Monitoring And Evaluation Of Ecological Environment Of Coral Reef Areas Inweizhou Island, Beihai, Guangxi

As the youngest volcano island, Weizhou Island is36miles away from Beihaicity of Guangxi, with a tropical marine climate. Because of the suitable climate andgeographic conditions for the growth of coral reef, there are a quantity of coral reefsdistributing along the bank of the northeastern and the southwestern Weizhou Island.Since the beginning of1970s, the research of coral reef has always been veryone-sided. On the basis of detection and investigation information from2005to2011of Beihai Marine Environmental MonitoringCenter, State Oceanic Administration,and compositions of previous research results, we have comprehensively evaluatedthe water quality of coral reef area in2011and annual evaluation of water quality andcoral reef from2005to2010in Weizhou Island, Beihai, Guangxi.The resultsindicat that：1. The coral reef area of Weizhou Island Beihai has a subtropical monsoon climate.With the clean seawater and good water dynamic condition, and being far from theland,, nearshore area of the island is suitable for the growth of coral reef, which is thecoral reefs grow most near the Tropic of Cancer in China.2. In2011, the water quality of coral reefs area of Weizhou Island, Beihai is good.Out of the15water indices,12are in accordance with the second class water qualitystandard. DO, phosphates and oil index can’t reach the second class water qualitystandard, of which oil index is the most serious with a22.6%excess. The coral reefsarea of Weizhou Island is mainly polluted by oil. DO and active phosphate content ofseawater are beyond standard in several stations and other detective factors allconform to the second class standard quality of sea. The index of common ingredientsof Weizhou Island, DO and COD is fluctuating within the scale of the first class waterquality, without any condition out of the first class water quality, which indicates thatthe whole water quality of Weizhou Island sea area is good and fit for the growth ofcoral reefs.3. Investigation data from Reef Check shows that the cover rate of the live hardcoral and the overall shape of the coral reefs are relatively good at present. Thenew-born buckshorn coral and more nontargetted fish have also been founded, indicating that the ecological environment of coral reef in this area is relatively stableand it has a certain ecological rehabilitative potential.The research and evaluation on ecological environment status of coral reefs ofWeizhou Island in Beihai Guangxi, can provide foundation for Weizhou Islandspecial protective zones or ocean parks, in order to intensify protections for biologicaldiversity of coral reefs with the support of local government and ocean, fisherymanagement department, and insure ecological safety and sustainable development ofthe valuable coral reefs area in the northern bay region of our country.