Methodology On The Priority Areas Identilfcation For Marine Biodiversity Conservation In Offshore Area

Due to the uneven distribution of species on earth, the identification of priorityareas for marine biodiversity conservation has become a hot-topic of scientificresearch for effective use of resources and funding, properly protect marinebiodiversity. However, such research is conducted rarely in our country at present,especially about methods of the priority area identification. In order to offer scientificbasis for marine biodiversity conservation, in this paper, the methods of the priorityareas identification for marine biodiversity conservation were discussed in offshoreareas, where is interfered seriously by human activities.Basis on the zonal division in offshore areas and the characteristics recognitionof marine biodiversity, the methods of selecting the priority areas was established inthis study: the priority areas were identified by status analysis of protected speciesdistribution, species diversity and important ecosystems distribution, and combinedthe pressure analysis to identify priority conservation sequence. Specific results are asfollows:(1) Indicators (seafloor topography, shoreline change, river drainage basin, andWaters administrative boundaries) and methods of evaluation zonal division of studyarea were identified based on the biogeography approach.(2) Considering the importance of biodiversity conservation, the indicator systemof priority areas selecting for marine biodiversity conservation were designed fromthe three aspects of species, communities and ecosystems, include number andthreatened levels of threatened species; diversity status (number, biomass, density) ofzooplankton, nekton and epibenthos; Habitat type and area of important ecosystems(mangroves, coral reefs, seaweed beds, upwelling, important coastal wetlands andimportant bird distribution areas).(3) Relative evaluation method was used to identify the priority areas formspecies diversity, protected species and important ecosystem distribution; Compositestress index (CSI) calculated by membership degree method was proposed todetermine the stress status on priority areas, and this stress analysis was used toidentify priority conservation sequence according the criterion that high pressure areasshould be given priority protection.(4) Fujian offshore area was selected as an instance to test and verify method. The result indicates: Case area was divided into15evaluation unit; According to theassessment on species diversity, protected species and important ecosystemsdistribution,7assessment units were screened as priority areas for biodiversityconservation (Ningde offshore, Minjiang Estuary, Pingtan Island, Xinghua Bay,Quanzhou Bay, Xiamen offshore, Dongshan and Zhangpu offshore, Zhangzhouoffshore); According to the Composite stress index, the priority conservation sequencewas determined as: Zhangzhou offshore﹤Ningde offshore﹤Xinghua Bay﹤Dongshan and Zhangpu offshore﹤Minjiang Estuary﹤Quanzhou Bay﹤Xiamenoffshore.