The Ecological Mechanism of Coral-Algal Phase Shifts: A Case Study of Wenchang in Hainan Province.

ABSTRACT: The interaction between corals and algae is of great significance in maintaining the health of coral reef ecosystems. Globally, tropical coral reefs are being degraded by human activities, resulting in the decline of reef-building corals and an increase in macroalgae. The study aims to determine the ecological mechanism of coral-algal phase shifts occurring in the coastal waters of Wenchang in Hainan Province, which are affected by human activities. The field survey results revealed that 177 species of reef-forming corals belonged to 49 genera and 18 families, which were dominated by coral taxa Favites, Porites, Galaxea, and Montipora. Furthermore, there existed obvious competition between dominant corals and algae, especially Lobophora, which showed stro

SUBMITTER: Lyu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12862236 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature