拟环纹豹蛛种群遗传多样性与其生境的关系

对分布于我国中南、西南和海南岛8个不同生境的拟环纹豹蛛种群进行RAPD分析.筛选出10对引物扩增出清晰稳定的200～2 500 bp片段84条,其中多态性片段62条(占73.8%).表明种群存在明显多态现象.Shannon指数、相似系数和遗传距离测定以及聚类分析的结果表明：拟环纹豹蛛种群总的遗传多样性指数为0.5177,而且种群内遗传变异（64.24%)大于种群间（35.76%）;8个狼蛛种群平均遗传距离为0.2426,变异范围为0.0753～0.3725,表明8个种群由于所处生境条件不同而产生了一定的适应性变异.多元回归统计结果表明,制约拟环纹豹蛛成为稻田优势种的主要因子是年平均气温和农药的长期施用.     

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。     

广西涠洲岛鸟类自然保护区的两栖爬行动物

2008年5～6月对广西涠洲岛鸟类自然保护区的两栖爬行动物进行调查,共记录到两栖类7种,爬行类16种,隶属于3目11科.与18年前的调查结果对比,生境的变化使岛上两栖爬行动物的分布范围和多度发生一些改变.2008年初的冰冻灾害使涠洲岛的两栖爬行类损失较大.涠洲岛与邻近大陆的两栖爬行动物物种相似,无特有种.     

广西涠洲岛鸟类自然保护区的鸟类资源

先后于1989年10月和12月、1990年3～4月和7～8月、1991年4～5月、1994年4～5月、2003年1月和2008年5月对广西北部湾涠洲岛的鸟类资源进行了调查,在该保护区内共记录到鸟类186种,隶属16目52科.其中,旅鸟117种,冬候鸟48种,留鸟14种,夏候鸟7种.13种鸟类被IUCN列为受威胁物种,包括黑脸琵鹭(Platalea minor).国家重点保护鸟类29种.中日候鸟保护鸟类93种,中澳候鸟保护鸟类30种.涠洲岛鸟类自然保护区是沿太平洋西海岸迁飞候鸟的重要中途停歇地,具有非常重要的保护价值.     

广西涠洲岛造礁珊瑚种群结构的空间分布

对2007年和2008年调查的涠洲岛沿岸海域垂直海岸方向的6条主剖面上20条分断面的影像资料、样品鉴定等资料的分析,涠洲岛石珊瑚共出现10科22属46种,9个未定种;角蜂巢珊瑚属(Favites)、滨珊瑚属(Porites)、蔷薇珊瑚属(Montipora)为优势类群,其属级重要值百分比分别为25.78%、17.47%、15.11%;各主剖面珊瑚种群优势类群分布各有差异,以西南部的W2、东北部的W5的珊瑚属种为较多,均为8科13属,其石珊瑚属种分布均匀度略高;涠洲岛珊瑚分布自岸向海分为砂砾及珊瑚断枝带、石珊瑚稀疏带、石珊瑚繁盛带、柳珊瑚繁盛带4 个生物地貌带,石珊瑚分布较多的石珊瑚繁盛带主要分布于-1.39--5 m的水深范围内。石珊瑚形态组合以块状/亚块状与板块状为主要类型,覆盖程度以块状/亚块状占优。调查区受1998年的\"厄尔尼诺现象\"引起的全球性极高温事件和2008年1-2月的极低温气候事件及地域性不合理人类活动胁迫影响较大,枝状形态石珊瑚覆盖度、优势程度下降,已退出属种优势组合。     

涠洲岛火山口真菌的分离及次级代谢产物鉴定

涠洲岛火山口生态环境特殊,蕴藏着丰富且独具特色的微生物资源。关于涠洲岛火山口海洋真菌来源的次级代谢产物鲜有报道。本研究采用两种培养基从涠洲岛火山口海洋植物中分离真菌,对菌株的代谢产物进行分离纯化,并通过波谱等方法鉴定化合物结构。从4种涠洲岛火山口附近的海洋植物样本中分离真菌共31株,从菌株青霉菌Penicillium sp. TX-M1-3和Penicillium sp. LW-2-1的发酵物中纯化获得2个主要次级代谢产物,并鉴定为核丛青霉素和弯孢霉菌素。活性评价表明核丛青霉素对NPC1L1蛋白具有一定的抑制作用,暗示其在治疗心血管疾病方面的潜力。本结果拓展了涠洲岛火山口微生物资源及其次生代谢产物方面的研究,为该地区微生物与其次生代谢产物的研究提供了相关基础。     

