中国造礁石珊瑚分类厘定

造礁石珊瑚是珊瑚礁框架建造者, 具有维持珊瑚礁生态系统功能和稳定性的重要作用, 其分类对于造礁石珊瑚和珊瑚礁的研究与保护至关重要。目前, 随着分子系统学的不断发展, 造礁石珊瑚的分类体系发生改变, 伴随着出现大量同物异名。近年来也出现许多无中文学名的中国造礁石珊瑚新记录种, 这些都给物种认定和命名带来困难, 阻碍了中国造礁石珊瑚的研究与保护工作。为此, 本文收集了中国造礁石珊瑚物种记录文献资料, 采用最新的造礁石珊瑚分类体系, 确认同物异名, 形成中国造礁石珊瑚物种名录, 并对中国造礁石珊瑚物种的中文名进行统一的规范和命名。结果表明, 中国共有造礁石珊瑚2个类群16科77属445种。与《中国动物志·腔肠动物门·珊瑚虫纲·石珊瑚目·造礁石珊瑚》相比, 科级分类阶元新增7个科, 变更5个科; 属级分类阶元新增26属, 变更1属, 合并3属; 种级分类阶元新增291种, 变更13种, 合并20种, 新命名305个物种的中文名。并且筛选出187个同物异名。此外, 由于造礁石珊瑚分类体系现仍有部分争议, 文章也进行了讨论说明。     

海洋酸化对珊瑚礁生态系统的影响研究进展

目前,大气CO2浓度的升高已导致海水pH值比工业革命前下降了约0.1,海水碳酸盐平衡体系随之变化,进而影响珊瑚礁生态系统的健康。近年来的研究表明海洋酸化导致造礁石珊瑚幼体补充和群落恢复更加困难,造礁石珊瑚和其它造礁生物(Reef-building organisms)钙化率降低甚至溶解,乃至影响珊瑚礁鱼类的生命活动。虽然海洋酸化对造礁石珊瑚光合作用的影响不显著,但珊瑚-虫黄藻共生体系会受到一定影响。建议选择典型海区进行长期系统监测,结合室内与原位模拟试验,从个体、种群、群落到系统不同层面,运用生理学和分子生物学技术,结合生态学研究手段,综合研究珊瑚的相应响应,以期深入认识海洋酸化对珊瑚礁生态系统健康(例如珊瑚白化)的影响及其效应。     

悬浮物对造礁石珊瑚营养方式的影响及其适应性研究进展

营养方式是造礁石珊瑚获取能量与营养物质的基础,影响其生长与分布。近年来珊瑚礁区悬浮物含量与组分结构发生显著变化,其对造礁石珊瑚营养方式的诸多影响正成为当前研究热点。研究系统综述了珊瑚礁区悬浮物变化特征、悬浮物对造礁石珊瑚营养方式的影响及其适应性研究现状。发现近年来人类活动加剧与强降雨事件频发是驱动珊瑚礁,尤其是近岸珊瑚礁区悬浮物含量递增、组分改变与变频加剧的主因;悬浮物变化对造礁石珊瑚光合自养与异养营养的影响存在显著的种间差异,这主要与悬浮物消光效应、生物可利用性及造礁石珊瑚种类密切相关。虽然少数种类造礁石珊瑚具光合可塑性或异养可塑性,能在高含量悬浮物存在的弱光环境中较好生长。然而对绝大多数造礁石珊瑚而言,其营养方式适应性较差,无法在悬浮物影响下较好地获取生命活动所需的能量与营养物质,进而难以生存。总体来说,悬浮物被认为是近年来影响造礁石珊瑚生长与分布的重要环境因子之一,而关于造礁石珊瑚营养方式对悬浮物变化的响应及其适应机制,当前研究仍较薄弱,需要进一步加强相关研究。     

