Spatiotemporal variations and impact factors of nutrients in the Sanya Bay, northern South China Sea

Geng, Xinxing; Wu, Chuanliang; Yang, Ziwei; Zhu, Junying; Tang, Kai; Lin, Jun; Liu, Yaxing; Zhang, Yufang; An, Mingxun; Zhao, Wei; Yu, Yang

doi:10.1007/s11356-023-27527-8

Cited by 1 publication

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“…The results of this study revealed the lowest seawater turbidity on the west side of Ximao Island and the highest at Fenghuang Island, consistent with our observation that the apparent status of coral growth on the west side of Ximao Island is better than that at Fenghuang Island (e.g., the corals collected on the west side of Ximao Island are darker in color), indicating that turbidity is one of the key factors affecting the physiological characteristics of coral-zooxanthellae symbionts in different coral reef areas of Sanya Bay and that the relatively low turbidity on the west side of Ximao Island is likely to be more favorable for coral growth. Sanya River is a main source of fresh water and suspended solids, which affects the spatial distribution of salinity and turbidity in the bay to a great extent [36]. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the monitoring of aquatic environmental factors in Sanya River, especially for the protection of coral reef areas near river estuary such as Luihuitou and Fenghuang Island.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter and Summer Variations in the Physiological Parameters of Two Scleractinian Corals in Sanya Bay

Yang

Zhu

et al. 2023

Water

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Coral reefs in Sanya Bay have been degrading in recent decades under climate change and human activities. To identify physiological changes of scleractinian corals and corresponding influencing factors, aquatic environmental factors and physiological parameters of Pocillopora damicornis, Porites pukoensis and their symbiotic zooxanthellae were examined in four Sanya Bay coral reef areas in December 2020 (winter) and July 2021 (summer). The density and chlorophyll a+c2 content of the symbiotic zooxanthellae were significantly high in winter and low in summer. Superoxide dismutase and caspase3 activities of corals and zooxanthellae were high in summer and low in winter, whereas catalase activity showed the opposite pattern. The variations were consistent for both coral symbionts. Water temperature and salinity were the main factors affecting the physiological variations of corals. Compared with winter, the high temperature/low salinity aquatic environment in summer reduced the density and chlorophyll a+c2 content of zooxanthellae, resulting in high superoxide dismutase and caspase3 activities in the corals and zooxanthellae. In addition, turbidity was an important factor affecting the physiological characteristics of coral–zooxanthellae symbionts among the four coral reef areas. Our results have important implications for understanding the changes in coral reef communities in Sanya Bay and coral reef protection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%