Biodiv Sci ›› 2011, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (6): 798-804.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2011.07128

Special Issue: 中国的海洋生物多样性

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances and problems with the study of marine macroalgae of China seas

Lanping Ding1,2,*(), Bingxin Huang2, Yanqi Xie2   

  1. 1 Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071
    2 Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 516063
  • Received:2011-08-01 Accepted:2011-11-25 Online:2011-11-20 Published:2011-12-19
  • Contact: Lanping Ding

Abstract:

Herein, we introduce, summarize, and analyze the taxonomy, species composition, distributional characteristics, major research results, and current status of Chinese marine macroalgae with updated references. The China sea flora can be divided into four sub-floras, viz. the western region of the Yellow Sea, the western region of the East China Sea, and the northern and southern regions of the South China Sea. More than 1,277 species of marine macroalgae were recorded along the China seas coast, including 161 in Cyanophyta, 607 in Rhodophyta, 298 in Phaeophyta and 211 in Chlorophyta, respectively. We briefly introduce the overall distribution, vertical distribution and spatial-temporal changes of marine algae located within the littoral area. We analyze some problems which limit the study of Chinese marine macroalgae, including difficulties in sampling and habitat deterioration. Moreover, classic taxonomy has not been attached enough importance and has not been updated with molecular techniques, and lack of talents.

Key words: China seas, marine macroalgae, flora, diversity, distributional characteristics