涠洲岛造礁石珊瑚群落变化特征及其环境影响因子

以涠洲岛造礁石珊瑚群落为研究对象,分析其群落物种组成、多样性、Raunkiaer频度和种间Spearman轶相关,探讨群落组成与水环境因子的相关性,并结合近10年来涠洲岛造礁石珊瑚变化情况,找出涠洲岛造礁石珊瑚群落的主导影响因素。结果表明：（1）近10年来涠洲岛造礁石珊瑚覆盖率显著降低,珊瑚形态组成趋于块状化,尽管珊瑚群落多样性较高,但群落分布较松散,群落结构较不稳定,部分优势种种间竞争较激烈。（2）悬浮物含量是影响石珊瑚群落最显著的环境因子。石珊瑚优势种群在不同水深中分布差异显著,泥沙覆盖率、营养盐对不同石珊瑚种群影响差异较大,大型海藻覆盖率在局部区域对优势珊瑚形成较强的竞争关系。（3）营养盐和泥沙沉积物的增加与涠洲岛近海养殖业及生活排污、海岸工程及海岸侵蚀密切相关。     

运用PCR-RFLP方法研究三亚鹿回头岸礁造礁石珊瑚共生藻的组成

造礁石珊瑚共生藻的系统分类研究对于理解珊瑚礁生态系统对全球变化的响应具有十分重要的意义.本研究利用PCR技术扩增核糖体基因人亚基片段以及限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)的方法,对海南三亚鹿回头岸礁的8科14属22种造礁石珊瑚的共生藻组成进行了研究.结果表明鹿回头岸礁造礁石珊瑚共生藻以C系群为优势系群,偶尔发现D系群与鹿角杯形珊瑚(Pocilolpora damieornis)和黄癣蜂巢珊瑚(Favia favus)共生:另外丑鹿角珊瑚(Acropora horrida)和丛生盔形珊瑚(Galaxea fascicularis)可以同时与C系群和D系群共生.共生多型性的发现暗示珊瑚与共生藻的共生关系具有灵活性.研究结果同样显示共生藻的核糖体基因人片段的DNA多态性偏低.未来应该结合其他的分子标记对鹿回头岸礁造礁石珊瑚共生藻的DNA多态性进行更深入的研究.     

西沙群岛海域造礁石珊瑚物种多样性与分布特点

2006年3-5月,采用国际通用的截线样带法对海南省西沙群岛主要珊瑚礁海域的18个岛礁造礁石珊瑚进行了实地调查,共记录13科45属188种,其中62个新记录种.整合文献资料,该海域共记录造礁石珊瑚13科50属204种,基本包括分布在我国(不含台湾省)的所有造礁石珊瑚科属和绝大多数种类.造礁石珊瑚以生长速度快的分枝状珊瑚为主.物种多样性最高的是华光礁海域、金银岛海域和永兴岛海域.聚类分析可以把18个调查岛礁分成3个类群:有人类居住的大型环礁群、独立岛礁群和无人居住的大型环礁群(华光礁).为了有效保护珍稀的造礁石珊瑚资源,按照其种类多样性和分布特点重点保护关键海域是十分必要的.     

鹿回头多孔鹿角珊瑚与丛生盔形珊瑚性腺组织学研究

造礁石珊瑚繁殖生物学是开展珊瑚有性修复技术的基础, 对珊瑚礁生态系统修复具有重要的指导意义。本研究选取三亚鹿回头多孔鹿角珊瑚(Acropora millepora)与丛生盔形珊瑚(Galaxea fascicularis)作为研究对象, 观察它们性腺特征, 明确多孔鹿角珊瑚与丛生盔形珊瑚有性繁殖类型。结果表明: (1) 多孔鹿角珊瑚是雌雄同体产卵型珊瑚, 丛生盔形珊瑚是假雌全异株产卵型珊瑚; (2) 多孔鹿角珊瑚和丛生盔形珊瑚的虫黄藻都由后天获取; (3)多孔鹿角珊瑚在其卵母细胞和精母细胞发育到Ⅳ时相后, 卵巢与精巢之间肠表皮消失, 并在随后的5 d 左右产卵; 丛生盔形珊瑚在其卵母细胞发育到Ⅲ时相后的20 d 左右产卵。本研究结果, 为三亚海域造礁石珊瑚繁殖生物学的深入研究提供基础数据支持。     

