南海北部冷泉区深水珊瑚的发现及其特征

冷水珊瑚也称为深水珊瑚, 在生物多样性、生态资源和科研价值等方面具有重要意义。文章对采自南海北部冷泉区的冷水珊瑚骨骼碎屑进行测定, 鉴定出冷水珊瑚2个种(Crispatotrochus sp.1和Crispatotrochus sp.2), 以及4个属[Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia)、Balanophyllia (Eupsammia)、Lochmaeotrochus和Enallopsammia]。测定的冷水珊瑚的δ¹³C为-7.36‰~-1.15‰, δ¹⁸O为-1.38‰~3.67‰, 与全球冷水珊瑚碳氧同位素组成相似, 但明显不同于南海暖水珊瑚、冷泉碳酸盐岩及低温热液成因碳酸盐岩的碳氧同位素组成。

The discovery of deep-water corals from cold seep area in the northern South China Sea and their characteristics

Cold-water corals, also known as deep-water corals, are newly found ecological resources with high biological diversity and attract scientific research on environmental changes. In this study, we investigated cold-water corals retrieved from the cold seep area in the northern South China Sea. We identified two species (Crispatotrochus sp.1, Crispatotrochus sp.2) and four genera [Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia), Balanophyllia (Eupsammia), Lochmaeotrochus, and Enallopsammia]. Stable carbon and oxygen isotopic analyses revealed that the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of cold-water corals were -7.36‰ ~ -1.15‰ and -1.38‰ ~ 3.67‰, respectively. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O results were close to the carbon and oxygen isotopic values of cold-water corals in other parts of the world, but were quite different from those of warm-water corals, cold-seep carbonate rocks and low-temperature hydrothermal carbonate rocks. This research discovered cold-water corals in a cold seep region of the northern South China Sea. This discovery is important for the studies on environmental effects of deep-water currents and of cold springs in the region.