Coral-coral reefs in China seas: the biodiversity characteristics of coral-coral reefs in the central South China Sea
Xu Hong1,2, Shi Guo-Ning3, Liao Bao-Lin4, Chen Gang5, Dong Shu-Yi6, Qiu Long-Wei7, Li Qi8, Luo Jin-Xiong9, Shen Jian10, Zeng Xiao-Qi11, Wang Ya-Min12, Su Da-Peng2, He Jing13, Dong Gang2, Yan Gui-Jing2, Wang Yu-Zhe7, Zhou Xing-Lei10, Hu Xi-Peng10, Luo Qiao-Qiao10, Chen Zhu10, Tao Meng2,7, Na Qin2,7, Wang Qing1,9, Wang Ying6, Shen Jiang-Yuan1,9, Ma Xiao2,7, Fu He-Ping2,7, Wu Han-Ru11, Ma Ya-Zeng1,9, Chen Shu1,9
1 Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentary and Environmental Geology,First Institute of Oceanology,Ministry of Natural Resources,Shandong Qingdao 266061,China; 2 Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology,Shandong Qingdao 266071,China; 3 Sansha City Land Resources and Environmental Planning Bureau,Haikou 573199,China; 4 Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University,Guangdong Shenzhen 518120,China; 5 China University of Geosciences(Wuhan),Wuhan 430074,China; 6 Chengdu University of Technology,Chengdu 610059,China; 7 China University of Petroleum(East China),Shandong Qingdao 266580,China; 8 China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China; 9 Yangtze University,Wuhan 430100,China; 10 Shanghai Narwhal Ocean Research Center,Shanghai 200434,China; 11 Ocean University of China,Shandong Qingdao 266100,China; 12 Shandong University(Weihai),Shandong Weihai 264209,China; 13 Research Institute of Exploration and Development,PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company,Xi’an 710018,China
Abstract：Coral is the oldest aboriginal residents on the earth, with a nearly 600 million years evolution history. As the master of the sea, it is characterized by poor social status, favoring the warm environment and in situ growth. The biodiversity of the coral ecosystem exceeds that of the tropical rain forest ecosystem. In this paper, the basic characteristics of coral-coral reef are briefly introduced, and the precious photos and relevant understandings of coral coral reefs in the research area investigated over the past decade are summarized. It is pointed out that China is a major coral coral reef country and plays an important role in the world. Coral-coral reef as a representative of the earth’s biological diversity, has created islands, solidified reef, protected fishes and protected island from erosion, which result in the formation of four large islands and more than 280 small islands in the South China Sea. The reefs, beaches and sands of coral coral reefs related islands have built an incomparable marine ecological resources and increased the China territory in the South China Sea. The authors put forward two distribution areas of coral coral reef in the South China Sea, the central area and the peripheral area. The basic characteristics of coral-coral reef in the central area are described. The paper systematically reports the findings of snorkeling in shallow reefs, shallow dives to 20 m depth in water, deep dive reef investigation, and the geological surveys of islands, reefs, shoals and sand, including the scientific naming of 46 species of hexagonal corals and 6 species of octagonal soft corals. At the same time, coral photos of Xisha, Zhongsha, Dongsha and Nansha Islands were collected to reveal the characteristics and distribution of single atoll and compound atoll. A preliminary comparison between these atolls is also carried and suggested that the Yongle Atoll is the only truly Darwinian atoll in the South China Sea, and it is the product of the highest stage of atoll development, which makes it a best natural laboratory for the research on the formation and evolution of modern marine coral coral reef.
. Coral-coral reefs in China seas: the biodiversity characteristics of coral-coral reefs in the central South China Sea[J]. JOPC, 2021, 23(4): 771-788.
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