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.

The identification of fish eggs of two species, the ovate sole Solea ovata and black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii.

Fish eggs of the ovate sole Solea ovata and black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii were identified through DNA barcoding of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1). Visual taxonomic features were achieved, and photographs of the eggs of both species at different developmental stages were reported for the first time. In addition, the dissolution of oil globules caused by ethanol as egg fixatives was observed.

Radioactive status of seawater and its assessment in the northeast South China Sea and the Luzon Strait and its adjacent areas from 2011 to 2014.

To understand the impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident (FNA), Cs, Cs, Sr, and gross beta were analyzed in the northeast South China Sea (NSCS), the Luzon Strait (LS) and its adjacent areas. Cs, Sr, and gross beta values in the NSCS were similar to those prior to the FNA. Sr and Cs in the LS and its adjacent areas were consistent with those in the NSCS.

Bacterial Communities in the Rhizospheres of Three Mangrove Tree Species from Beilun Estuary, China.

The bacterial communities played important roles in the high productivity mangrove ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the vertical distributions of rhizosphere bacteria from three mangrove species (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Kandelia candel and Aegiceras corniculatum) in Beilun Estuary, China using high throughput DNA pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that bacterial communities from mangrove rhizosphere sediments were dominated by Proteobacteria (mostly Deltaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria), followed by Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes and Acidobacteria.

Landscape ecological security assessment based on projection pursuit in Pearl River Delta.

Regional landscape ecological security is an important issue for ecological security, and has a great influence on national security and social sustainable development. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) in southern China has experienced rapid economic development and intensive human activities in recent years. This study, based on landscape analysis, provides a method to discover the alteration of character among different landscape types and to understand the landscape ecological security status.