Article
Forestry
Yifei Ma, Zhipeng Chen, Shuyu Wang, Haoyou Lin, Lei Kan, Weijing Du, Zhiyao Su, Lu Zhang
Summary: In this study, the relationship between snags and topographic factors in a secondary forest in South China was analyzed. A total of 544 snags were recorded, with Castanopsis carlesii and Schima superba being the most frequent species. Snags mainly derived from saplings and small trees, and their presence decreased with increased diameter and height after 25 years of logging. The spatial distribution of snags displayed an aggregated pattern, strongly correlated with elevation, slope steepness, and slope aspect. These findings contribute to our understanding of forest dynamics and provide insights for forest management and biodiversity conservation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mang Lung Cheuk, Gunter A. Fischer
Summary: Forests will experience rapid and extreme climatic changes in the future, causing potential range reductions and extinctions of certain species due to lack of migration space. Different Castanopsis species will respond differently to climate change, with some experiencing range reductions and others expansions; however, expansions are unlikely due to fragmented forest cover and inefficient seed dispersal mechanisms. Urgent adaptive strategies are needed in forest management, especially in marginal tropical zones.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jun-Wei Ye, De-Zhu Li
Summary: Genetic divergence in East Asia, particularly between subtropical and tropical regions, has been largely ignored compared to temperate-subtropical divergence. By studying the evolutionary history of the dominant species Lindera aggregata, researchers found distinct subtropical-tropical divergence since the late Pleistocene, influenced more by current climate differences than by geographical distance. This suggests that climate plays a key role in shaping genetic differentiation in plant populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Liu, Ying Ji, Lei Zhang, Jiangbing Qiu, Zhaohui Wang, Lei Liu, Yunyun Zhuang, Tianying Chen, Yang Li, Biaobiao Niu, Aifeng Li
Summary: This study investigates the spatial distribution and source of diverse phycotoxins in the South China Sea, with PTX2, hYTX, and DA toxins showing high concentrations in the Pearl River Estuary and Guangdong coast, representing the first reported findings in the SCS.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yue Wu, Siquan Wang, Libo Wu, Yijing Yang, Xiaoxuan Yu, Qingxiang Liu, Xiaolong Liu, Yongyu Li, Xinhong Wang
Summary: This research investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics in the water column and surface sediments in Jiulong Estuary and Xiamen Bay, and explored the impact of tidal variation on microplastic transport. The study found that microplastics in the estuary were significantly larger than those in the bay, and their vertical distribution was affected by tidal variation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carina Deich, Helena C. Frazao, Jana-Sophie Appelt, Wenguo Li, Thomas Pohlmann, Joanna J. Waniek
Summary: Estrogenic substances are a concerning contaminant of emerging interest, with data showing their distribution and variability in the northern South China Sea. Marine organisms in this region may be exposed to high potential risks due to the presence of estrogenic compounds.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Qianghua Song, Yulong Yao, Chunzai Wang
Summary: This study investigates the future summer marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the South China Sea (SCS) caused by the strengthening of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH). The results indicate that under the highest emission scenario, the WPSH will be strengthened, leading to a significant increase in the total days of MHWs in the SCS, particularly in the south-central region. The intensity of MHWs shows little response to the strengthening of the WPSH, but the weakening of the SCS cold filament favors the occurrence of MHWs. Moreover, the increased severe summer MHWs pose a higher risk of coral reef bleaching.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Youwei Xu, Kui Zhang, Mingshuai Sun, Li Su, Zuozhi Chen
Summary: Accurate information on the temporal and spatial distribution of fish stocks is crucial for the management and conservation of fisheries resources. This study investigated the temporal and spatial variation in biomass and density of the threadfin porgy Evynnis cardinalis in the northern South China Sea continental shelf. The results showed seasonal and spatial patterns in the occurrence, biomass, and density of E. cardinalis. The highest occurrence and density were observed in summer, while the highest biomass was recorded in autumn. The density of E. cardinalis varied with depth, with lower densities in shallow and deeper waters, and higher densities at intermediate depths.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaolei Chen, Xiao Ma, Xueji Gu, Sumei Liu, Guodong Song, Haiyan Jin, Guiling Zhang
