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The Coral Communities of Yongle Atoll: Status, Threats, and Conservation Significance for Coral Reefs in South China Sea
Marine and Freshwater Research
  • Meixia Zhao, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Kefu Yu, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou; Guangxi University - China
  • Qi Shi, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Hongqiang Yang, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Bernhard Riegl, Nova Southeastern University
  • Qiaomin Zhang, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Hongqiang Yan, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Tianran Chen, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Guohui Liu, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
  • Ziyun Lin, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Guangzhou
ORCID
0000-0002-6003-9324
ResearcherID
F-8807-2011
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Keywords
  • Anthropogenic impact,
  • Climate change,
  • Coastal management,
  • Community pattern,
  • Health assessment,
  • Indo-Pacific,
  • Islands
Abstract

Xisha Islands are in the central South China Sea and form one of the four large island groups in this region. They include more than 40 islands, reefs and cays, and have considerable ecological and biodiversity value, both intrinsically and as a source of larvae for coastal ecosystems throughout the South China Sea. Yongle atoll is the biggest and one of the most important atolls in the Xisha Islands. The detailed surveys of the marine habitats in the Yongle atoll were conducted from June to July 2013. This baseline survey revealed coral communities in a relatively healthy condition. Mean coral cover of different geomorphic habitats varied from 2 to 29%. Branching corals were most important, followed by encrusting and massive growth forms (48, 29 and 17% of coral cover). Pocillopora (29% of total cover in line transects), Porites (19%), Acropora (17%) and Montipora (16%) were the four dominant genera. Communities differentiated into four clusters, namely, lower reef slope, upper reef slope, outer reef flat, and inner reef flat and lagoon slope. This baseline investigation highlighted the ecological value of these reefs. Destructive fishing and overfishing are presently the most serious threats for these coral reefs. They should receive much more scientific and conservation attention.

DOI
10.1071/MF15110
Comments

Journal compilation © CSIRO 2016

Additional Comments
National Key Basic Research Program of China project #: 2013CB956101; Chinese Academy of Sciences project #: XDA05080301; National Natural Science Foundation of China project #s: 91428203, 41206097, 41025007
Citation Information
Meixia Zhao, Kefu Yu, Qi Shi, Hongqiang Yang, et al.. "The Coral Communities of Yongle Atoll: Status, Threats, and Conservation Significance for Coral Reefs in South China Sea" Marine and Freshwater Research Vol. 67 Iss. 12 (2016) p. 1888 - 1896 ISSN: 1323-1650
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/bernhard-riegl/196/