Yang Pei, Lin Xiaoyu, Zhao He, Liu Yicheng, Zhu Wentao, Liu Xiangbo, Zhu Chunyun, Chen Rouwen, Li Xiubao
Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, PR China; Wenchang Advanced Fisheries Research Institute, Hainan University, Wenchang, Hainan, 571300, PR China.
Wenchang Advanced Fisheries Research Institute, Hainan University, Wenchang, Hainan, 571300, PR China; International Joint Research Center for Coral Reef Ecology of Hainan Province, School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, PR China.
Mar Environ Res. 2025 Oct;211:107407. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107407. Epub 2025 Jul 30.
Coral reefs are crucial to marine ecosystems. However, as human activities intensify, Abandoned fishing nets (AFNs), a major form of marine debris, pose a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems. This study explored how different AFNs densities affected the growth, physiological characteristics, and microbial communities of Acropora hyacinthus and Acropora microphthalma in coral nurseries. The results demonstrated that both coral species exhibited some adaptability under low-density AFNs. Additionally, A. microphthalma, which can grow upwards, appeared more adaptable to AFNs stress across different densities. High-density AFNs significantly hindered coral growth, primarily due to reduced energy availability, as well as a decrease in photosynthetic physiological indicators resulting from shading and intense competition between algae and corals. Moreover, high-density AFNs stress altered the microbial community structure of the corals. In A. hyacinthus, the dominant microbial group Endozicomonas decreased significantly under net stress, suggesting that high-density AFNs stress may have disrupted the microbial community balance in corals. During recovery monitoring after the removal of AFNs, both coral species in the low-density AFNs group recovered more quickly in terms of physiological status and microbial communities. In contrast, A. hyacinthus in the high-density AFNs group recovered slowly, reflecting the lasting impact of high-density AFNs stress. We believe that promoting the use of low-density fishing nets and regular net removal in coral reef areas is an effective joint management strategy. Additionally, reducing net density to strike a new balance between commercial fisheries and ecological protection is highly feasible, providing preliminary insights for the development of future coral reef conservation and restoration strategies.
珊瑚礁对海洋生态系统至关重要。然而，随着人类活动的加剧，废弃渔网（AFNs）作为海洋垃圾的主要形式，对珊瑚礁生态系统构成了重大威胁。本研究探讨了不同密度的废弃渔网如何影响珊瑚苗圃中秀丽鹿角珊瑚和微孔鹿角珊瑚的生长、生理特征及微生物群落。结果表明，两种珊瑚在低密度废弃渔网环境下均表现出一定的适应性。此外，能够向上生长的微孔鹿角珊瑚在不同密度下似乎对废弃渔网胁迫更具适应性。高密度废弃渔网显著阻碍了珊瑚生长，主要原因是能量供应减少，以及藻类与珊瑚之间的遮光和激烈竞争导致光合生理指标下降。此外，高密度废弃渔网胁迫改变了珊瑚的微生物群落结构。在秀丽鹿角珊瑚中，优势微生物类群内共生菌在网胁迫下显著减少，这表明高密度废弃渔网胁迫可能破坏了珊瑚中的微生物群落平衡。在移除废弃渔网后的恢复监测过程中，低密度废弃渔网组的两种珊瑚在生理状态和微生物群落方面恢复得更快。相比之下，高密度废弃渔网组的秀丽鹿角珊瑚恢复缓慢，这反映了高密度废弃渔网胁迫的持久影响。我们认为，在珊瑚礁区域推广使用低密度渔网并定期清理渔网是一种有效的联合管理策略。此外，降低渔网密度以在商业渔业和生态保护之间达成新的平衡是高度可行的，这为未来珊瑚礁保护和恢复策略的制定提供了初步见解。