Summary: Continental shelves and estuaries are important regions for the production and emission of N2O, with variations in distribution and emissions affected by temperature gradients, currents, and riverine inputs. N2O concentrations peak in spring and decrease sharply in summer and fall, with higher emissions in the ECS compared to the SYS. Sediments, especially around the Yangtze River Estuary, are identified as significant benthic N2O sources.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Hailong Huang, Shuaishuai Xu, Shuangqing Li, Xinwei Wang, Kangli Guo, Rongman Yan, Wei Xie, Kedong Yin, Shengwei Hou, Haibo Jiang
Summary: This study is the first attempt to explore the spatial diversity and vertical distribution of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species in the seamount region of Mount Xianbei in the South China Sea. The results showed a diverse HAB species in the seamount region, with a close connection to coastal waters. This provides a new explanation for the occurrence of HABs in the northern South China Sea.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ran Wang, Qiang Ren, Feng Nan, Fei Yu
Summary: North Pacific subtropical mode waters (STMWs), characterized by low potential vorticity (PV), play a significant role in climate change. The movement of STMWs into the South China Sea (SCS) is still unclear, but low PV signals originating from STMWs have been observed during certain periods.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Juan Li, Wei Tan, Wenjin Sun, Lina Yang, Lei Lin, Qingjun Fu
Summary: This paper evaluates the different timescale contributions to sea-level variation in the South China Sea (SCS). The large variance of the sea-level anomaly can account for over 70% of the monthly sea-level variation in specific areas. On the interannual-to-decadal timescale, there are two large-value regions with different dominating factors. The decadal variation is influenced by ENSO and PDO, while the interannual variation is controlled by the SCS summer monsoon.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jinping Liu, Sanzhong Li, Xianzhi Cao, Hao Dong, Yanhui Suo, Zhaoxia Jiang, Jie Zhou, Xiyao Li, Ruixin Zhang, Lijun Liu, Gillian Rose Foulger
Summary: Insight into the evolution of Philippine Sea-South China Sea (SCS) plate motions and their driving mechanisms are presented based on recent geological and seismic data. A new plate reconstruction model suggests a sinistral strike-slip fault at the western boundary of the Philippine Sea Plate with a clockwise self-rotation. The connection between the SCS and Shikoku Ridges possibly originated at 30 Ma, indicating an affinitive origin and magma source. Geodynamic simulations indicate that the seismic high-velocity body under the SCS is likely the leading edge of the Pacific Slab.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chen-Tung (Arthur) Chen, Shujie Yu, Ting-Hsuan Huang, Yan Bai, Xianqiang He, Hon-Kit Lui
Summary: Rapid changes in sea surface temperature (SST) were observed in the subpolar Bering and Okhotsk Seas in the northernmost Pacific Ocean from 1998 to 2018. The SST increased by 0.62 and 0.41 degrees C/decade, respectively, much higher than the global rate. The chlorophyll content remained stable in the Bering Sea but increased in the Okhotsk Sea. The Secchi disk depth (SDD) also increased in both seas. Similarly, the SST in the subtropical/tropical South China Sea (SCS) began rising, albeit at a slower rate than the global average. The chlorophyll content increased initially, but then decreased between 2007 and 2018. The SDD increased over the observed period. Overall, phytoplankton responded differently to the warming seawater in these three seas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chaoying Huang, Sheng Chen, Asi Zhang, Ying Pang
Summary: The South China Sea is the largest and southernmost sea in China, with significant spatial variability in raindrop size distribution during the summer monsoon season. The study found that rain events were more frequent during late evening to early morning, with most raindrops having diameters less than 2 mm and a relatively high concentration of medium to large-sized raindrops in stratiform precipitation features. The DSD in the South China Sea agreed with a three-parameter gamma distribution for small raindrop diameters.
