Announcement on the Second IOC/WESTPAC Training Course: “Water Quality and Impact on Coral Reefs”
Sanya, Hainan, China 8th – 11th June 2011
1. Background
The “Coral Reefs under Climate and Anthropogenic Perturbations” (IOC/WESTPAC-CorReCAP) Project was established at the 7th IOC/WESTPAC Intergovernmental Session (Sabah/Malaysia, 26-29 May 2008), to safeguard the health of coral reef ecosystems, and carry out cost-effective management procedures and policies to maintain the sustainability of coral reefs, with a well-coordinated network within the Western Pacific Region.
The project objectives are:
Ø To understand the biogeochemical and ecological nature of coral reefs in WESTPAC in different environmental settings, as well as different types of human interventions;
Ø To evaluate the consequences of the impacts of climate change and human activities on the health of coral reefs and their sustainable use; and,
Ø To promote capacity building in areas related to research on coral reefs through sharing scientific knowledge and training activities.
The mission of this project will be carried out through three workshops and training courses, as well as activities between meetings in 2009-2011.
2. Objective and Scope of the Training Course
In the 1st Workshop of IOC/WESTPAC-CorReCAP Project at Shanghai (23-26 May, 2009), it was highlighted that training activity is an important component in developing collaborations on coral reef research; this is therefore considered one of the contributions of CorReCAP Project to the promotion of capacity building of IOC/WESTPAC. Moreover, the First IOC/WESTPAC Training Course: “Impact of Sedimentary Dynamics and Biogeochemistry on Coral Reefs” at Koh Samui, Thailand during 15th – 18th June 2010 was successfully organized, followed by the discussion on the experience and feed-backs from this training activity, as well as the discussion of having the second training activity in 2010. The objectives of this training activity are:
Ø Capacity building on the impacts of water quality on coral reefs for the WESTPAC countries;
Ø Establish an international network in the field of water quality on coral reefs;
Ø Identify cooperative activities concerning impacts of water quality on coral reefs in the WESTPAC region;
Ø Sharing information, technology and methodology among researchers and experts from inside and outside the WESTPAC region.
3. Venue of the Training Course
The proposed training activity will be organized at Sanya, Hainan Island, China. Sanya is located in the southern tip of Hainan Island, China. Coral reef around Sanya was one of the most important reefs where the first national coral reef reserve in China was constructed in 1990. However，along with the population growth, urbanization and coastal development and the associated consequences of high sedimentation, eutrophication and pollution in Sanya over last decade, the marine environment has deteriorated significantly. Coral reef around Sanya was also suffering from water quality deterioration and reef degradation.
4. Dates of the Training Course
The training course will be held on 8th– 11th June 2011.
5. Topic of Lectures
5.1 Marine pollution and biogeochemistry (Prof. John Morrison from Australia and Jing zhang from China), 3 hours
Ø Land and marine sources of nutrients and pollutants to coral reefs
Ø Cycling of chemical elements in coral reef ecosystems
Ø Food-web and biogeochemical dynamics
Ø Effect of marine pollution on the sustainability of coral reefs
5.2 Non-point source pollution of coral reef environment (Prof. Fernando P. Siringan from Philippines), 2 hours
Ø Methods for assessing non-point source pollution in coral reefs (i.e. usingδN15 of macroalgae)
Ø Submarine groundwater discharge and coral reef
5.3 Heavy metals and other pollutants recorded in coral skeleton (Prof. Gangjian Wei from Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, China), 2 hours
Ø Heavy metals recorded in coral skeleton
Ø Sewages (i.e. freshwater discharge, sediment delivery and nutrient availability) recorded in coral skeleton
5.4 Water quality on biology and ecology of coral reefs (Prof. Thamasak Yeemin from Thailand and Hui Huang from China), 3 hours
Ø Water quality parameters in coral reef monitoring (From Hui Huang)
Ø Methods for assessing sewage stress on coral reefs (From Thamasak Yeemin)
Ø Water quality and coral bleaching thresholds (From Thamasak Yeemin)
Ø water quality deterioration and reef degradation (From Hui Huang)
6. Participants of this Training Course
We plan to have ca. 15-20 students at Ph.D candidate level or young research worker being involved in this training activity.
7. Schedule of Training Course
The training course will be for four days. Lectures will be delivered in day one, followed by practical work over two days; on day four, students will be required to provide their work for synthesis and conclusion. In terms of the practical work, participants in this training course will be assigned to join:
Ø Field observation to examine the impacts of water quality on coral reefs
Ø Field experiments to show how to monitor commonly used water quality parameters
Ø Field research methodology concerning various aspects from the workshop
The local host of this training course will prepare for biological and ecological equipments at Sanya.
8. Expected Outcomes
The workshop will increase the capacity of participants for mitigating the impacts of water quality on coral reefs. The proceedings compiled from the training course on impacts of water quality on coral reefs could be distributed to relevant organizations/institutes in the WESTPAC region for education and research.
9. Organizing Committee
Prof. Hui Huang from China (Co-Chair)
Prof. Jing Zhang from China (Co-Chair)
Prof. John Morrison from Australia
Prof. Thamasak Yeemin from Thailand
Prof. Fernando P. Siringan from Philippines
Prof. Affendi Yang Amri
Dr. Wen Xi Zhu from IOC/WESTPAC Sub-Commission
10. Contracting Address
Prof. Hui Huang
Coral Biology and Coral Reef Ecology Research Group
Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilizing, CAS
South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guangzhou 510301, China
Tel/Fax: +86-20-8446-0294
Mobile phone: +86-0-13802977599
E-mail: huanghui@scsio.ac.cn