鹿回头岸礁造礁石珊瑚物种多样性的研究

定量分析鹿回头岸礁造礁石珊瑚群落的种类组成,选择α－多样性和β－多样性的度量方法,分析了该群落造礁石珊瑚种、属和科的多样性及其与所处生境的关系。结果表明：鹿回头岸礁造礁石珊瑚群落的物种比较丰富,多样性和均匀度指数都较高,但在不同地段之间存在着明显的差异。水深中等的地段（２．４￣５．０ｍ）的多样性指数高于较浅（１．５￣２．０ｍ）和较深（５．５￣６．５ｍ）地段;潮间带与潮下带之间和礁平台与向海斜坡之间     

三亚珊瑚礁保护区珊瑚礁生态系统现状及其健康状况评价

为评估三亚珊瑚礁国家级自然保护区珊瑚礁生态系统的健康状况, 本文选取东岛、鹿回头、大东海3个站位调查了珊瑚礁群落、珊瑚礁鱼类和大型底栖动物。通过对比分析历史资料、珊瑚礁现场生态调查与监测及组织专家评审, 筛选出一、二级指标并设置权重, 使用综合指数计算了三亚珊瑚礁保护区珊瑚礁生态系统健康指数。结果显示, 三亚珊瑚礁保护区内共有造礁珊瑚10科21属37种, 软珊瑚3种, 造礁珊瑚覆盖率和软珊瑚覆盖率分别为14.31%和0.19%, 其中鹿回头造礁珊瑚覆盖率最高, 为21.58%。珊瑚礁鱼类共14科28属36种, 其中, 雀鲷科的种类数最多, 为11种。鹿回头4 m断面珊瑚礁鱼类密度最大, 为154尾/300 m²。砗磲和龙虾极少发现, 珊瑚天敌核果螺多见。东岛、鹿回头、大东海珊瑚礁生态系统健康状况均处于“一般”。本文所采用的方法是结合常规珊瑚礁监测可获得的指标进行评价, 简便易操作, 通过在三亚珊瑚礁保护区的实践, 能够很好地反映珊瑚礁生态系统现状及其健康状况, 科研和业务化监测部门均可应用。     

珊瑚疾病的主要类型、生态危害及其与环境的关系

与人和其它动物一样,珊瑚也生病。在过去30多年里各种珊瑚疾病对全球珊瑚礁造成了严重破坏。目前已知的珊瑚疾病多达30多种,但确定病原体的仅6种。阐述了造礁石珊瑚的7种最主要疾病类型(黑带病、黑斑病、白带病、白色瘟疫、白斑病、黄带病和珊瑚白化病等)的症状、扩散速率、疾病患病率、珊瑚死亡率等。频繁发生的珊瑚疾病导致主要造礁物种死亡,减少礁区的生物多样性,对珊瑚礁生态系统产生破坏日益严重,甚至引起以珊瑚为主导的珊瑚礁系统转变为以大型藻类为主导的生态系统。全球气温上升和人为活动引起的一系列环境因子的变化被认为是各种珊瑚疾病发生的诱导因素,海水温度升高是Oculina patagonica和Pocillopora damicornis2种珊瑚细菌性白化的先决条件,其它环境因素如营养盐、有机污染物等超过一定量或pH值改变时会对珊瑚造成生理压力,降低其对病毒的抵抗力,也可能改变病原体生存的生态阈值,增强其病原毒力,引发并加速疾病的扩散。此外,珊瑚的生存环境如覆盖度、水深等与疾病的爆发也有一定的关系,一般认为覆盖度高,水深较浅处珊瑚疾病发生频率高。     