雷州半岛灯楼角珊瑚礁的生态特征与资源可持续利用

分布于雷州半岛西南部灯楼角的珊瑚礁,自海向陆可分为6个生态带,已鉴定出现代活石珊瑚(Scleractinia) 13科2 5属39种3未定种。该珊瑚礁位于热带北缘,附近人口密集,它的发育受自然因素和人类活动双重制约。气候方面,近4 2 a来的温度总体上升有利于本区珊瑚礁的发育,而台风活动对本区珊瑚礁可能有负面的影响;人类活动对本区珊瑚礁的影响表现为旅游业的快速发展与保护行动滞后威胁珊瑚礁、渔业和养殖业影响珊瑚礁、作为建筑材料使用而破坏珊瑚礁等3个方面。作为一种重要的海洋生态资源,本区珊瑚礁若得以科学保护,将具有广阔的可持续利用前景     

珊瑚礁区的生物多样性及其生态功能

珊瑚礁区生物多样性程度可以与陆地热带雨林相提并论,目前关于珊瑚礁物种多样性及其空间分布特征方面研究进展迅速,是生物多样性研究的重要基地。作为一种生态资源,珊瑚礁还具有重要的生态功能,近年来由于全球气候逐渐变暖、人类活动影响不断加剧,导致其生物多样性缩减、生态功能严重退化。珊瑚礁生态系统多样性、遗传多样性已成为珊瑚礁研究热点,珊瑚礁生态环境效应和保护管理方面的研究也越来越受到重视。我国珊瑚礁主要分布在广阔的南海海域和海南岛、台湾岛、香港和广东广西沿岸,礁区生物种类繁多,多样性程度较高,以往研究主要涉及地质、地貌、生物、环境等方面,现今和今后一段时间里迫切需要加强生物多样性和生态功能研究,以确保更有效地保护和管理珊瑚礁。     

水温对珊瑚礁的影响

所有的火力或核能发电厂,都会抽取河川、湖泊的淡水或海岸边的海水来冷却发电机组,也因而产生温排水影响周遭海洋生态的问题。特别是当温排水的温度愈高,与其汲入之冷却水间之温差愈大,对当地海洋生态造成的冲击就愈大。以台湾已运转的三部核能电厂为例,不论南部的核三厂或北部的核一、二厂,在夏天时其背景水温均已高达29-30℃,在其排放口之温度可高达37-38℃以     

海南岛生态环境质量时空变化及其对气候变化与人类活动的响应

海南岛是气候变化敏感区以及生态环境脆弱区。近几十年气候变化和人类活动深刻地影响着海南岛的生态环境质量。然而,针对海南生态环境质量时空演变及其对气候变化与人类活动响应的规律还不清晰,理解这些规律对实现海南岛可持续发展目标具有重要意义。基于多源遥感数据,利用改进的遥感生态环境指数(MRSEI)探究了海南岛1992—2015年生态环境质量时空变化特征以及其对气候变化以及人类活动的响应,并利用像元尺度的多元回归法对比了气候变化与人类活动对生态环境质量变化的贡献。结果表明：(1)MRSEI指数适用于大区域,可用于本研究中的海南岛生态环境质量评价;(2)近24年,海南岛生态环境质量呈现波动上升的趋势,且在所有土地利用类型中,林地的MRSEI最高,多年平均值达到0.812;(3)MRSEI与气温、降雨呈现出显著正相关关系,与以夜间灯光表征的人类活动在沿海以及各市县的主城区呈现显著负相关关系;(4)气候变化在MRSEI演变中的贡献整体要高于人类活动影响。为海南中国特色自由贸易港建设中生态环境与经济社会协同发展研判提供科学的定量支撑,并为制定相应的政策提供依据。     

What do we know about Eilat (Red Sea) reef degradation? A critical examination of the published literature

