Coral assemblages and reef growth in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Western Pacific Ocean)     

Peter Houk  Robert Van Woesik 《Marine Ecology》2010,31(2):318-329

Reef development varies considerably around the high, raised‐limestone islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Here we examine the modern assemblages at 30 sites for coral composition, colony density, colony size, and fidelity. We defined four reef types and hypothesize the presence of environmentally driven ecological stasis, whereby the environment continuously selects for coral species membership, defines colony sizes, and over time creates the noted reef types. Our results show that constructional spur‐and‐groove reefs supported significantly larger coral‐colony sizes and higher coral species richness compared with high‐relief interstitial framework, low‐relief incipient, and non‐constructional coral assemblages. Non‐constructional reefs supported much smaller coral colony sizes, despite similar population densities, and were consistently found in association with high wave exposure. The distinct coral assemblages found on interstitial framework and low‐relief incipient reefs were not affiliated with any wave exposure regime, but were located adjacent to large watersheds and on islands with unique geological history. These assemblages were nested within the spur‐and‐groove species pool. Overall, modern coral cover was well predicted by bathymetric slope and watershed size, while species richness was additively influenced by two proxies of pollution, suggesting the latter is better suited for establishing management targets. In contrast with previous studies that suggested modern assemblages were biologically controlled in the CNMI, we show reef assemblages and reef development are highly influenced by long‐term environmental forcing.  相似文献   

海南昌江沿岸海域石珊瑚的物种多样性及其分布     

牛文涛  张潇娴  林荣澄  王初升 《台湾海峡》2010,29(3):389-393

2009年3月,采用水下照相及摄像方法,对海南昌江沿岸海域的石珊瑚物种多样性、分布及覆盖度进行了调查.结合历史资料,共发现石珊瑚10科15属28种和1未定种.其中鹿角珊瑚属（Acropora）、角蜂巢珊瑚属（Favites）、叶状珊瑚属（Lobophyllia）等为优势类群,常见分布珊瑚种类有角孔珊瑚（Gonioporasp.）、标准蜂巢珊瑚（Favia speciosa）、五边角蜂巢珊瑚（Favites pentagona）、多孔鹿角珊瑚（Acropora millepora）、十字牡丹珊瑚（Pavona decussata）、伞房叶状珊瑚（Lobophyllia corymbosa）等.石珊瑚主要分布于海尾镇三联村以南海域,覆盖率最高为12%.本次调查在海南昌江沿岸海域记录的珊瑚种类数多于以前的记录,但少于海南南岸的三亚鹿回头,也少于北部的广西涠洲岛、广东徐闻、香港等海域,随着调查次数的增加,预计会有更多的种类被发现.该海域是北部湾珊瑚幼虫交流的中间过渡区,对珊瑚礁的保护与恢复具有重要意义.  相似文献   

Importance of wave-induced bed liquefaction in the fine sediment budget of Cleveland Bay,Great Barrier Reef   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

J. Lambrechts  C. Humphrey  L. McKinna  O. Gourge  K.E. Fabricius  A.J. Mehta  S. Lewis  E. Wolanski 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2010

Data from a three-year long field study of fine sediment dynamics in Cleveland Bay show that wave-induced liquefaction of the fine sediment bed on the seafloor in shallow water was the main process causing bed erosion under small waves during tradewinds, and that shear-induced erosion prevailed during cyclonic conditions. These data were used to verify a model of fine sediment dynamics that calculates sediment resuspension by both excess shear stress and wave-induced liquefaction of the bed. For present land-use conditions, the amount of riverine sediments settling on the bay may exceed by 50–75% the amount of sediment exported from the bay. Sediment is thus accumulating in the bay on an annual basis, which in turn may degrade the fringing coral reefs. For those years when a tropical cyclone impacted the bay there may be a net sediment outflow from the bay. During the dry, tradewind season, fine sediment was progressively winnowed out of the shallow, reefal waters.  相似文献   

中国早石炭世四射珊瑚动物地理分区   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1       下载免费PDF全文

江茂生  何心一 《地质科学》1994,(3):228

 以中国主要地区早石炭世四射珊瑚化石资料为依据,采用传统的综合比较法与二态聚类分析方法相结合,把中国早石炭世四射珊瑚归为两大动物地理区,即特提斯大区和岗瓦纳大区,其中特提斯大区东部中国部分可再分为四个亚区:(1)华南亚区;(2)滇西亚区;(3)西南亚区;(5)北方亚区。  相似文献   

南沙群岛景观及区域古地理   总被引：6，自引：1，他引：6  

赵焕庭  袁家义 《地理学报》1995,50(2):107-117

本文论述了南沙群岛的海底地形、海底表层沉积、珊瑚礁景观、区域新生代古地理、以永暑礁为代表的古气候与古海面，以及本区古海洋等自然地理特征。  相似文献   

热带生物海岸对全球变化的响应   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

张乔民 《第四纪研究》2007,27(5):834-844

以热带生物海岸现代过程研究成果为基础,结合国内外相关资料,分析我国红树林海岸和珊瑚礁海岸对全球变暖、海平面上升、大气CO2浓度升高和海洋酸化的响应.其中,全球变暖和大气CO2浓度升高总体上有利于红树林生长发育,海平面上升对红树林和珊瑚礁的影响取决于红树林潮滩淤积速率和珊瑚礁礁坪堆积速率与海平面上升速率之间的对比关系.海平面加速上升将威胁部分红树林、珊瑚礁及其后的海岸堤防.全球变暖海表异常高温导致珊瑚白化、海洋酸化导致珊瑚和珊瑚藻钙化率降低将成为21世纪珊瑚礁的重大威胁.全球变化的不确定性和生态系统响应机制仍然有待进一步研究.主要是人类不合理开发活动导致目前红树林和珊瑚礁的广泛严重破坏,加强海岸带综合管理和生态环境保护,加强生态系统恢复重建,是有效适应本世纪全球变化影响的重要措施.  相似文献   