Coral reefs studies and threats in Malaysia: a mini review

Coral reefs in Malaysia are about 4,006 km² with over 550 species contributed to nation’s economy. Coral reefs studies and threats in Malaysia have been reviewed briefly. Perspectives are addressed as coral reefs studies, threats, gaps and future studies. Coral reefs in Malaysia are being damaged at an increasing rate where it faces natural and anthropogenic stresses. Excellent summaries are available in terms of coral reefs cover throughout Malaysia however scarce in terms of qualitative, quantitative and biogeographical data. There are also limited studies on heavy metals concentration in corals skeleton studies. Poor to fair conditions of coral reefs in Peninsular Malaysia is due to increases of sedimentation and tourism impacts. Overfishing and fish blasting were main threats of coral reefs damage in Sabah. In Sarawak, coral reefs are threatened by high sedimentation and sand mining. The 1998–1999 bleaching event also affected coral reefs in Malaysia due to climate change. Gaps in coral reefs studies can be completed by continuous collaborations between local and international researchers as well as research by local universities. Economic valuation, policy analysis and community participation are directions in future coral reefs studies in Malaysia. Future studies are to understand effects of management on coral reefs health and impact of pollution on coral reefs growth with a standard coral reefs methodology. Established legal systems to reduce threats received by coral reefs are also need to be introduced. Role of science-driven management with community participation and media mass are also gaps to be highlighted in future studies.     

造礁石珊瑚记录现代海洋生态环境信息研究进展

造礁石珊瑚因其独特的生物学和生态学特性,已被广泛用作环境因子的代用指标.过去国内外的研究主要侧重于地质年代环境信息的记录,随着样品分析测试精度的提高,用造礁石珊瑚骨骼研究现代热带的生态环境也逐渐增多,尤其对于影响海洋生态环境的事件信息的记录.许多研究都证明了造礁石珊瑚骨骼中各种示踪剂在监测过去环境变化方面的有效性,对目前和将来的生态监控以及环境研究都具有广阔的前景.目前,珊瑚基础生理学的机制尚未完全探明,进一步了解珊瑚微观结构层次的生理机制是该领域研究的关键所在.我国学者已开展了南海西沙、南沙、台湾岛、海南岛、徐闻和涠洲岛等地区的造礁石珊瑚骨骼多种指标的研究.     

The role of turtles as coral reef macroherbivores

Herbivory is widely accepted as a vital function on coral reefs. To date, the majority of studies examining herbivory in coral reef environments have focused on the roles of fishes and/or urchins, with relatively few studies considering the potential role of macroherbivores in reef processes. Here, we introduce evidence that highlights the potential role of marine turtles as herbivores on coral reefs. While conducting experimental habitat manipulations to assess the roles of herbivorous reef fishes we observed green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) showing responses that were remarkably similar to those of herbivorous fishes. Reducing the sediment load of the epilithic algal matrix on a coral reef resulted in a forty-fold increase in grazing by green turtles. Hawksbill turtles were also observed to browse transplanted thalli of the macroalga Sargassum swartzii in a coral reef environment. These responses not only show strong parallels to herbivorous reef fishes, but also highlight that marine turtles actively, and intentionally, remove algae from coral reefs. When considering the size and potential historical abundance of marine turtles we suggest that these potentially valuable herbivores may have been lost from many coral reefs before their true importance was understood.     

Assessing loss of coral cover on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef over two decades, with implications for longer-term trends

