Reef-building coral diversity and distribution characteristics in the National Nature Reserve for Marine Ecology of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands

doi:10.17520/biods.2024424

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims:Reef-building corals are the framework organisms of coral-reef ecosystems, and their community structure plays a major role in biodiversity. The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost distribution line of reef-building corals along the coast of China. However, there are relatively few studies on reef-building corals in high-latitude regions, and information on species diversity and community distribution characteristics in these areas remains unclear.

Methods:The National Nature Reserve for Marine Ecology of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands (hereinafter referred to as Nanpeng Islands Reserve) is one of the northernmost reserves in China with records of the distribution of reef-building corals. The diversity and distribution patterns of reef-building coral species in the protected area were investigated through diving surveys in June 2023 and June 2024.

Results:Our results show 34 species of reef-building corals are distributed in the Nanpeng Islands Reserve, belonging to 19 genera and 9 families. Most of these are massive and encrusting with Psammocora nierstraszi and P. profundacellaoccupying dominance. Reef-building corals exhibit typical high-latitude patchy community distribution characteristics, with non-reef-forming and low coverage within the protected area. Dingpeng Island has the highest average coverage of reef-building coral, followed by Nanpeng Island and Zhongpeng Island, with Qinpeng Island having the lowest coverage.

Conclusions:We investigate the species diversity and distribution characteristics of reef-building corals in the Nanpeng Islands Reserve. Our findings contribute to the scientific understanding of the current status of reef-building coral communities in the Nanpeng Islands Reserve. Additionally, we provide much needed data for the protection and research of coral communities in the northern margin of the South China Sea.

Key words: reef-building corals, the National Nature Reserve for Marine Ecology of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands, species diversity, community characteristics

Zhang Jingjing, Huang Wenbin, Chen Yiting, Yang Zepeng, Ke Weiye, Peng Zhaojie, Wei Shichao, Zhang Zhiwei, Hu Yisi, Yu Wenhua, Zhou Wenliang. Reef-building coral diversity and distribution characteristics in the National Nature Reserve for Marine Ecology of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(4): 24424.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2024424

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I4/24424

Figures/Tables 4

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样带名称 Transect name	分布水深 Distribution depth (m)	造礁石珊瑚物种数 No. of reef-building coral species	造礁石珊瑚平均覆盖率 Average coverage of reef-building coral (%)	造礁石珊瑚优势种 Dominant species of reef-building coral	硬珊瑚幼体补充量 Hard coral recruitment (ind./m²)	优势种生长类型 Dominant species growth type
ZP1-1	7.8	10	3.2	深室沙珊瑚、不等脊塍沙珊瑚、坚实滨珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、弯柔蔷薇珊瑚、单独鹿角珊瑚 Psammocora profundacella, P. nierstraszi, Porites solida, Plesiastrea versipora, Montipora mollis, Acropora solitaryensis	0	表覆状、亚团块状、桌状或板状、团块状 Encrusting, submassive, tables or plates, massive
ZP1-2	8.1	10	2.6		0
ZP2-1	6.1	15	13.4		1.2
ZP2-2	6.3	10	8.4		1.2
ZP3-1	4.2	7	1.8		0
ZP3-2	6.0	10	4.0		0
QP1-1	8.3	6	1.2	不等脊塍沙珊瑚、弯柔蔷薇珊瑚、膨胀蔷薇珊瑚、单独鹿角珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、深室沙珊瑚 Psammocora nierstraszi, Montipora mollis, M. turgescens, Acropora solitaryensis, Plesiastrea versipora, Psammocora profundacella	0	表覆状、团块状、亚团块状、桌状或板状Encrusting, massive, submassive, tables or plates
QP1-2	10.2	3	1.1		0
QP2-1	3.8	4	1.2		0
QP2-2	5.3	3	1.1		0
QP3-1	5.1	9	6.0		0
QP3-2	5.3	5	2.4		0
NP2-1	8.6	16	24.6	膨胀蔷薇珊瑚、不等脊塍沙珊瑚、深室沙珊瑚、斯氏伯孔珊瑚、弯柔蔷薇珊瑚、盾形杜沙珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、坚实滨珊瑚、黑星珊瑚 Montipora turgescens, Psammocora nierstraszi, P. profundacella, Bernardpora stutchburyi, Montipora mollis, Duncanopsammia peltata, Plesiastrea versipora, Porites solida, Oulastrea crispata	0.34	表覆状、团块状、亚团块状、桌状或板状Encrusting, massive, submassive, tables or plates
NP2-2	10.0	15	6.6		0.34
NP3-1	9.5	13	4.2		0
NP3-2	10.1	9	1.6		0
NP4-1	9.2	7	2.4		0
NP4-2	9.2	8	1.8		0
DP1-1	2.9	19	19.0	不等脊塍沙珊瑚、深室沙珊瑚、单独鹿角珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、斯氏伯孔珊瑚 Psammocora nierstraszi, P. profundacella, Acropora solitaryensis, Plesiastrea versipora, Bernardpora stutchburyi	0	表覆状、团块状、亚团块状、桌状或板状Encrusting, massive, submassive, tables or plates
DP1-2	3.3	11	10.0		0
DP2-1	5.8	2	2.4		0
DP2-2	7.2	3	2.6		0
DP4-1	6.1	7	8.9		0
DP4-2	6.8	8	9.3		0

