三亚典型岸礁礁石表生藻席群体特征及其时空分布规律

doi:10.11978/2024212

Abstract

Abstract:

The epilithic algal matrix (EAM) is widely distributed in coral reef ecosystems and plays a crucial role in key processes such as primary production, nutrient recycling, sediment deposition, and coral reef phase shifts. To investigate the morphological characteristics and distribution patterns of EAM, a survey was conducted in a typical Sanya fringing reef in January, April, July, and October 2022, covering three transects (1 m, 3 m, 6 m). Substrate types and their coverage were recorded via video, and three substrate types (branched, massive, planiform) with epiphytic algae were sampled by scuba diving. The results revealed significant spatial but no seasonal differences in EAM coverage in the study area. Coverage was higher at 1 m and 6 m depths (66.96%) but lower at 3 m (16.55%), showing a negative correlation with live coral coverage. EAM primarily colonized highly porous hard substrates, with the highest coverage (98%) observed on dead planiform coral reefs. However, dead massive coral reefs exhibited the highest algal height [(11.16 ± 0.68) mm], highest biomass [(118.51±33.64) g∙m^-2], and greatest organic matter content [(102.49±32.94) g C∙m^-2], likely due to their higher surface porosity. EAM morphological characteristics and biomass varied with depth and season, peaking at 3 m and reaching their lowest values at 1 m. Temporally, EAM height, density, and biomass were highest in summer and lowest in winter. The study indicates that the benthic community in Sanya’s Luhuitou area is dominated by long sediment-laden algal turfs (LSATs) with high sediment content and heights exceeding 5 mm. This community type is unfavorable for coral larvae sediment and is avoided by herbivorous fish. EAM morphological traits and organic matter content exhibit distinct variations across substrates, depths, and seasons. Additionally, the rich organic matter in EAM may serve as a potential food source for benthic invertebrates, playing a vital role in the coral reef ecosystem’s food web.

Key words: epilithic algal matrix, coverage, morphological characteristics, spatiotemporal differences, Sanya

CLC Number:

P735

HU Simin, ZHOU Tiancheng, ZHANG Chen, JIA Nan, LIU Sheng, LI Tao, HUANG Hui. Morphological characteristics of epilithic algal matrix and their spatial and temporal patterns in a typical fringing reef of Sanya[J].Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 2025, 44(4): 95-105.

Figures/Tables 7

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References 53

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季节	水深/m	温度/℃	盐度/‰	悬浮物/(mg·L^-1)	溶解无机氮/(μmol·L^-1)	溶解无机磷/(μmol·L^-1)	硅酸盐/(μmol·L^-1)
冬	1	24.25±0.02	33.00±0.03	4.43±1.61	0.12±0.17	0.18±0.01	8.13±0.88
	3	24.21±0.01	33.02±0.00	1.30±0.54	0.11±0.09	0.18±0.01	5.41±0.31
	6	24.19±0.00	33.02±0.00	3.40±1.13	0.66±0.14	0.31±0.21	5.55±0.80
春	1	27.23±0.01	33.66±0.00	4.44±2.29	1.12±0.23	0.03±0.01	6.26±0.42
	3	27.08±0.02	33.65±0.00	3.74±0.67	1.52±0.07	0.02±0.00	5.77±0.09
	6	27.07±0.00	33.66±0.00	2.75±1.81	2.16±0.17	0.02±0.00	6.47±0.14
夏	1	27.84±0.04	33.55±0.01	12.93±0.39	0.79±0.05	0.01±0.00	7.97±0.21
	3	27.31±0.14	33.57±0.02	12.80±0.78	0.60±0.08	0.01±0.00	5.92±0.08
	6	26.14±0.15	33.56±0.59	14.62±0.30	0.88±0.29	0.01±0.00	8.50±0.18
秋	1	27.10±0.02	32.06±0.01	4.67±1.73	1.16±0.28	0.05±0.01	5.38±1.46
	3	27.08±0.01	32.05±0.00	2.22±0.41	1.72±0.12	0.03±0.03	7.46±0.26
	6	27.10±0.00	32.17±0.00	2.60±0.82	1.75±0.04	0.02±0.01	8.45±0.45

底质生境	简称	描述	n	孔隙度/%	表面积/m²	藻席覆盖度/%
分枝状珊瑚礁石	F	死亡的分枝状珊瑚骨骼形成的坚硬、多孔基底, 主要位于1m、3m水深	60	7.71±2.38	0.02±0.01	32.64±12.13
团块状珊瑚礁石	T	死亡的团块状珊瑚骨骼形成的坚硬、多孔基底, 在各水深都有分布	81	3.05±0.05	0.28±0.20	65.13±25.39
坪状珊瑚礁石	P	死亡的坪状珊瑚骨骼形成的坚硬、多孔基底, 在各水深都有分布	64	9.93±4.97	9.90±14.07	98.07±3.25

环境因子	藻席高度	藻席总重	藻体密度	总有机碳	藻类生物量	沉积物负荷	藻类有机碳	藻类有机碳比例%
水深	0.440^**	0.178^*	−0.141	0.099	−0.023	0.192^*	−0.055	−0.322^**
孔隙度	−0.144	0.131	0.029	0.056	−0.048	0.146	−0.107	0.001
温度	0.171	0.323^**	0.372^**	0.302^**	0.295^**	0.294^**	0.278^**	−0.169
盐度	0.139	−0.246^**	0.077	−0.229^*	0.112	−0.279^**	0.166	0.320^**
悬浮物	0.286^**	0.207^*	0.272^**	0.179	0.306^**	0.169	0.235^*	−0.075
溶解无机氮	0.157	0.233^*	0.025	0.158	−0.006	0.248^**	−0.052	−0.281^**
溶解无机磷	−0.116	−0.309^**	−0.274^**	−0.319^**	−0.219^*	−0.292^**	−0.210^*	0.154
硅酸盐	0.016	0.144	−0.107	0.080	−0.104	0.169	−0.186	−0.137

Morphological characteristics of epilithic algal matrix and their spatial and temporal patterns in a typical fringing reef of Sanya

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