While coral reefs in many parts of the world are in decline as a direct consequence of human pressures, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is unusual in that direct human pressures are low and the entire system of ~2,900 reefs has been managed as a marine park since the 1980s. In spite of these advantages, standard annual surveys of a large number of reefs showed that from 1986 to 2004, average live coral cover across the GBR declined from 28 to 22%. This overall decline was mainly due to large losses in six (21%) of 29 subregions. Declines in live coral cover on reefs in two inshore subregions coincided with thermal bleaching in 1998, while declines in four mid-self subregions were due to outbreaks of predatory starfish. Otherwise, living coral cover increased in one subregion (3%) and 22 subregions (76%) showed no substantial change. Reefs in the great majority of subregions showed cycles of decline and recovery over the survey period, but with little synchrony among subregions. Two previous studies examined long-term changes in live coral cover on GBR reefs using meta-analyses including historical data from before the mid-1980s. Both found greater rates of loss of coral and recorded a marked decrease in living coral cover on the GBR in 1986, coinciding exactly with the start of large-scale monitoring. We argue that much of the apparent long-term decrease results from combining data from selective, sparse, small-scale studies before 1986 with data from both small-scale studies and large-scale monitoring surveys after that date. The GBR has clearly been changed by human activities and live coral cover has declined overall, but losses of coral in the past 40–50 years have probably been overestimated.     

共生珊瑚异养营养研究进展

共生珊瑚的异养营养指有虫黄藻共生的珊瑚在同化作用过程中,除通过虫黄藻光合作用获取营养之外,还可以从外界环境中直接摄取现成的有机物,经消化吸收后转变为自身的组成物质或储存为能量.国内外异地养殖或繁育虫黄藻共生珊瑚的研究多集中在光照、水流、水质等条件对珊瑚生长的影响,对共生珊瑚异养营养需求与供应方面的关注较少.本文从共生珊瑚异养营养来源、影响共生珊瑚异养营养供应的因素以及研究手段等方面,对国内外研究进展进行了综述,探讨异养营养供应对共生珊瑚的意义.总的来说,目前共生珊瑚异养营养的研究尚处于起步阶段,不论是研究方法或者珊瑚选择摄食的内在机制,都需要深入探究.     

Coral snake mimicry: live snakes not avoided by a mammalian predator

The occurrence of coral snake coloration among unrelated venomous and non-venomous New World snake species has often been explained in terms of warning coloration and mimicry. The idea that snake predators would avoid coral snakes in nature seems widely established and is postulated in many discussions on coral snake mimicry. However, the few workers that have tested a potential aposematic function of the conspicuous colour pattern focused exclusively on behaviour of snake predators towards coloured abstract models. Here we report on behaviour of temporarily caged, wild coatis (Nasua narica) when confronted with co-occurring live snakes, among which were two species of venomous coral snakes. Five different types of responses have been observed, ranging from avoidance to predation, yet none of the coatis avoided either of the two coral snake species or other species resembling these. As in earlier studies coatis appeared to avoid coral snake models, our findings show that results from studies with abstract snake models cannot unconditionally serve as evidence for an aposematic function of coral snake coloration.     

Multiple disturbances and the global degradation of coral reefs: are reef fishes at risk or resilient?

Increased frequency of disturbances and anthropogenic activities are predicted to have a devastating impact on coral reefs that will ultimately change the composition of reef associated fish communities. We reviewed and analysed studies that document the effects of disturbance‐mediated coral loss on coral reef fishes. Meta‐analysis of 17 independent studies revealed that 62% of fish species declined in abundance within 3 years of disturbances that resulted in >10% decline in coral cover. Abundances of species reliant on live coral for food and shelter consistently declined during this time frame, while abundance of some species that feed on invertebrates, algae and/or detritus increased. The response of species, particularly those expected to benefit from the immediate loss of coral, is, however, variable and is attributed to erratic replenishment of stocks, ecological versatility of species and sublethal responses, such as changes in growth, body condition and feeding rates. The diversity of fish communities was found to be negatively and linearly correlated to disturbance‐mediated coral loss. Coral loss >20% typically resulted in a decline in species richness of fish communities, although diversity may initially increase following small declines in coral cover from high coverage. Disturbances that result in an immediate loss of habitat complexity (e.g. severe tropical storms), have a greater impact on fishes from all trophic levels, compared with disturbances that kill corals, but leave the reef framework intact (e.g. coral bleaching and outbreaks of Acanthaster planci). This is most evident among small bodied species and suggests the long‐term consequences of coral loss through coral bleaching and crown‐of‐thorn starfish outbreaks may be much more substantial than the short‐term effects currently documented.     

