| 英文摘要 |
Coral reefs are the hotspots of marine biodiversity and are often regarded as the focus of marine protected areas. Due to the favorable environment for coral growth, corals are widely distributed on the northern, eastern, and southern coast and many offshore islands in Taiwan. However, the distribution and species diversity of corals in most areas are still unknown owing to the lack of systematic surveys. The aims of this study are to map the distribution of corals and to evaluate the status of coral reefs in the coastal areas of Taiwan by combining field surveys and satellite image analyses. In this third-year project, we surveyed the coral communities in Pingdung County including Hengchun Peninsula and an offshore islet, Xiaoliuchiu. Based on species diversity, living cover, and functional status of coral communities, coastal areas of southern part of Hengchun Peninsula and Xialiuchiu were identified as the biodiversity hotspots of reef organisms. The former has been designated as Kenting National Park, a category of MPA. Four localities at Xiaoliuchiu: Yuifu-Lungxiadung, Houshi Reef, north of Shanfu Harbor, and Meizendong- Huapingyen, are proposed as the potential sites for MPAs. |
