中国珊瑚礁资源状况及其药用研究调查 Ⅰ.珊瑚礁资源与生态功能

Investigation on the Status of Coral Reef Resources and Medicinal Research in China Ⅰ. Coral Reef Resources and Ecological Functions

对中国珊瑚礁生物物种组成、资源状况、分布特征及其生态功能进行了调查和评价。中国珊瑚礁主要分布在中国南海诸岛海域和唬南、广东、广西、福建、台湾等近岸海域。中国造礁石珊瑚已记录21科,56属295种,对珊瑚礁生态系统结构与生态功能的维持具有重要作用。八放珊瑚亚纲中柳珊瑚已记录7科,28属,75种,软珊瑚有6科,23属,113种,是现代海洋药物研究的热点生物资源。中国珊瑚礁具有造礁与消波护岸、维持珊瑚礁生态系统和生物多样性、提供生物资源和材料、生物地球化学与科学研究、文化教育与生态旅游等多种生态功能与价值。

The species composition, resources status, distribution characters and ecological functions of coral reefs in China were investigated and evaluated by field survey and data analysis together with literature data. It indicated that the coral reefs are distributed mainly in the archipelago area of the South China Sea and the offshore areas of Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Taiwan. A total of 295 species zooxanthellate corals belonging to 56 genera in 21 families were found in China. These species of Scleractinia play important functions in maintaining the coral reef ecosystem. In recent years, the gorgonians and soft corals of subclasse Octocorallia have become a new marine resource for searching novel bioactive marine natural products as lead com- pounds in drug development. The recorded numbers of species of gorgonians and soft corals in the South China Sea were up to 75 and 113, respectively. Chinese coral reefs could perform extensive ecological functions and values including creating reefs and isles, attenuating waves and protecting coasts, maintaining coral reef ecosystems and biodiversities, providing biological resources, providing materials for biogeochemistry and scientific research, and culture, education and ecotourism.