Development and validation of computational fluid dynamics models for prediction of heat transfer and thermal microenvironments of corals

We present Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models of the coupled dynamics of water flow, heat transfer and irradiance in and around corals to predict temperatures experienced by corals. These models were validated against controlled laboratory experiments, under constant and transient irradiance, for hemispherical and branching corals. Our CFD models agree very well with experimental studies. A linear relationship between irradiance and coral surface warming was evident in both the simulation and experimental result agreeing with heat transfer theory. However, CFD models for the steady state simulation produced a better fit to the linear relationship than the experimental data, likely due to experimental error in the empirical measurements. The consistency of our modelling results with experimental observations demonstrates the applicability of CFD simulations, such as the models developed here, to coral bleaching studies. A study of the influence of coral skeletal porosity and skeletal bulk density on surface warming was also undertaken, demonstrating boundary layer behaviour, and interstitial flow magnitude and temperature profiles in coral cross sections. Our models compliment recent studies showing systematic changes in these parameters in some coral colonies and have utility in the prediction of coral bleaching.     

The need for broader ecological and socioeconomic tools to evaluate the effectiveness of coral restoration programs

Coral reef restoration initiatives are burgeoning in response to the need for novel management strategies to address dramatic global declines in coral cover. However, coral restoration programs typically lack rigor and critical evaluation of their effectiveness. A review of 83 peer‐reviewed papers that used coral transplantation for reef restoration reveals that growth and survival of coral fragments were the most widely used indicators of restoration success, with 88% of studies using these two indicators either solely (55%) or in combination with a limited number of other ecological factors (33%). In 53% of studies, reef condition was monitored for 1 year or less, while only 5% of reefs were monitored for more than 5 years post‐transplantation. These results highlight that coral reef restoration science has focused primarily on short‐term experiments to evaluate the feasibility of techniques for ecological restoration and the initial establishment phase post‐transplantation, rather than on longer‐term outcomes for coral reef communities. Here, we outline 10 socioecological indicators that comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of coral reef restoration across the four pillars of sustainability (i.e. environmental, sociocultural, governance, and economic contributions to sustainable communities). We recommend that evaluations of the effectiveness of coral restoration programs integrate ecological indicators with sociocultural, economic, and governance considerations. Assessing the efficacy of coral restoration as a tool to support reef resilience will help to guide future efforts and ensure the sustainable maintenance of reef ecosystem goods and services.     

Persistence and Change in Community Composition of Reef Corals through Present,Past, and Future Climates

The reduction in coral cover on many contemporary tropical reefs suggests a different set of coral community assemblages will dominate future reefs. To evaluate the capacity of reef corals to persist over various time scales, we examined coral community dynamics in contemporary, fossil, and simulated future coral reef ecosystems. Based on studies between 1987 and 2012 at two locations in the Caribbean, and between 1981 and 2013 at five locations in the Indo-Pacific, we show that many coral genera declined in abundance, some showed no change in abundance, and a few coral genera increased in abundance. Whether the abundance of a genus declined, increased, or was conserved, was independent of coral family. An analysis of fossil-reef communities in the Caribbean revealed changes in numerical dominance and relative abundances of coral genera, and demonstrated that neither dominance nor taxon was associated with persistence. As coral family was a poor predictor of performance on contemporary reefs, a trait-based, dynamic, multi-patch model was developed to explore the phenotypic basis of ecological performance in a warmer future. Sensitivity analyses revealed that upon exposure to thermal stress, thermal tolerance, growth rate, and longevity were the most important predictors of coral persistence. Together, our results underscore the high variation in the rates and direction of change in coral abundances on contemporary and fossil reefs. Given this variation, it remains possible that coral reefs will be populated by a subset of the present coral fauna in a future that is warmer than the recent past.