic fields

Marine carbonate oil and gas fields have become an important exploration area in China and even across the world. Their formation, distribution and enrichment are special owing to the complexity of the deposition, diagenesis and accumulation, which is caused by the multiplicity of the carbonate depositional environments and facies, huge extensions of formation time and burial depth, complication of diagenetic evolution, heterogeneity as well as the development of pores, caves and fractures affected by various factors. Oil and gas accumulations in carbonate rocks are not strictly controlled by the second-order structure belt. Most of them, under certain structural settings, are controlled by sedimentary diagenesis and its favorable facies. The hydrocarbon reservoir type is predominantly stratigraphic. Based on the worldwide researches of carbonate fields, the paper concludes that 7 main factors control the formation and distribution of middle-large marine carbonate stratigraphic fields.     

Modelling of Energy Flow, Rotational Grazing and Potential Productivity in an Alpine Meadow Grazing Ecosystem

An eight-compartment model of the energy dynamics of an alpine meadow-sheep grazing ecosystem was proposed based on SHIYOMI's system approach. The compartments were the above-ground plant portion, the underground live portion including roots, the underground dead portion including roots, the above-ground litter Ⅰ (degradable portion), the above-ground litter Ⅱ (undegradable portion), the sheep intake, the sheep liveweight, and the faeces. Energy flows between the eight compartments were described by eight simultaneous differential equations. All parameters in the model were determined from paddock experiments.The model was designed to provide a practical method for estimating the effects of the number of rotational grazing subplots, grazing period, and grazing pressure on the performance of grazing systems for perennial alpine meadow pasture. The model provides at least 28 different attributes for characterizing the performance of the grazing system. Analyses of 270 simulated rotational grazing systems of summer-autumn meadow pasture (grazing from 1st June to 30 October each year) provided an inference base to support two recommendations concerning management variables. First, with a three-paddock, 29-day grazing period and 30.14kJ·m-2·day-1 grazing pressure scheme, the system has the highest total grazing intake, 4250.44 kJ·m-2, during the grazing season. Secondly, with a three-paddock, 7-day grazing period and 28.89kJ·m-2·day-1 grazing pressure scheme, the accumulated graze is 4073.34kJ*m-2.The potential productivity of the alpine meadow under grazing is defined in this paper as the maximal dry biomass of herbage grazed by the grazing animals over the whole growing season. It has been analysed by applying optimal control theory to the model. The productivity is regarded as the objective function to be maximized through optimization of the time course of the grazing pressure, the control variable. The results show that: (1) under constant grazing pressure, the optimal grazing pressure is f16=25.90kJ·m-2·day-1 (f46=f56=0) with the highest accumulated intake of J(1)=3268.17kJ·m-2; and (2) the optimal grazing pressure is f16=25.94kJ·m-2·day-1 (f46≠0, f56≠0) with the maxial accumulated intake J(145)=3500.39kJ·m-2. Under variable grazing pressure, the dynamics of optimal grazing pressure is shown in Fig.6(a) and Eqs. (9)(11), while the potential productivity (the highest accumulated intake) is J(145)=8749.01kJ·m-2, 2.5 times the constant grazing pressure.     

Molybdenite alkali fusion and leaching:reactions and mechanism

<正>The production of MoO_3 from Sarcheshmeh molybdenite concentrate via a pyro-hydrometallurgical process was studied.The molybdenite concentrate and sodium carbonate were premixed and fused under air atmosphere.Then the fused products were leached in water and the dissolved molybdenum was recovered as ammonium molybdate.The ammonium molybdate was then calcined to produce mo-lybdic oxide.At the fusion stage,the effect of the mass ratio of carbonate to sulfide on the reaction products and the solubility of the products was investigated.The results show that during the fusion,sodium molybdate and sodium sulfate are the final reaction products and sodium sulfide is detected as an intermediate reaction product.By melting at 850℃with 5wt%excess carbonate,the maximum solubility of the products is obtained.The molybdenum is recovered from the solutions as ammonium molybdate.     

