The project investigated 28 locations in the Dongsha Atoll region between May 4, 2012 and September 27, 2012, which included 23 locations on the northern reef platforms, 2 locations in the inner lagoon, and 3 locations on the outer reef slope. The surveys were adjusted to suit onsite conditions and were conducted using a 1-ton boat, a rubber raft and a light skiff. Researchers approached the reef platforms by diving, snorkeling and walking.  They conducted investigations on the substrate compositions, coral species, fish species, large invertebrates (echinoderms, crustaceans and mollusks), and on large seaweeds and sea grass species of the reef platforms. The substrate composition and distribution of the northern reef platforms were non-homogenous. Four major habitats were investigated with substrates ranging from seaweeds, sea grass, stony and dead corals. The majority of the habitats consisted of sea grass based substrates, especially along the inner edges of the reef platforms. The importance of the sea grass is emphasized greatly by its vast distribution in the Dongsha Atoll regions, since it is likely that it is the region with the highest net productivity in the surrounding marine ecosystems. The whereabouts of these net productions, including transmission of energy and materials, should be the subject of future investigations.

In terms of biodiversity, the study investigated a total of 15 families and 53 genera of coral species, which are fewer than those in the inner lagoon or the outer reef slopes. A total of 37 families and 271 species of fish were surveyed; five species were newly discovered record species in the Dongsha region, including 2 that were previously unrecorded in Taiwan. For the large benthic invertebrates, 64 families and 156 species were recorded, including 32 families and 91 species of mollusks, 16 families and 31 species of echinoderms, and 16 families and 34 species of crustaceans. A new specie of the Pilumidae crab was recorded as a new record species in Taiwan.

Due to the seasonal lifecycle of the larger sea weed species, 29 species of large seaweeds and sea grasses (including  Phycomycetes) were recorded in May. However, by July the species have been reduced to only 20 (including Phycomycetes). The shallow nature of the reef platform allows sufficient light to penetrate the substrate; thus, after ground truthing was conducted and a larger scale of habitat distribution and area investigation was performed, satellite imaging of the area is possible, and was verified by this study for its validity. We discovered that a great difference exists between the reef platforms and the two other major environments (outer reef slopes and the inner lagoon), and that the reef platform is an area suitable for telemetric sensing to understand the current and historical changes on a macro scale.  It may also  be used as an indicator of  the condition of the coral reef. However, the implementation will require the effective use of satellite, aerial imaging and underwater investigations.