Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2019, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 1-8.doi: 10.11978/2019066CSTR: 32234.14.2019066

• Review •     Next Articles

A review on ecological restoration techniques of coral reefs

LONG Lijuan(), YANG Fangfang, WEI Zhangliang   

  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
  • Received:2019-06-16 Revised:2019-07-17 Online:2019-11-20 Published:2019-11-26
  • Contact: Lijuan LONG E-mail:longlj@scsio.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Foundation item: Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KGZD-EW-609);Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA13020000);Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA13020203);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41806145);Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou(201707010174)

Abstract:

Coral reefs play vital roles in the construction, protection, and adhesion of reefs, and they protect coastal and national territories as well. Coral reefs have also been considered as tropical rainforests in the marine ecosystem with their abundant biodiversity. More than 200 species of coral reefs exist in the South China Sea; however, some of them have been severely damaged due to natural climate change and human activities in recent years, which threats marine and island safety. Therefore, ecological restoration for coral reef ecosystem is necessary and urgent. In this paper, we summarized the status of coral reefs, technical progress of ecological restoration, and important issues of coral reefs. Furthermore, a novel multidimensional restoration model based on system integrity was proposed and applied in restoring coral reefs, which may provide a new way to restore marine ecosystem.

Key words: coral reefs, degeneration, ecological restoration, restoration technology