Review
Physiology
Walter Dellisanti, Jeffery T. H. Chung, Cher F. Y. Chow, Jiajun Wu, Mark L. Wells, Leo L. Chan
Summary: Coral reefs are declining globally due to marine environmental changes. There is a need to better understand coral physiological responses to extreme conditions, as well as the additional localized stressors they face. Improved capabilities for in situ studies are required to comprehend coral resilience and stress response under multiple global and local stressors.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Cher F. Y. Chow, Emmy Wassenius, Maria Dornelas, Andrew S. Hoey
Summary: This study investigated the effects of body size and species traits on the spatial scaling of foraging patterns in herbivorous coral reef fishes. The results showed that species identity was a stronger predictor than body size for all foraging metrics. Although foraging area was mainly explained by species, the models for tortuosity and mean inter-foray distance had a small effect of body size.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jingyi Zhu, Wai-Hin Lee, Jiajun Wu, Shiwen Zhou, Ki-Chun Yip, Xiaowan Liu, Taratau Kirata, Leo-Lai Chan
Summary: This study confirms that snapper and grouper in the Republic of Kiribati are potential high-risk species for ciguatera poisoning, and they can be used as indicator species for risk assessment in ciguatera endemic areas.
Article
Fisheries
Ha Viet Dao, Hy Ho Khanh Le, Thao Thi Thu Le, Ky Xuan Pham, Minh Quang Bui, Leo Lai Chan
Summary: Recently, suspected cases of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) due to the consumption of moray eels have been reported in Vietnam. A study was conducted to detect ciguatoxins (CTXs) in moray eel species from different locations in Vietnam where CFP cases had occurred. The study found CTX-1B in 10% of the tested specimens, with the highest occurrence in the Spratly Islands. This is the first report of the presence of CTX-1B in Vietnam, indicating a CFP risk from consuming moray eels.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Limin Feng, Chung-Kuang Lu, Jiajun Wu, Leo Lai Chan, Jianbo Yue
Summary: A metabolite called ADAT from marine microorganisms has been found to modulate autophagy. It inhibits the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes, leading to the accumulation of autophagosomes. It also activates the mTOR/p70S6K/FoxO3a signaling pathway, resulting in the inhibition of autophagy induction. ADAT has minimal effect on apoptosis.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Xiaowan Liu, Yihan Ma, Jiajun Wu, Qizhao Yin, Pengbin Wang, Jingyi Zhu, Leo Lai Chan, Bin Wu
Summary: The toxin profile of Gambierdiscus balechii 1123M1M10 from Marakei Island was analyzed, revealing four new gambierone analogues and two known compounds. These findings serve as biomarkers for species identification and provide a basis for further toxin isolation and bioactivity studies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Walter Dellisanti, Jeffery T. H. Chung, Sam K. F. Yiu, Ryan Ho Leung Tsang, Put Ang, Yip Hung Yeung, Jian-Wen Qiu, Shelby E. McIlroy, Mark L. Wells, Jiajun Wu, Leo Lei Chan
Summary: Scleractinian corals demonstrate metabolic plasticity and resilience in response to local stressors and global changes. The physiological mechanisms by which corals acclimate or adapt to changing conditions remain disputed. In this study, we monitored the physiological status of Platygyra carnosa over two years and found clear seasonality in water quality parameters that affected coral health. Our research provides fundamental insights into coral response mechanisms under changing conditions and contributes to projections of coral health under future global change scenarios.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Cher F. Y. Chow, Caitlin Bolton, Nader Boutros, Viviana Brambilla, Luisa Fontoura, Andrew S. S. Hoey, Joshua S. S. Madin, Oscar Pizarro, Damaris Torres-Pulliza, Rachael M. M. Woods, Kyle J. A. Zawada, Miguel Barbosa, Maria Dornelas