Coral reef ecosystems in the South China Sea as a source of atmospheric CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in summer

Field measurements of air-sea CO2 exchange in three coral reef areas of the South China Sea (i.e. the Yongshu Reef atoll of the Nansha Islands, southern South China Sea (SCS); Yongxing Island of Xisha Islands, north-central SCS; and Luhuitou Fringing Reef in Sanya of Hainan Island, northern SCS) during the summers of 2008 and 2009 revealed that both air and surface seawater partial pressures of CO2 (pCO2) showed regular diurnal cycles. Minimum values occurred in the evening and maximum values in the morning. Air pCO2 in each of the three study areas showed small diurnal variations, while large diurnal variations were ob-served in seawater pCO2. The diurnal variation amplitude of seawater pCO2 was ~70 μmol mol–1 at the Yongshu Reef lagoon, 420–619 μmol mol–1 on the Yongxing Island reef flat, and 264–579 μmol mol–1 on the reef flat of the Luhuitou Fringing Reef, and 324–492 μmol mol–1 in an adjacent area just outside of this fringing reef. With respect to spatial relations, there were large differences in air-sea CO2 flux across the South China Sea (e.g. ~0.4 mmol CO2 m–2 d–1 at Yongshu Reef, ~4.7 mmol CO2 m–2 d–1 at Yongxing Island, and ~9.8 mmol CO2 m–2 d–1 at Luhuitou Fringing Reef). However, these positive values suggest that coral reef ecosystems of the SCS may be a net source of CO2 to the atmosphere. Additional analyses indicated that diurnal variations of surface seawater pCO2 in the shallow water reef flat are controlled mainly by biological metabolic processes, while those of deeper water lagoons and outer reef areas are regulated by both biological metabolism and hydrodynamic factors. Unlike the open ocean, inorganic metabolism plays a significant role in influencing seawater pCO2 variations in coral reef ecosystems.     

Twenty-five years of change in scleractinian coral communities of Daya Bay （northern South China Sea） and its response to the 2008 AD extreme cold climate event

Coral reefs worldwide are becoming increasingly and detrimentally impacted upon by a variety of factors including significant climate changes, such as global warming and increased El Nino-Southern Oscillation activity. Generally, the persistence of coral reefs, especially at low-latitudes, is governed, in part, by sea surface temperatures not exceeding the critical limit （-30℃） at which mass mortality can occur. Thus, it is thought that corals living at high-latitudes （i.e., currently cooler sea surface temperatures） will likely respond more favourably to hypothesized future temperature increases than corals living at low-latitudes （i.e., currently warmer sea surface temperatures）. Consequently, high-latitude coral communities may have the potential to act as regions of refugia for many coral species in the face of potential future global warming. The Daya Bay （22°31′--22°50′N）, northern South China Sea, contains several high-latitude non-reefal coral communities and represents one of the most northerly distributions of scleractinian corals within the region. Significantly, Daya Bay has experienced dramatic warming in both air and sea surface temperatures throughout the past 50 years. In this paper, we analyze 25 years of change in the Daya Bay coral communities, based both on historic surveys and our latest 2006--2008 regional ecological surveys. Our results suggest that, contrary to predictions, there have been significant declines in coral cover within the Daya Bay during the past 25 years （i.e., 76.6% coral cover in 1983/1984 to only 15.3% coral cover by 2008）. Such changes also reflect a significant shift in the most abundant coral species, from Acropora pruinosa to Favites abdita. Most of the modern coral communities became established between 15 and 30 years ago, corresponding to a period of increased winter sea surface temperature. However, very few colonies have become established within the last 15 years, despite a more intense period of warming. By taking into account additional factors, we hypothesize that direct anthropogenic impacts, rather than climatic events, have both restricted the development, and drove the decline, of Daya Bay coral communities in the last 15 years. The Daya Bay has also been subjected to occasional extreme cold events during the past 50 years, with the most recent occurring in early 2008 （13 January-13 February）. During the 2008 cold event, the lowest air temperature reaches only 6.6℃, and the mean sea surface temperature for February fall to 〈 14℃, including six continuous days at 12.3℃. Significantly, the sea surface temperatures fall below the hypothesized critical lower temperature threshold （-13℃） that commonly leads to mass mortality in scleractinian coral communities. Surprisingly, our coral community surveys, conducted both before （August 2007） and after （late February 2008） the extreme 2008 cold event, demonstrate that the Daya Bay coral ecosystems are barely impacted upon during the cold period. Those observations suggest that the Daya Bay scleractinian coral communities have developed adaptations to low sea surface temperatures. Overall, our data support the hypothesis that high-latitude coral communities, such as Daya Bay, have the potential to act as areas of refugia for scleractinian corals in the advent of potential future global warming.     