During the last four decades, the coral reef at Eilat, northern Red Sea, has undergone major changes. Increasing impacts from human activities, coupled with those from natural disasters, have set off its current poor state. Here, I critically overview the salient features for Eilat's reef degradation published since the 1960s. Although this reef is one of the most intensively studied small coral reef worldwide, the literature elucidates that the available results are exceedingly fragmented, offering only scanty knowledge for the causes and pathways of the reef deterioration. During the years, 1975-2000, scarcely any reef evaluation had been done and the reef at Eilat was not well characterized to establish baseline data for future evaluations and for analyzing the trends. Even the follow up studies on the extreme low tide episode (occurred during 1970) are limited and localized, and cannot be used as a model case in calibrating Eilat reef status. Natural forces affecting the reef at Eilat are understood only vaguely, and coral assemblages/recruitments, even between neighboring sites, vary markedly in any studied biological-ecological parameter. The importance of the complex networks of interactions between algae, their grazers and corals for structuring coral assemblages, were overlooked, and massive algal growths were mistakenly attributed to anthropogenic impacts alone. Whereas, no long-term study can provide much indication for future prospects, at present, the tourist industry is probably the major cause for reef decline. Surprisingly, the literature further unveils at some sites various ecological properties, such as species diversity and densities of coral species and colonies, similarly to the values recorded decades ago and reveals that the paucity of information has led to conclusions unsubstantiated by robust sets of experiments. At this stage, therefore, decisive conclusions pertaining to the causes and pathways of Eilat reef degradation cannot be reached. Four future prospectuses are outlined, including the need for implementation of active restoration measures.     

Community structure and biogeography of shore fishes in the Gulf of Aqaba,Red Sea

Shore fish community structure off the Jordanian Red Sea coast was determined on fringing coral reefs and in a seagrass-dominated bay at 6 m and 12 m depths. A total of 198 fish species belonging to 121 genera and 43 families was recorded. Labridae and Pomacentridae dominated the ichthyofauna in terms of species richness and Pomacentridae were most abundant. Neither diversity nor species richness was correlated to depth. The abundance of fishes was higher at the deep reef slope, due to schooling planktivorous fishes. At 12 m depth abundance of fishes at the seagrass-dominated site was higher than on the coral reefs. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a strong influence on the fish assemblages by depth and benthic habitat. Fish species richness was positively correlated with hard substrate cover and habitat diversity. Abundance of corallivores was positively linked with live hard coral cover. The assemblages of fishes were different on the shallow reef slope, deep reef slope and seagrass meadows. An analysis of the fish fauna showed that the Gulf of Aqaba harbours a higher species richness than previously reported. The comparison with fish communities on other reefs around the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean supported the recognition of an Arabian subprovince within the Indian Ocean. The affinity of the Arabian Gulf ichthyofauna to the Red Sea is not clear. Received in revised form: 2 November 2001 Electronic Publication     

Temporal and spatial variability of the oxygen isotopic composition of massive corals from the South China Sea: Influence of the Asian monsoon

Coral colonies of Porites lutea and P. lobata were collected from areas to the east and south offshore of Hainan Island, South China Sea. Oxygen isotope ratios, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, were analyzed along the major axis of growth at a resolution of 25–28 samples within an annual band from three colonies, giving data series lengths of 15, 20 and 30 years. Coral δ¹⁸O correlates well with sea surface temperature (SST) throughout most years, particularly when the Asian winter monsoon prevails over the region. Due to the same seasonal phases of SST and sea surface salinity (SSS), it is estimated that most of the seasonal features of coral δ¹⁸O are controlled by changes in SST with a significant contribution of SSS. This indicates the importance of temperature, as determined by the Asian winter monsoon, as a control on seasonal coral δ¹⁸O variations in the South China Sea. Given the fact that annual SSS maxima show minor inter-annual changes, the inter-annual change of annual coral δ¹⁸O maximum mainly reflects the SST induced by the winter monsoon. While the coral δ¹⁸O is mainly controlled by SST, deviations of the δ¹⁸O from SST correlate statistically with sea surface salinity, particularly for summer extreme events when SST reaches its annual maximum with minor inter-annual change. Therefore, we suggest that the inter-annual variation of the annual coral δ¹⁸O minima is mainly controlled by seawater composition. Seawater composition analysis indicates that its δ¹⁸O and salinity are simultaneously affected by freshwater inputs primarily from precipitation, which is mainly supplied by the Asian summer monsoon. Thus seasonal alternations of the winter and summer monsoon mainly control the coral δ¹⁸O, thereby allowing reconstruction of these monsoonal variables. The three coral records consistently reveal clear inter-decadal trends in δ¹⁸O — a gradual increase from 1968 to 1987, and a subsequent decrease from 1987 to 2003. These inter-decadal trends are roughly consistent with salinity changes — but not with temperature and precipitation, suggesting that seawater composition controlled by freshwater inputs from distant source areas, rather than from local precipitation, is responsible for the trends in seawater composition and coral δ¹⁸O over the last 30 years. Comparison of the three coral records indicates that spatial variations in coral δ¹⁸O coincide with variations in seawater salinity and local precipitation, but not with temperature. This confirms the dominant role of seawater composition, mainly controlled by monsoonal precipitation, on the spatial variability of coral δ¹⁸O in the South China Sea.     

