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<p>Coral reefs are declining globally, but region-specific drivers of degradation remain poorly quantified, hindering local conservation policymaking. By collecting two decades of field data from 102 sites across 22 coral reefs in the northern South China Sea and employing panel regressions and structural equation modeling, we identify key stressors that are responsible for 40% (17–50%) of the declines in live coral cover. Local anthropogenic stressors—overfishing, nutrient pollution from agriculture and coastal urbanization—collectively explain 73% of live coral coverage variance, outweighing climate-associated thermal stress. We then propose an Integrated Coast-Reef Management framework that couples land-sea interventions—prioritizing sustainable fisheries, watershed nutrient management, and controls of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. Spatial simulations indicate that this synergistical strategy could elevate live coral coverage by two to four times under global warming scenarios, avoiding reef calcification collapse. Our findings contribute to coral conservation paradigms by highlighting tailored strategies at the local level beyond globalized approaches, which offer scalable solutions for regions facing similar pressures.</p>

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Impacts of local anthropogenic stressors outpace those of climate on coral reef collapse in the northern South China Sea

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月18日

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  • Huili Xu,
  • Yuanchao Li,
  • Tong Liu,
  • Binxue Wang,
  • Lin Ma,
  • Zhaohai Bai,
  • Chaoqing Yu,
  • Xiaoyang Shan,
  • Zichen Li,
  • Shuqing Zhao,
  • Xiaoping Diao,
  • Yuehua Huang,
  • Dongdan Yuan,
  • Qipei Li,
  • Weilu Kang,
  • Jilin Liang,
  • Shiquan Chen,
  • Zhongjie Wu,
  • Xiubao Li,
  • Shuh-Ji Kao,
  • Tim Jennerjahn,
  • Hui Huang,
  • Danwei Huang,
  • Loke Ming Chou,
  • Hongwei Zhao

摘要

Coral reefs are declining globally, but region-specific drivers of degradation remain poorly quantified, hindering local conservation policymaking. By collecting two decades of field data from 102 sites across 22 coral reefs in the northern South China Sea and employing panel regressions and structural equation modeling, we identify key stressors that are responsible for 40% (17–50%) of the declines in live coral cover. Local anthropogenic stressors—overfishing, nutrient pollution from agriculture and coastal urbanization—collectively explain 73% of live coral coverage variance, outweighing climate-associated thermal stress. We then propose an Integrated Coast-Reef Management framework that couples land-sea interventions—prioritizing sustainable fisheries, watershed nutrient management, and controls of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. Spatial simulations indicate that this synergistical strategy could elevate live coral coverage by two to four times under global warming scenarios, avoiding reef calcification collapse. Our findings contribute to coral conservation paradigms by highlighting tailored strategies at the local level beyond globalized approaches, which offer scalable solutions for regions facing similar pressures.