Status monitoring and health assessment of Luhuitou fringing reef of Sanya, Hainan, China

The monitoring survey and health assessment for benthic community were carded out in Luhuitou fdnging reef of Sanya, Hainan, China in 2002. Monitoring survey included manta tow, line intercept transect, video transect and digital photograph. The mean live coral cover was 23.40%. Comparison of used monitoring methods showed that video transect can replace line intercept transect, and 50 m transect is better than 20 m transect in uneven coral region. Survey data and comparison with previous research work showed that Luhuitou fringing reef has been damaged severely and has a general declining trend with live coral cover from about 85% in the 1960s down to 20% in 2004, but it still has quite high biodiversity and therefore has special protection value. Main factors of Luhuitou fdnging reef declining were human activities including reef rock digging and curios collecting, destructive fishing, sediment and pollutant from coastal land, and recent marine aquaculture. Only strengthening integrated management can reach improvement and restoration of Luhuitou declining coral reef ecosystem.     

涠洲岛西局部造礁石珊瑚盖度和大小频率分布

本研究通过分析珊瑚大小频率分布，探讨涠洲岛西局部造礁石珊瑚群落结构特点和种群动态，以了解珊瑚的生活史和所经历的变化。所分析的珊瑚大小数据来自2021年2月24-26日开展的涠洲岛西珊瑚礁的造礁石珊瑚样带调查，利用对数转换将珊瑚大小变换为珊瑚迭代，然后作直方图对珊瑚大小频率分布加以分析。分析结果表明，片状的牡丹珊瑚属Pavona和块状的滨珊瑚属Porites、角蜂巢珊瑚属Favites、盘星珊瑚属Dipsastraea等在涠洲岛西局部珊瑚群落中占优势(珊瑚面积和珊瑚个数)。对数转换的大小频率分布呈正态分布，偏斜不明显，变异系数小于0.5,表明这些珊瑚目前处于正常的自然补充、生长和死亡过程。涠洲岛西局部造礁石珊瑚盖度降低，主要是因为个体大的枝状珊瑚锐减。     

On biogeomorphology of Luhuitou fringing reef of Sanya City, Hainan Island, China

Based on comprehensive survey of 6 transects on Luhuitou fringing reef in Sanya City of Hainan Island, China, some features of its biogeomorphologic processes were found, including ( i ) three basic biogeomorphologic units: inner reef flat, outer reef flat and reef slope; (ii) two important biogeomorphologic boundary lines: up limit for live flat coral growing between inner and outer reef flats is Mean Lower Low Water of tropic tide ± 15 cm; the break in slope between reef flat and reef slope is Theoretical Lowest Tide±15 cm; (iii) three types of reef flat profiles in response to distinctive Holocene sea level changes and dynamic condition: Luhuitou type responds to falling sea level and low wave energy; Xiaodonghai type to falling sea sevel and high wave energy; type for atolls of Nansha Islands to stable sea level and low wave energy; (iv) hermatypic coral community is the most essential member in coral reef ecosystem and plays the most important role in biogeomorphologic process. Over the past 30 years Luhuitou fringing reef was severely destroyed by human activities, its biogeomorphologic function severely weakened, and it needs urgent management and protection.     

