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Substrate damage and recovery after giant clam shell mining at remote coral reefs in the southern South China Sea

Authors :
Zhou, Shengnan
Shi, Qi
Yang, Hongqiang
Zhang, Xiyang
Liu, Xiaoju
Tan, Fei
Yan, Pin
Source :
Journal of Geographical Sciences; November 2021, Vol. 31 Issue: 11 p1655-1674, 20p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Giant clam shell mining (GCSM), a unique phenomenon occurring at remote coral reefs in the southern South China Sea (SCS), forms striking scars on the reef flats and damages the reef flat substrate. Through image analyses at three times (2004.02.02, 2014.02.26, and 2019.04.10) and in situsurveys at Ximen Reef, a representative site that has experienced GCSM, we quantified the GCSM-generated substrate damage and the corresponding recovery. GCSM was estimated to have occurred sometime between 2012 and 2014, causing reduction in live coral subarea and formation of micro-relief as trenches and mounds. GCSM-generated damage was restricted to the reef flat. After GCSM, coral and algae subarea increased, and the trenches and mounds tended to be filled and eroded, representing a natural recovery of the substrate. The legal prohibition on human disturbances at the coral reefs contributed to substrate recovery at Ximen Reef. This case also implied that recovery of the other coral reefs that suffered from GCSM is possible.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1009637X and 18619568
Volume :
31
Issue :
11
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Journal of Geographical Sciences
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs58207387
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-021-1916-y