Variations in the coral community at the high-latitude Bailong Peninsula, northern South China Sea
Wang, X.; Li, Y.; Lin, M.; Su, Z.; Liu, X.; Yu, K. (2023). Variations in the coral community at the high-latitude Bailong Peninsula, northern South China Sea. Environm. Sc. & Poll. Res. 30: 274-286. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21881-9
In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0944-1344; e-ISSN 1614-7499, more
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| Keyword |
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| Author keywords |
Coral assemblage; high latitude; coral recruitment; reef refuge; Fangchenggang; South China Sea |
| Abstract |
High-latitude coral communities have attracted much attention due to their potential as refuges during global climate change. However, this function is being constrained by the combined pressure of global climate and anthropogenic activities. To determine how the reef has developed, we conducted a long-term monitoring study on coral communities along the Bailong Peninsula in the northern South China Sea. The results showed that the distribution area of corals was 3.67 km2 and that corals extended about 4.7 km along the coastline. The coral distribution pattern is scattered and uneven. Our results showed that the growth of reef-building corals and coral recruitment are improving, indicating that coral recruitment plays an important role in regulating the structure of adult coral populations and promoting the development of coral communities. Bailong Peninsula is expected to become a refuge for corals provided that human activities impacting coral restoration potential are controlled. |
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