涠洲岛珊瑚礁特点、演变及保护与修复对策的思考

涠洲岛珊瑚礁最早形成于约7 000年前的末次海侵,是中国大陆沿海成礁珊瑚分布最北缘的典型边缘珊瑚礁（Marginal Coral Reefs）,与区域内其他珊瑚礁缺少生态关联,其特征不同于热带珊瑚礁,即块状珊瑚占优势。20多年来,涠洲岛珊瑚礁持续退化,枝状珊瑚大量死亡,石珊瑚盖度急剧降低,反映珊瑚礁良好状况的指标生物如鹦嘴鱼、蝴蝶鱼等的数量大幅减少。近10年来,珊瑚虽未出现异常死亡现象,但珊瑚自然修复不明显,表明珊瑚补充不足。功能性植食性鱼类的缺乏,显示珊瑚礁恢复力不足。涠洲岛珊瑚礁国家级海洋公园的建立,体现了保护涠洲岛珊瑚礁的政治意愿。只有恢复鹦嘴鱼等功能性植食性鱼类的数量,才能恢复和增强珊瑚礁固有恢复力,进而促进涠洲岛珊瑚礁的自然恢复。人为修复可采取移植珊瑚断枝的方式,并以实现生态、经济和社会增益为目标,构建能应对人为干预且能持续演化的珊瑚礁。     

Using 137Cs tracing technique to estimate wind erosion rates in the typical steppe region,northern Mongolian Plateau

Wind erosion is one of the major factors of land degradation in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau. Using ^137Cs tracing technique, we estimated the wind erosion rates of different pastures and abandoned farmland at Bayannur and Karakorum in Mongolia. The pastures and cutting grassland at Bayannur were slightly eroded by wind, with the rates of 64.58-169.07 t·km^-2.a^-1. The abandoned farmland in Karakorum, however, was strongly eroded by wind, with annual surface soil loss of 4.05 mm. a^-1, and wind erosion rates up to 6723.06 t· km^-2. a^-1. The total loss of surface soil due to wind erosion has been 17.4 cm since the cultivation of the steppe land in the 1960s. The wind ero- sion rate at the abandoned farmland was much higher than that at the typical steppe sites, showing that the cultivation led to serious wind erosion in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau. By contrast, traditional livestock grazing resulted in less disturbance to the surface soil, and did not induce to devastating wind erosion, which plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the steppe ecosystem in the northern Mongolian Plateau.     

涠洲岛珊瑚礁健康评估

【目的】科学地判断涠洲岛珊瑚礁的现状,并找出造成目前现状的主要原因,为及时采取有效措施以维持涠洲岛珊瑚礁的健康提供有力依据。【方法】根据历年来有关涠洲岛珊瑚礁生长、演变、环境变化与社会发展的研究成果和最新的调查研究资料,采用HRHPI的指标体系法,从生态结构、生态功能、压力及社会经济等几个特征属性对珊瑚礁健康进行评估。【结果】涠洲岛的自然环境仍适合石珊瑚的生存,石珊瑚的种类丰度仍正常;珊瑚礁的覆盖率降低、分布范围缩小、生物多样性下降,尤其在浅海和局部人为影响大的区域,珊瑚死亡率大于补充率。【结论】涠洲岛的珊瑚礁处于衰退中的亚健康状态。过度捕捞、污染、物理损伤（踩踏、抛锚、水下工程等）和大尺度环境变化（如气候异常）等是造成涠洲岛珊瑚礁衰退的主要原因。     

珊瑚礁相关病毒的研究进展

珊瑚礁被称为海洋中的“热带雨林”,是海洋生态系统中的核心组成部分之一。珊瑚礁病毒包含珊瑚本身感染的病毒和珊瑚共生生物（如藻类、细菌等）感染的病毒,对于珊瑚礁健康与疾病、生长与死亡起着独特而重要的作用,在维持珊瑚礁生态系统的物质循环和能量流动等生态学功能方面起着潜在作用。由于技术的局限以及关注度较低等原因,有关珊瑚礁病毒的研究较少。近年来,随着高通量测序技术的发展,宏转录组和宏基因组逐渐成为研究珊瑚礁病毒多样性及其生态学功能的重要方法之一。本文对国内外相关研究进行总结和归纳,拟为珊瑚礁病毒后续研究提供新的方向和思路,同时指导我国珊瑚礁的保护以及修复。