A coral reef in waters around Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) is expanding, but rampant growth of excavating sponges could endanger its existence, an environmental group said.
Taiwan Environmental Information Association members and volunteers on June 9 and June 10 dived near the island to document the conditions of the reef.
Living coral along the island’s eastern and northern coastlines cover between 43.75 percent and 65 percent of the reef, association member Lin Yu-chu (林育朱) said, adding that when coral coverage surpasses 50 percent, the environment can be regarded as a beneficial habitat.
Photo: Provided by Taiwan Environmental Information Association project manager Lin Yu-chu
However, the group found that excavating sponges of the genus Cliona have expanded their coverage to 17.5 percent in waters near Beauty Rock (玉女岩), a popular attraction in the island’s north.
Ubiquitous in the Caribbean, the excavating sponges compete with coral for living space on the sea floor, Lin said.
Sponges’ coverage around Orchid Island was less than 5 percent, but has been growing quickly as of late, particularly the excavating sponges, she said.
Excavating sponges used to only be found near Green Island (綠島) to the north, Lin said, adding that this is the first time they have been found near Orchid Island.
Sponges live on microorganisms and organic particles, and they prosper in waters with high salinity, National Penghu University of Science and Technology associate professor Huang Yu-sheng (黃俞升) said.
Excavating sponges ooze an acidic substance that can erode the calcium carbonate in coral reef, he said, adding that the phenomenon is part of nature’s biogeochemical cycle.
If the activities of the coral and excavating sponges can achieve a balance, the sponges will not affect the area’s ecology, he said.
The association expressed concerns about the potential effects of excavating sponges on coral and the area’s ecology, but said that long-term observation is needed before any conclusions can be reached.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
RSS