Marcus J E, Samoilys M A, Meeuwig J J, Villongco Z A D, Vincent A C J
Project Seahorse, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2007 Sep;54(9):1483-94. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.04.011. Epub 2007 Jul 23.
Benthic status of 28 near-shore, artisanal, coral reef fishing grounds in the central Philippines was assessed (2000-2002) together with surveys of the seahorse, Hippocampus comes. Our measures of benthic quality and seahorse densities reveal some of the most degraded coral reefs in the world. Abiotic structure dominated the fishing grounds: 69% of the benthos comprised rubble (32%), sand/silt (28%) and dead coral (9%). Predominant biotic structure included live coral (12%) and Sargassum (11%). Rubble cover increased with increasing distance from municipal enforcement centers and coincided with substantial blast fishing in this region of the Philippines. Over 2 years, we measured a significant decrease in benthic 'heterogeneity' and a 16% increase in rubble cover. Poor benthic quality was concomitant with extremely low seahorse densities (524 fish per km(2)). Spatial management, such as marine reserves, may help to minimize habitat damage and to rebuild depleted populations of seahorses and other reef fauna.
2000年至2002年期间，对菲律宾中部28个近岸个体珊瑚礁渔场的底栖生物状况进行了评估，并对管海马（Hippocampus comes）进行了调查。我们对底栖生物质量和管海马密度的测量结果显示，这些珊瑚礁是世界上退化最为严重的珊瑚礁之一。渔场的非生物结构占主导地位：69%的底栖生物由碎石（32%）、沙/淤泥（28%）和死珊瑚（9%）组成。主要的生物结构包括活珊瑚（12%）和马尾藻（11%）。碎石覆盖面积随着与市政执法中心距离的增加而增大，这与菲律宾该地区大量的炸鱼活动相吻合。在两年多的时间里，我们测量到海底“异质性”显著下降，碎石覆盖面积增加了16%。底栖生物质量差与管海马密度极低（每平方公里524条鱼）相伴出现。空间管理，如海洋保护区，可能有助于减少栖息地破坏，并重建管海马和其他珊瑚礁动物的枯竭种群。
