海草生态学研究进展

海草床生态系统是生物圈中最具生产力的水生生态系统之一,具有重要的生态系统服务功能。作者根据海草生态学及相关领域的最新研究进展,对世界范围内海草床的空间分布、海草床的生态系统服务功能以及外界因素对海草床的影响等研究进展进行了综述。海草床生态系统服务功能主要包括净化水质、护堤减灾、提供栖息地和生态系统营养循环等。对海草床影响较大的外界环境因素包括盐度、温度、营养盐、光照、其他动物摄食、人类活动和气候变化等。海草普查、海草生态功能研究,影响海草床的主要环境因素,海草修复研究等将是我国海草研究的主要方向。

Progress in the study of seagrass ecology

Seagrass beds are highly productive coastal ecosystems and provide habitat for a diverse and abundant range of associated flora and fauna. In this paper the spatial distribution of seagrasses throughout the world has been described and the effects of various environmental factors on seagrass health have been reviewed. The ecosystem services provided by seagrasses include nutrient cycling, provision of fish habitats, protection from coastal erosion and buffering of the impacts of poor water quality. Major environmental factors influencing seagrass distribution and abundance include temperature, salinity, nutrients, light intensity, grazing and climate change. Further research is required on Chinese seagrasses to examine the ecology, ecosystem functioning and, the environmental factors influencing distribution and abundance. In addition, at some locations, the possibility of restoring degraded seagrass beds could be investigated.