Linking benthic community structure to terrestrial runoff and upwelling in the coral reefs of northeastern Hainan Island

Li, Xiubao; Wang, Daoru; Huang, Hui; Zhang, Jing; Ji, Lian; Yuan, Xiangcheng; Yang, Jianhui; Zhang, Guoseng

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2014.09.021

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Recent observations on the coral reefs off eastern Hainan Island by Li et al . [] again indicate that the seawater nutrients on the coral reefs in this region are significantly enriched when the Qiongdong upwelling is activated. Thus, the Qiongdong upwelling may be very important for supplying nutrients to this region [ Chen et al ., a].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ¹¹B records

et al. 2015

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Long‐term seawater pH records are essential for evaluating the rates of ocean acidification (OA) driven by anthropogenic emissions. Widespread, natural decadal variability in seawater pH superimposes on the long‐term anthropogenic variations, likely influencing the OA rates estimated from the pH records. Here, we report a record of annual seawater pH estimated using the δ11B proxy over the past 159 years reconstructed from a Porites coral collected to the east of Hainan Island in the northern South China Sea (SCS). By coupling this time series with previously reported long‐term seawater pH records in the West Pacific, the decadal variability in seawater pH records and its possible driving mechanisms were investigated. The results indicate that large decadal variability in seawater pH has occurred off eastern Hainan Island over the past 159 years, in agreement with previous records. The Qiongdong upwelling system, which controls nutrient supplies, regulates surface water productivity, and is driven by the East Asian summer monsoon, is the primary control of this decadal variability, while terrestrial inputs appear not influence significantly. Meanwhile the impacts of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the El Nino and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) systems on seawater pH off eastern Hainan Island is likely limited. In contrast, the PDO is the main factor to influence the decadal seawater pH variability offshore the East Australia, while the mechanism controlling the decadal seawater pH variability in Guam is not clear yet. Meanwhile, The rate of decrease in seawater pH estimated from coral records are significantly different in different regions and over different time spans, which may reflect a combination of natural decadal variability in seawater pH and long‐term variations. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms driving natural variability in seawater pH is important for improving estimates of ocean acidification rates driven by anthropogenic emissions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ¹¹B records

et al. 2015

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“…Another example of the interdependency of marine coastal ecosystems on boundary and adjacent environments is provided by Li et al (2015b). Indeed, a clear influence from upwelling and terrestrial runoff (i.e., river discharge and aquaculture effluent) on coral communities in Hainan Island (China) was detected.…”

Section: Theme 2 E Stressors Associated With Changes To Fresh Water Flowmentioning

confidence: 98%

Changes to processes in estuaries and coastal waters due to intense multiple pressures – An introduction and synthesis

Mitchell

Jennerjahn

Vizzini

et al. 2015

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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“…Significant differences in species richness and composition of marine macrophytes were found in the algal collections from the 1930-1970's and 1990/1992 and then 2008-2010, probably as a consequence of coral reef degradation and pollution of the sea by mariculture waste (Zhang et al, 2006;Huang et al, 2013;Hughes et al, 2013;Li et al, 2015). It is known that degradation processes on coral reefs are frequently associated with changes in macroalgal assemblages (Lapointe, 1997;Diaz-Pulido and McCook, 2002;Titlyanov and Titlyanova, 2008;Titlyanov et al, 2011b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The coastline in Hainan Island is severely land-cleared due to fish farming and the pollutants directly discharged into the near-shore coral reefs have caused coastal eutrophication . The coastal pollution and occurring macroalgal blooms were likely important factors for coral reefs degradation (Zhang et al, 2006;Li et al, 2012;Hughes et al, 2013;Li et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroalgal assemblage changes on coral reefs along a natural gradient from fish farms in southern Hainan Island

Titlyanov

Zhang

et al. 2016

Aquatic Ecosystem Health &Amp; Management

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Degradation processes on coral reefs are associated with changes in macroalgal assemblages. In this study, a floristic study of the macrophyte species on coral reefs along a pollution gradient at 3 transects in southern Hainan Island, China, was conducted in April 2014. A total of 73 benthic macroalgal taxa were collected, of which 58% were reds, 23% browns and 19% greens. Along with the distance away from the outlet of fish farms, macroalgal species richness increased significantly from 40 species to 71 species. However, macroalgal biomass decreased from 1.58 kg m ¡2 to 1.1 kg m ¡2 . Brown blooms of Chnoospora implexa, Padina australis, Sargassum polycystum and S. sanyaense changed to green blooms of Ulva lactuca and Caulerpa racemosa from moderately polluted sites to severely polluted sites close to the outlet. This study supports the results that severe pollution can lead not only to a significant decline of macroalgal species richness and changes in macroalgal assemblages, but also to the occurrence of green blooms. This study will hopefully provide more accurate cases to link nutrient pollution to changes in benthic organisms on coral reefs.

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Linking benthic community structure to terrestrial runoff and upwelling in the coral reefs of northeastern Hainan Island

Cited by 27 publications

References 58 publications

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ¹¹B records

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ¹¹B records

Changes to processes in estuaries and coastal waters due to intense multiple pressures – An introduction and synthesis

Macroalgal assemblage changes on coral reefs along a natural gradient from fish farms in southern Hainan Island

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Linking benthic community structure to terrestrial runoff and upwelling in the coral reefs of northeastern Hainan Island

Cited by 27 publications

References 58 publications

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ11B records

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ11B records

Changes to processes in estuaries and coastal waters due to intense multiple pressures – An introduction and synthesis

Macroalgal assemblage changes on coral reefs along a natural gradient from fish farms in southern Hainan Island

Contact Info

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Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ¹¹B records

Decadal variability in seawater pH in the West Pacific: Evidence from coral δ¹¹B records