泰來草和卵葉鹽草是印度-太平洋海域中分布範圍非常廣泛的兩種海草，在生物的生命史中，散佈是非常關鍵的時期，因為這關係到了該生物是否能夠有效的拓展它們群族。影響生物散布的因素可以分為生物因素和非生物因素。本研究目標是回答泰來草和卵葉鹽草是透過何種方法進行長距離散播。我設定了三種假說，分別為海流假說、鳥類假說和魚類假說，然後以海草的生活史階段(果實、種子、幼苗和成株)來針對三種假說分別作驗證，獲得以下的發現:
1.泰來草幼苗和成株分別可以在海中一個月和兩個月保有浮力，具有進行長距離散播的能力；卵葉鹽草的成株在海中只能漂浮一個星期，在海中進行長距離的散播的可能性低。2. 泰來草的果實和種子無法承受鳥類和魚類的消化道的消化，不能排出完整並且可生長的種子，所以無法借由鳥類和魚類傳播；卵葉鹽草的果實和種子經實驗後發現能夠經過鳥類和魚類的消化道而不被消化，並且排出的種子能夠生長發芽。3.泰來草果實可以漂浮超過兩個星期，而釋放出來的種子仍可以發芽；帶有果實的卵葉鹽草成株能夠漂浮一個星期，但是兩種海草的果實長距離散播的可能性低。
泰來草生活史中的幼苗和成株具有在海中進行長距離散播的能力，但是泰來草的種子和果實和卵葉鹽草的果實藉由海流進行長距離散播的可能性低；卵葉鹽草的種子和果實可以藉由動物來進行長距離的散播，但是泰來草的果實和種子不能夠經由動物進行長距離散播。泰來草和卵葉鹽草兩種不同形態和棲地的海草所採取散佈方法也不同。

Thalassia hemprichii and Halophila ovalis are two widely distributed seagrasses in Indo-West Pacific Ocean. In this study we investigated their dispersal mechanisms. Threehypotheses are proposed and tested: 1. dispersal by current 2. transported by birds, 3. transported by fishes. I used plants at different stages-adult plants,seedling,fruits and seeds to test these three hypotheses.Samples of Thalassia hemprichii and Halophila ovalis were collected from Dongsha Atoll in 2013 and 2014.Adult plants of Thalassia hemprichii could remain floating and survive for at least 2 months, longer than the seedlings which could have one month floating stage if unattached to substrate. Fruits of Thalassia hemprichii could remain floating for two weeks and release germinable seeds., but germination rates decline with longer floating time. Adult plants of Halophila ovalis could only float for one weeks before dying. The seeds of Halophila ovalis could pass through animal gastrointestinal tracts and remain competent for germination ,but seeds of Thalassia hemprichii could not. These two seagrasses use different dispersal mechanisms.

論文審定書…………………………………………………………………i
謝辭…………………………………………………………………………ii
摘要…………………………………………………………………………iii
Abstract…………………………………………………………………… iv
壹、前言……………………………………………………………………1
貳、材料方法………………………………………………………………5
參、結果……………………………………………………………………12
肆、討論……………………………………………………………………16
參考文獻……………………………………………………………………21
附錄…………………………………………………………………………25
圖次
圖一、進行採樣的東沙島北岸和小瀉湖…………………………………25
圖二、進行海水漂流實驗的2單位的泰萊草成株和種子………………26
圖三、泰來草果實和具有浮力的泰來草幼苗……………………………27
圖四、經過鴨消化道排出的泰來草種子和果實…………………………28
圖五、卵葉鹽草帶有果實的成株漂流實驗………………………………29
圖六、進行動物餵食實驗的卵葉鹽草種子………………………………30
圖七、發芽的卵葉鹽草種子………………………………………………31
圖八、經過動物消化道後排出並發芽的卵葉鹽草種子…………………32
圖九、泰來草和卵葉鹽草成株在進行戶外漂流實驗後的存活率………33
圖十、泰來草和卵葉鹽草成株在實驗室內進行漂流實驗後的存活率…34
圖十一、泰來草果實漂浮天數觀察………………………………………35
圖十二、卵葉鹽草帶果實成株漂浮天數觀察……………………………36
圖十三、泰來草種子發芽率和果實保有浮力的關係……………………37
圖十四、泰來草種子在漂浮不同小時保有浮力的種子百分比…………38
圖十五、卵葉鹽草和泰來草種子在餵食三種動物後排出的發芽率……39
圖十六、卵葉鹽草和泰來草果實在餵食三種動物後排出的發芽率……40

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