The Beibu Gulf, located off the coast of southern China and northern Vietnam, is a semi-closed, shallow gulf with considerable freshwater input from major rivers. The significant load of nutrients from land supports the phytoplankton growth and productive fisheries in the northern South China Sea. The Gulf is considered one of the least disturbed biodiversity hotspots in China with a diverse array of coastal habitats consisting of mangrove wetlands, seagrass beds, coral reefs, mudflats, beaches, and tidal creeks.
Despite the ecological importance of the Gulf, it has recently become an important hub of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, Beibu Gulf Economic Rim and ASEAN-China Free Trade Area. The accelerated coastal urbanization and industrialization urge a balance between economic development and ecological sustainability. However, biodiversity and environmental baselines and assessment of natural or man-induced perturbations in the Gulf are limited, which may impede the movements towards sustainability. The compilation of recent research on baselines, impacts and solutions is useful in improving knowledge, addressing emerging issues and developing capacities in support of coastal sustainability of the region.
The focus of this Research Topic is to consolidate the latest research on the Beibu Gulf biodiversity and environmental baselines, impacts and possible solutions for promoting sustainable ocean and livelihoods.
The Research Topic welcomes original research, perspective, case study, data report and review articles to address the following research subjects, but are not limited to:
• Biodiversity and environmental baselines for improving knowledge, addressing emerging issues and developing capacities in support of coastal sustainability.
• Role and mechanism to maintain ecological processes and functions of marine ecosystems.
• Impacts of natural and anthropogenic stressors on the structure and function of marine ecosystems.
• Aquaculture and marine pharmacognosy approach to conserve threatened marine species and fishery resources.
• Other actions to mitigate stressors and promote sustainable ocean and livelihoods.
The Beibu Gulf, located off the coast of southern China and northern Vietnam, is a semi-closed, shallow gulf with considerable freshwater input from major rivers. The significant load of nutrients from land supports the phytoplankton growth and productive fisheries in the northern South China Sea. The Gulf is considered one of the least disturbed biodiversity hotspots in China with a diverse array of coastal habitats consisting of mangrove wetlands, seagrass beds, coral reefs, mudflats, beaches, and tidal creeks.
Despite the ecological importance of the Gulf, it has recently become an important hub of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, Beibu Gulf Economic Rim and ASEAN-China Free Trade Area. The accelerated coastal urbanization and industrialization urge a balance between economic development and ecological sustainability. However, biodiversity and environmental baselines and assessment of natural or man-induced perturbations in the Gulf are limited, which may impede the movements towards sustainability. The compilation of recent research on baselines, impacts and solutions is useful in improving knowledge, addressing emerging issues and developing capacities in support of coastal sustainability of the region.
The focus of this Research Topic is to consolidate the latest research on the Beibu Gulf biodiversity and environmental baselines, impacts and possible solutions for promoting sustainable ocean and livelihoods.
The Research Topic welcomes original research, perspective, case study, data report and review articles to address the following research subjects, but are not limited to:
• Biodiversity and environmental baselines for improving knowledge, addressing emerging issues and developing capacities in support of coastal sustainability.
• Role and mechanism to maintain ecological processes and functions of marine ecosystems.
• Impacts of natural and anthropogenic stressors on the structure and function of marine ecosystems.
• Aquaculture and marine pharmacognosy approach to conserve threatened marine species and fishery resources.
• Other actions to mitigate stressors and promote sustainable ocean and livelihoods.
