Evaluation of the ecological status of shallow-water coral reefs in China using a novel method and identification of environmental factors for coral decline.

Coral reefs worldwide have faced extensive damage due to natural catastrophes and anthropogenic disturbances.The decline can cause their widespread collapse and an inability to recover from natural disturbances, highlighting the urgent need for their protection. This study conducted an extensive ecological condition assessment of seven coral reef regions in China's offshore. Our findings revealed the presence of 204 species of scleractinian corals belonging to 16 families. Massive corals were the predominant reef-building corals in all regions. The degradation of coral reef ecosystems was apparent in the present compared to historical reef conditions. The ecosystem suffered varying degrees of damage in surveyed regions according to a novel assessment approach, impling more effective measures should be taken to mitigate the local pressures. Our research establishes a baseline for understanding the status of coral reefs that can be used in future and provides a crucial foundation to designate protective zones for their conservation.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Yihua Lyu reports financial support was provided by National Key Research and Development Project. Yihua Lyu reports financial support was provided by Young Talent Program of MNS. Yihua Lyu reports financial support was provided by National Investigation on Coral Reefs Ecology. Zhenxiong Yang reports financial support was provided by Science and Techology Plan Projects of Guangdong Province.
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