Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 14 Kent Ridge Road, 119223, Singapore.
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558, Singapore.
Mar Environ Res. 2021 Jun;168:105322. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105322. Epub 2021 Mar 31.
Coastal urbanization causes environmental modifications that directly and indirectly influence the distribution and functioning of coral reefs. However, the capacity of urban infrastructure to support corals and vertically accrete is less understood. Here, we investigated if coral communities on reefs and seawalls in Singapore are distinct, and examined the environmental variables influencing coral carbonate production. Surveys at 22 sites yielded 134 coral species, with richness significantly higher on reefs. Coral cover and Shannon index did not differ between habitat types. Community composition was distinct between habitat types, with seawalls supporting a higher proportion of massive and thick-plating species. 'Distance from mainland' was the single most important variable influencing normalized carbonate production rates (a function of species-specific linear extension rate and skeletal bulk density and site coral cover), which were higher further from the mainland where human activity and development pressures were greater. Our results indicate that environmental filtering strongly shapes coral communities and may influence ecosystem functioning in Singapore's urbanized reef system. The findings will guide the management of reefs on increasingly urbanized coastlines.
沿海城市化导致环境发生变化，这些变化直接或间接地影响珊瑚礁的分布和功能。然而，城市基础设施支持珊瑚生长和垂直附着的能力还不太为人所知。在这里，我们调查了新加坡珊瑚礁和防波堤上的珊瑚群落是否存在差异，并研究了影响珊瑚碳酸盐产量的环境变量。在 22 个地点进行的调查共获得了 134 种珊瑚，其中珊瑚礁上的丰富度明显更高。生境类型之间的珊瑚覆盖率和香农指数没有差异。群落组成在生境类型之间存在明显差异，防波堤上支持更多的块状和厚板状物种。“距大陆的距离”是影响归一化碳酸盐生产速率的唯一最重要的变量（是物种特定线性延伸率和骨骼体积密度和站点珊瑚覆盖率的函数），离大陆越远，人类活动和开发压力越大。我们的研究结果表明，环境过滤强烈影响珊瑚群落，并可能影响新加坡城市化珊瑚系统的生态系统功能。这些发现将为管理日益城市化的海岸线的珊瑚礁提供指导。
