大型海藻生境的生态功能及其在海洋牧场应用中的探讨

大型海藻是近岸海洋生态系统生态过程的重要驱动者之一,由大型海藻所形成的海藻场栖息地在维持海洋生物摄食、生长和繁殖等生命活动中扮演着极为重要的角色。然而,近年来受环境变化和人类活动等因素的影响,全球范围内许多沿海国家都出现了海藻场快速退化的现象,且对以海藻场为关键栖息地的海洋生物造成了不可忽略的影响,这一状况在我国尤为严重。为保障海洋生物资源可持续利用,海藻场修复已成为我国近岸海域生态环境保护的重要工作之一。但由于对海藻及其构造生境的生态功能认识不足,有关海藻场修复的目标定位、实现路径等存在较大的盲目性。本文从海藻场修复的角度出发,先分别对海藻及其构造生境的生态功能进行了阐述,而后对海藻养殖区是否可替代天然藻场被纳入到海洋牧场的建设中以及海藻生境生态功能的量化测定提出了几点思考,以期为今后海藻场修复工作合理、高效地开展和海藻养殖产业的可持续发展提供参考。

Ecological function of seaweed-formed habitat and discussion of its application to sea ranching

Seaweed is one of the most important coastal ecosystem-engineers, and the habitat formed by it plays an important role in supporting ecological behaviors (e.g. feeding, growth and recruitment, etc) of marine organisms. However, seaweed beds are declining around the world due to the environmental changes and human activities, which makes non-negligible impact on organisms inhabited there. China suffered severely from this situation. To achieve the goal of sustainable utilization of marine resources, the restoration of seaweed beds is becoming an important assignment of China''s ecological environment protection in coastal areas. However, the lack of understanding of ecological function of seaweed and seaweed-formed habitat makes the objectives and methods of the seaweed beds restoration unclear. In this paper, we summarized the ecological function of seaweed and seaweed-formed habitat, such as seaweed beds and seaweed farming area in the context of ecological restoration of seaweed beds. Furthermore, we put forward some thoughts about whether it''s suitable for the seaweed farming to be incorporated into the construction of sea ranching. We also suggested some quantitative measures of ecological function in seaweed-formed habitat. Our analysis may provide references for restoring seaweed beds reasonably and efficiently, and sustainable development of seaweed farming industry in the future.