中国西沙群岛珊瑚礁岛植物传播机理的研究

The Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands) is located in the northwest of the South China Sea, with largest land area and the largest number of islands in the South China Sea. It consists of 29 islands or shoals and all of them are composed of coral reef filled with coral sand and detritus. Abundant plant resources and the special dispersal ways of plants make it become a key area of studying plant dispersal mechanism and its origin and evolution of its flora. However, as the Islands are far away from the mainland and Hainan Island, so far there have not been conducted any studies about its plant dispersal mechanism on the coral reef islands in our country. Our study intends to make clear of the plant dispersal mechanism through comprehensive methods. Firstly, the adaptability of plant dispersal structure, and their relevant environmental impact factors will be studied deeply through field surveys, specimen inspection, experimental anatomy. Secondly, we will analyze the flora relationship between the Islands and its neighboring countries and region. Thirdly, we intend to explain the plant dispersal mechanism in the Islands through using molecular methods such as cpDNA and SSR and so on. Finally, we will explore the flora origin and evolution of the Islands according to the studies mentioned above. This study has an important scientific and political significance.

西沙群岛位于南海的西北部，是我国南海诸群岛中岛屿最多，陆地面积最大的群岛，大小岛屿和沙洲29个，全部由海中的珊瑚虫遗骸堆积而成，岛上植物资源丰富，植物传播方式特殊，是研究岛屿植物传播机理和岛屿植物区系的起源与演化的关键地区。但由于西沙群岛远离大陆和海南岛本岛，至今我国尚未有人对珊瑚礁岛植物传播机理做过研究。本项目拟通过多学科的手段，在野外调查、标本查阅和形态解剖的基础上，对西沙群岛植物器官传播结构的适应性进行研究，结合西沙群岛与南海周边国家和地区植物区系亲缘关系的研究，分析西沙群岛内各岛的植物物种数量、分布格局和植物传播方式与环境因子的关系，结合cpDNA和SSR等分子标记方法，揭示岛上植物的传播机制，从而探讨该群岛植物区系的起源与演化趋势。本研究结果具有重要的科学和政治意义。

西沙群岛位于南海的西北部，是我国南海诸群岛中岛屿最多，陆地面积最大的群岛，大小岛屿和沙洲29个，全部由海中的珊瑚虫遗骸堆积而成，岛上植物资源丰富，植物传播方式特殊，是研究岛屿植物传播机理和岛屿植物区系的起源与演化的关键地区。但由于西沙群岛远离大陆和海南岛本岛，至今我国尚未有人对珊瑚礁岛植物传播机理做过研究。本项目通过多学科的手段，在野外调查、标本查阅和形态解剖的基础上，对西沙群岛植物器官传播结构的适应性进行研究，结合西沙群岛与南海周边国家和地区植物区系亲缘关系的研究，分析西沙群岛内各岛的植物物种数量、分布格局和植物传播方式与环境因子的关系，结合简化基因组RAD-Seq测序，揭示岛上植物的传播机制，从而探讨该群岛植物区系的起源与演化趋势。