Coral reef crisis in deep and shallow reefs: 30 years of constancy and change in reefs of Curacao and Bonaire

Coral reefs are thought to be in worldwide decline but available data are practically limited to reefs shallower than 25 m. Zooxanthellate coral communities in deep reefs (30–40 m) are relatively unstudied. Our question is: what is happening in deep reefs in terms of coral cover and coral mortality? We compare changes in species composition, coral mortality, and coral cover at Caribbean (Curacao and Bonaire) deep (30–40 m) and shallow reefs (10–20 m) using long-term (1973–2002) data from permanent photo quadrats. About 20 zooxanthellate coral species are common in the deep-reef communities, dominated by Agaricia sp., with coral cover up to 60%. In contrast with shallow reefs, there is no decrease in coral cover or number of coral colonies in deep reefs over the last 30 years. In deep reefs, non-agaricid species are decreasing but agaricid domination will be interrupted by natural catastrophic mortality such as deep coral bleaching and storms. Temperature is a vastly fluctuating variable in the deep-reef environment with extremely low temperatures possibly related to deep-reef bleaching. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Environmental implications of skeletal micro-density and porosity variation in two scleractinian corals

The correlations between skeletal parameters (bulk density, micro-density and porosity), coral age and sea surface temperature were assessed along a latitudinal gradient in the zooxanthellate coral Balanophyllia europaea and in the azooxanthellate coral Leptopsammia pruvoti. In both coral species, the variation of bulk density was more influenced by the variation of porosity than of micro-density. With increasing polyp age, B. europaea formed denser and less porous skeletons while L. pruvoti showed the opposite trend, becoming less dense and more porous. B. europaea skeletons were generally less porous (more dense) than those of L. pruvoti, probably as a consequence of the different habitats colonized by the two species. Increasing temperature had a negative impact on the zooxanthellate species, leading to an increase of porosity. In contrast, micro-density increased with temperature in the azooxanthellate species. It is hypothesized that the increase in porosity with increasing temperatures observed in B. europaea could depend on an attenuation of calcification due to an inhibition of the photosynthetic process at elevated temperatures, while the azooxanthellate species appears more resistant to variations of temperature, highlighting possible differences in the sensitivity/tolerance of these two coral species to temperature changes in face of global climate change.     

Growth of reef fishes in response to live coral cover

Although the global decline in coral reef health is likely to have profound effects on reef associated fishes, these effects are poorly understood. While declining coral cover can reduce the abundance of reef fishes through direct effects on recruitment and/or mortality, recent evidence suggests that individuals may survive in disturbed habitats, but may experience sublethal reductions in their condition. This study examined the response of 2 coral associated damselfishes (Pomacentridae), Chrysiptera parasema and Dascyllus melanurus, to varying levels of live coral cover. Growth, persistence, and the condition of individuals were quantified on replicate coral colonies in 3 coral treatments: 100% live coral (control), 50% live coral (partial) and 0% live coral (dead). The growth rates of both species were directly related to the percentage live coral cover, with individuals associated with dead corals exhibiting the slowest growth, and highest growth on control corals. Such differences in individual growth between treatments were apparent after 29 d. There was no significant difference in the numbers of fishes persisting or the physiological condition of individuals between different treatments on this time-scale. Slower growth in disturbed habitats will delay the onset of maturity, reduce lifetime fecundity and increase individual's vulnerability to gape-limited predation. Hence, immediate effects on recruitment and survival may underestimate the longer-term impacts of declining coral on the structure and diversity of coral-associated reef fish communities.     

