Three Taiwanese scientists have participated in a Southeast Asian marine conservation expedition, a report from Taipei said Wednesday.

The marine conservation team, formed by researchers from eight countries and regions including Indonesia, China's mainland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan, embarked on the trip to the Anambas Archipelago in mid-March aboard an Indonesian expedition ship, the report said.

Significance

During the 10-day underwater marine biodiversity expedition around five of the islands, the team found more than 1,000 species of marine plants and animals, including over 200 species of fish, nearly 200 species of squid and octopus, as well as hundreds of crabs, conches corals and other marine plants and animals.

More than 10 of the species are new to science, marking a significant step forward in worldwide research in biology in the South China Sea, the spokesman noted.

Their initial investigation shows that there is an abundant variety of fish living in the shallow coral reef areas at depths of up to 15 meters (49 feet), and the researchers have predicted that even greater biodiversity will be found should the expedition extend its search to deeper areas from 30 meters (98 feet) to 40 meters (131 feet).

( April 11, 2002)