样带名称 Transect name	分布水深 Distribution depth (m)	造礁石珊瑚物种数 No. of reef-building coral species	造礁石珊瑚平均覆盖率 Average coverage of reef-building coral (%)	造礁石珊瑚优势种 Dominant species of reef-building coral	硬珊瑚幼体补充量 Hard coral recruitment (ind./m²)	优势种生长类型 Dominant species growth type
ZP1-1	7.8	10	3.2	深室沙珊瑚、不等脊塍沙珊瑚、坚实滨珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、弯柔蔷薇珊瑚、单独鹿角珊瑚 Psammocora profundacella, P. nierstraszi, Porites solida, Plesiastrea versipora, Montipora mollis, Acropora solitaryensis	0	表覆状、亚团块状、桌状或板状、团块状 Encrusting, submassive, tables or plates, massive
ZP1-2	8.1	10	2.6		0
ZP2-1	6.1	15	13.4		1.2
ZP2-2	6.3	10	8.4		1.2
ZP3-1	4.2	7	1.8		0
ZP3-2	6.0	10	4.0		0
QP1-1	8.3	6	1.2	不等脊塍沙珊瑚、弯柔蔷薇珊瑚、膨胀蔷薇珊瑚、单独鹿角珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、深室沙珊瑚 Psammocora nierstraszi, Montipora mollis, M. turgescens, Acropora solitaryensis, Plesiastrea versipora, Psammocora profundacella	0	表覆状、团块状、亚团块状、桌状或板状Encrusting, massive, submassive, tables or plates
QP1-2	10.2	3	1.1		0
QP2-1	3.8	4	1.2		0
QP2-2	5.3	3	1.1		0
QP3-1	5.1	9	6.0		0
QP3-2	5.3	5	2.4		0
NP2-1	8.6	16	24.6	膨胀蔷薇珊瑚、不等脊塍沙珊瑚、深室沙珊瑚、斯氏伯孔珊瑚、弯柔蔷薇珊瑚、盾形杜沙珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、坚实滨珊瑚、黑星珊瑚 Montipora turgescens, Psammocora nierstraszi, P. profundacella, Bernardpora stutchburyi, Montipora mollis, Duncanopsammia peltata, Plesiastrea versipora, Porites solida, Oulastrea crispata	0.34	表覆状、团块状、亚团块状、桌状或板状Encrusting, massive, submassive, tables or plates
NP2-2	10.0	15	6.6		0.34
NP3-1	9.5	13	4.2		0
NP3-2	10.1	9	1.6		0
NP4-1	9.2	7	2.4		0
NP4-2	9.2	8	1.8		0
DP1-1	2.9	19	19.0	不等脊塍沙珊瑚、深室沙珊瑚、单独鹿角珊瑚、多孔同星珊瑚、斯氏伯孔珊瑚 Psammocora nierstraszi, P. profundacella, Acropora solitaryensis, Plesiastrea versipora, Bernardpora stutchburyi	0	表覆状、团块状、亚团块状、桌状或板状Encrusting, massive, submassive, tables or plates
DP1-2	3.3	11	10.0		0
DP2-1	5.8	2	2.4		0
DP2-2	7.2	3	2.6		0
DP4-1	6.1	7	8.9		0
DP4-2	6.8	8	9.3		0