STRONG GENETIC DIVERGENCE AMONG POPULATIONS OF A MARINE FISH WITH LIMITED DISPERSAL, ACANTHOCHROMIS POLYACANTHUS, WITHIN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF AND THE CORAL SEA

Abstract Acanthochromis polyacanthus is an unusual tropical marine damselfish that uniquely lacks pelagic larvae and has lost the capacity for broad‐scale dispersal among coral reefs. On the modern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), three color morphs meet and hydridize at two zones of secondary contact. Allozyme electrophoreses revealed strong differences between morphs from the southern zone but few differences between morphs from the northern counterpart, thus suggesting different contact histories. We explore the phylogeography of Acanthochromis polyacanthus with mitochondrial cytochrome b region sequences (alignment of 565 positions) obtained from 126 individuals representing seven to 12 fish from 13 sites distributed over 12 reefs of the GBR and the Coral Sea. The samples revealed three major clades: (1) black fish collected from the southern GBR; (2) bicolored fish collected from the GBR and one reef (Osprey) from the northern Coral Sea; (3) black and white monomorphs collected from six reefs in the Coral Sea. All three clades were well supported (72–100%) by bootstrap analyses. Sequence divergences were very high between the major clades (mean = 7.6%) as well as within them (2.0–3.6%). Within clades, most reefs segregated as monophyletic assemblages. This was revealed both by phylogenetic analyses and AMOVAs that showed that 72–90% of the variance originated from differences among groups, whereas only 5–13% originated within populations. These patterns are discussed in relation to the known geological history of coral reefs of the GBR and the Coral Sea. Finally, we ask whether the monospecific status of Acanthochromis should be revisited because the sequence divergences found among our samples is substantially greater than those recorded among well‐recognized species in other reef fishes.     

The area of potential shallow-water tropical and subtropical coral ecosystems in the United States

Geographic information system-based analysis was used to derive comprehensive, consistent estimates of the potential area of broadly defined, shallow-water, tropical and subtropical coral ecosystems within the territorial sea and exclusive economic zone of the United States. A coral ecosystem is composed of habitats including unconsolidated sediment, mangrove, hermatypic coral, colonized hardbottom, and submerged vegetation, and major structural zones like reef crest, lagoon, and fore reef. This broad definition reflects the importance of both reef and non-reef habitats and structural zones in the function of these ecosystems. Nautical charts, published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of the Coast Survey, provide a consistent source of 10-fathom (∼18 m) and 100-fathom (∼183 m) depth curve information. The 10-fathom or 100-fathom depth curves are used as surrogates for the potential distribution and extent of shallow-water coral ecosystems in tropical and subtropical U.S. waters. An estimated 36,813 sq·km area has been identified where coral ecosystems can potentially be found in waters less than 10 fathoms (18 m) deep. In addition, an estimated 143,059 sq·km area has been identified where coral ecosystems potentially can be found in U.S. waters at depths down to 100 fathoms (183 m). Results also indicate that previous studies underestimated the extent of potential coral ecosystems for some locations in U.S. tropical and subtropical waters by as much as 100% and that the regional distribution of coral ecosystems has been incorrectly reported.     

Fine scale site fidelity in sea kraits: implications for conservation

The shores of coral reef islands are major sites for biodiversity, but unfortunately they are also subject to strong anthropogenic disturbances. Indeed vast arrays of organisms live exclusively in these very narrow and well structured zones, many others depend on the rich and diverse micro-habitats for essential part of their life cycle (to reproduce, forage, etc.). Sea kraits are sea snakes that depend on the shore of coral islets; they forage at sea but digest, reproduce and rest on land. They have been killed in extremely large numbers in many places, causing local extinctions. In the current study we demonstrate through recapture and translocation studies that these snakes exhibit a strong and fine-scale fidelity for particular segments of the shore. Consequently, these specific areas should be under strong protection, as it the case for the breeding beaches used by marine mammals, birds or turtles.     

Territoriality in the butterflyfishChaetodon austriacus

Synopsis The ranging and feeding behaviour of the butterflyfishChaetodon austriacus (Chaetodontidae) was studied at eight sites along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. This species was strongly paired and was found to defend territories intraspecifically, predominantly by display and non-aggressive advertisement. Frequencies of overt aggression were relatively low. Two other species of butterflyfish were aggressed against occasionally, but this did not appear to be space-related.C. austriacus fed entirely on scleractinian corals, primarilyAcropora, but included a variety of other genera in the diet. Territories appeared to be defended primarily for feeding and were significantly larger (1.6 times) at 10–15 m on the fore-reef slope than at the 1–2 m deep reef-edge. The availability of coral differed by a similar amount between depths, cover being 1.7 times greater in shallow water. Feeding rates did not differ significantly between depths.