广东大亚湾石珊瑚群落的分布及动态变化   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

陈天然  余克服  施祺  李淑  王嵘  赵美霞 《热带地理》2007,27(6):493-498

2006年6月对位于南海北部亚热带的大亚湾和大鹏湾石珊瑚群落的分布、种类和覆盖率进行了调查,结果显示大亚湾共有石珊瑚24种,以秘密角蜂巢珊瑚(Favites abdita)为优势种,总覆盖率为20%,大鹏湾有石珊瑚21种,以精巧扁脑珊瑚(Platygyra daedalea)为优势种,总覆盖率为7.9%。大亚湾石珊瑚群落健康状况良好,但生长稀疏,群落密度低,空间结构简单,生长带窄;与1964年、1983年、1984年和1991年的调查结果相比,覆盖率从76.6%下降到20%,优势种从枝状的霜鹿角珊瑚(Acropora Pruinosa)转变成块状或皮壳状的秘密角蜂巢珊瑚,群落生态退化严重,主要原因可能是人为破坏活动对珊瑚本身以及生长环境造成的压力所致,包括过度捕捞、盗采珊瑚、沿岸施工和水体污染等,建议采取相应的保护措施。  相似文献   

藏北申扎地区上二叠统木纠错组的建立及皱纹珊瑚组合   总被引：5，自引：6，他引：5  

程立人  王天武等 《地质通报》2002,21(3):140-143

在申扎县城东南木纠错南东岸附近发现一套巨厚的以白云岩、白云质灰岩为主组成的岩系,厚达2348m。该岩系整合覆于下二叠统下拉组之上,并于其底部发现中国南方晚二叠世早期珊瑚动物群中的重要分子WaagenophyllumindicumcrassiseptatumWu和LiangshanophyllumstreptoseptatumWang两种,与其共生的还有Lobatophyllumzakan-genseWu和WaagenophyllummegacolumetumWu,它们共同组成一个晚二叠世早期特有的皱纹珊瑚动物组合,命名为Waagenophyllum-Liangshanophyllum-Lobatophyllum组合。将含有这一珊瑚化石组合的以白云岩、白云质灰岩为主的岩系另建立新组———木纠错组,该组在层位上相当于中国南方上二叠统的吴家坪组。  相似文献   

Depth–transport functions and erosion–deposition diagrams as indicators of slope inclination and time-averaged traction forces: applications in tropical reef environments     

Johann Hohenegger  & Elza Yordanova 《Sedimentology》2001,48(5):1025-1046

The trigonometric relationship between slope inclination, the horizontally acting time‐averaged traction force and the vertical depth of transport allows the estimation of one factor, when both others are known. Depth–transport functions can be deduced by comparing the depth distributions of living organisms and their skeletal remains, and this paper simplifies this comparison using foraminifera in which a single test represents an individual. Differences in distribution parameters between living individuals and empty tests allow depth–transport functions to be determined; these functions differ between species at a single transect according to the varying buoyancies of the tests. Within a single species, differences in depth–transport functions between locations are based on either slope inclination or traction intensities. After establishing a mean depth–transport function by averaging species‐characteristic functions, the time‐averaged traction force acting on the studied transect can be calculated. Transport intensities are also estimated using an erosion–deposition diagram that combines the relative frequency distributions of living individuals and empty tests. The proportion of ‘eroded’, ‘parautochthonous’ and ‘allochthonous’ tests mirrors the influence of both slope inclination and traction force for the deposition of empty tests. To test the model, six species of symbiont‐bearing benthic foraminifers were investigated at two transects in front of a NW Pacific coral reef. One transect is distinguished by a strong slope flattening below the steep reef slope (30 m), whereas further steepening characterizes the equivalent part in the other transect. These differences are mirrored in the depth–transport functions as well as in the erosion–deposition diagrams of all species. The time‐averaged traction forces differ in intensities between transects, because of the position of the reef front with respect to the predominant wind direction. However, the form of the functions is identical and distinguished by an increase from the surface to 35 m depth, followed by a decrease down to 105 m. This can be explained by successive onshore and offshore forces acting on the shallow slope, such as the tropical cyclones that cross the region every summer.  相似文献   

南海西北部珊瑚礁记录所反映的新构造运动^*   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2       下载免费PDF全文

詹文欢  朱照宇  姚衍桃  孙宗勋  孙龙涛 《第四纪研究》2006,26(1):77-84

珊瑚礁是发育于热带海洋环境中由生物作用和地质作用共同形成的地质体,具有独特的新构造运动意义。南海西北部珊瑚礁记录所反映的新构造运动主要有火山活动、地壳升降运动和地震活动等。珊瑚礁区第四纪火山活跃,到现代已停止活动,部分火山构成珊瑚礁的基座,个别出露海面为火山岛;地壳升降运动差异较大,雷州半岛西南部珊瑚礁呈上升趋势,上升率为0.02~0.05mm/a;西沙群岛等岛礁地壳运动则呈下降趋势,下降率为-0.07~-0.10mm/a,岛礁中的造礁石珊瑚生长率、礁顶和灰沙岛的堆积率均相当于或大于地壳下降率与现代海平面上升率的总和;南海西北部珊瑚礁区内地震活动较强,尤其是1994年12月31日和1995年1月10日在雷州半岛西南部海域发生了6.1级和6.2 级地震,这两次地震对该区珊瑚礁的发育有较大的影响。  相似文献