Mesophotic coral ecosystems: understanding the reef's hidden biodiversity

中光珊瑚生态系统：了解珊瑚礁隐藏的生物多样性

• 批准号: DE160101433
• 负责人: Dr Pim Bongaerts
• 金额: $ 19.15万
• 依托单位: The University of Queensland
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2016-06-25 至 2018-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DE160101433
• 关键词: Mesophotic; coral; ecosystems; understanding; reef

This project aims to assess biodiversity at mesophotic depths and evaluate the vulnerability of these deep-water ecosystems to disturbances and environmental change. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (which live at around 30–100 metres in depth) represent an estimated surface area equivalent to that of shallow coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef (20 000 square kilometres) yet remain largely undocumented (due to their relative inaccessibility) and are not considered in conservation planning. The project aims to characterise the intrinsic (i.e. unique biodiversity) and instrumental (i.e. role in shallow reef recovery) values of mesophotic coral reefs. Expected project outcomes may help develop an effective ecosystem-specific management strategy.

该项目旨在评估中光深度的生物多样性，并评价这些深水生态系统对干扰和环境变化的脆弱性。中光珊瑚生态系统（生活在大约30-100米深的地方）的表面积估计相当于大堡礁的浅珊瑚礁（20 000平方公里），但基本上没有记录（由于相对难以进入），也没有在保护规划中加以考虑。该项目旨在确认中光珊瑚礁的内在价值（即独特的生物多样性）和工具价值（即在浅礁恢复中的作用）。项目的预期成果可能有助于制定有效的生态系统管理战略。