Summary: The process of coral recruitment is crucial to coral reef ecosystems. Fish can mediate this process by removing benthic competitors, but their foraging impacts can be either facilitative or harmful to coral recruits. Coral settlement and recruitment exhibit a negative relationship with foraging trait diversity, especially with trait divergence and richness in settlement. Our findings provide further evidence that fish play a role in making benthic habitats more conducive for coral settlement and recruitment, and fish biodiversity variation likely contributes to uneven patterns of coral recruitment and reef recovery.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhao, Mingru Chen, Tzu Hao Chung, Leo Lai Chan, Jian-Wen Qiu
Summary: From July to August 2022, there was an unprecedented bleaching event in the scleractinian coral communities of China's Greater Bay Area in the northern South China Sea. Despite being considered coral thermal refugia, bleaching occurred at all surveyed sites, with more severe bleaching in shallow water. Acropora and Pocillopora were highly susceptible to bleaching and had high post-bleaching mortality.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jingyi Zhu, Wai Hin Lee, Ki Chun Yip, Zhen Wu, Jiajun Wu, Chui Pin Leaw, Po Teen Lim, Chung Kuang Lu, Leo Lai Chan
Summary: This study investigated the regional differences in ciguatera poisoning (CP) risks between Kiribati and Malaysia by assessing the toxicity of Gambierdiscus. The results showed that both Kiribati and Malaysia strains of Gambierdiscus had detectable toxicity, but the Kiribati strains were more hemolytic. The study identified 44-methylgambierone as a contributing factor to the hemolytic activity, along with other unknown hydrophilic toxins that could potentially be linked to the higher incidence of CP in Kiribati.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wu-Bing Xu, Shane A. A. Blowes, Viviana Brambilla, Cher F. Y. Chow, Ada Fontrodona-Eslava, Ines S. Martins, Daniel McGlinn, Faye Moyes, Alban Sagouis, Hideyasu Shimadzu, Roel van Klink, Anne E. E. Magurran, Nicholas J. J. Gotelli, Brian J. J. McGill, Maria Dornelas, Jonathan M. M. Chase
Summary: Using global metacommunity data, this study found that large-ranged species tend to increase in site occupancy over time, while small-ranged species tend to decrease. This pattern is more pronounced in marine habitats, but in terrestrial regions, protected areas show less extreme changes in occupancy. These findings highlight the importance of range size in determining species declines and the potential of habitat protection in mitigating these losses under environmental change.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ines S. Martins, Franziska Schrodt, Shane A. Blowes, Amanda E. Bates, Anne D. Bjorkman, Viviana Brambilla, Juan Carvajal-Quintero, Cher F. Y. Chow, Gergana N. Daskalova, Kyle Edwards, Nico Eisenhauer, Richard Field, Ada Fontrodona-Eslava, Jonathan J. Henn, Roel van Klink, Joshua S. Madin, Anne E. Magurran, Michael McWilliam, Faye Moyes, Brittany Pugh, Alban Sagouis, Isaac Trindade-Santos, Brian J. McGill, Jonathan M. Chase, Maria Dornelas
Summary: Biotic responses to global change, especially in the Anthropocene, have led to a decrease in body size, primarily driven by fish. Both within-species trends and compositional changes contribute to body size changes, with significant variation in magnitude and direction.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xiaowan Liu, Yihan Ma, Jiajun Wu, Pengbin Wang, Yinuo Wang, Anli Wang, Qizhao Yin, Haiying Ma, Leo Lai Chan, Bin Wu
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between a heterotrophic bicosoecid flagellate, Pseudobodo sp., and a ciguatera food poisoning culprit dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus balechii. The presence of Pseudobodo sp. inhibited algal proliferation and decreased the cardiotoxicity of zebrafish in the algal extract exposure experiment. The study also found significant differences in microbiome abundance and cellular production of certain compounds in algal cultures with and without Pseudobodo sp.
