Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences Department, American University of Sharjah, 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 May;178:113570. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113570. Epub 2022 Mar 26.
Coral reefs across the southern Arabian Gulf have declined in the past two decades, with extensive loss of formerly Acropora table corals, which are now functionally extinct in nearshore reefs. This study documents the coral community at Sir Bu Nair (SBN), an offshore island buffered by less extreme environmental conditions, which contains the last remaining large stands of Acropora in the southern Gulf. We found that Acropora is a major reef-building coral throughout SBN. Mean coral cover was 27% (range: 6%-49%) across all sites and depths, of which more than half was comprised by Acropora. This varied around the island, with the highest densities to the south and southwest in shallow waters. Our study provides essential information for the management and conservation of these highly valuable and vulnerable corals.
过去二十年中，阿拉伯海湾南部的珊瑚礁数量减少，以前的鹿角珊瑚大量消失，现在近岸珊瑚礁已功能性灭绝。本研究记录了锡尔布奈尔岛（Sir Bu Nair，SBN）的珊瑚群落，该岛受环境条件影响较小，是海湾南部仅剩的大型鹿角珊瑚的栖息地。我们发现，鹿角珊瑚是 SBN 主要的造礁珊瑚。所有地点和深度的平均珊瑚覆盖率为 27%（范围：6%-49%），其中一半以上由鹿角珊瑚组成。这种分布情况在岛屿周围有所不同，在南部和西南部的浅水区密度最高。我们的研究为这些极具价值和脆弱的珊瑚的管理和保护提供了重要信息。
