11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

7.179
Physiological Effects Of Aspergillosis in A Gorgonian From Bermuda
Lisa RODRIGUES* 1
1 Geography & the Environment, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Lipids and other energy reserves (i.e., carbohydrates and protein) are often utilized by
scleractinian coral species to survive and recover from coral bleaching events. As a
significant energy store in corals, lipids may be important in surviving other stressful
events, including disease. The importance of lipid stores to diseased corals has not been
previously investigated and may provide evidence of disease resistance or coral recovery.
Aspergillosis, a disease caused by the fungus, Aspergillus sydowii, has impacted
gorgonian populations throughout much of the Caribbean, including Bermuda. Visibly
diseased and healthy samples were collected from Gorgonia ventalina colonies from a
near-shore reef in July 2007. Healthy samples were also collected from G. ventalina
colonies from an off-shore reef location, where there was no visible incidence of disease
on the reef. The proportion of purpled sclerites was measured for each sample and
verified the severity of disease for each colony. Diseased sections of G. ventalina have
lower lipid concentrations than healthy sections of the same colony, suggesting that lipid
stores are selectively utilized within each colony. Interestingly, healthy sections of nearshore
colonies where disease was present have more lipid stores than healthy sections of
off-shore colonies where disease was absent. These preliminary results suggest that
consumption of lipid stores may be a species-wide physiological strategy amongst corals
for coping with stressful events.
7.180
International Registry of Coral Pathology
Shawn MCLAUGHLIN* 1 , Dorothy HOWARD 1 , Kathy PRICE 2 , Cheryl WOODLEY 3
1 Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, NOAA National Ocean Service, Oxford, MD, 2 None,
Stevensville, MD, 3 Hollings Marine Laboratory, NOAA National Ocean Service,
Charleston, SC
An International Registry of Coral Pathology (IRCP) has been established by NOAA at
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Oxford, Maryland, USA to serve as a research tool
and resource of voucher materials for the coral research community. Diseases of coral
have increased significantly in frequency and distribution over the last decade; however,
the etiologies of many coral diseases remain unknown. An important function of the coral
registry is to facilitate the sharing of histology materials and related information among
coral pathologists worldwide to better understand causes and mechanisms of coral
disease. More than 2500 specimens of healthy and diseased scleractinian and soft corals
representing over 30 species from 20 geographic locations have been accessioned into a
collection of nearly 8000 microscope slides. This unique resource provides coral
researchers the opportunity to routinely apply histopathology techniques to new coral
health investigations and to examine tissues and related data collected in earlier
investigations by other researchers. Further, IRCP in collaboration with the Coral Disease
and Health Consortium is using this resource to develop a collection of virtual histology
slides. This technology provides a high resolution digital image of an entire glass slide
that can be viewed, scanned, zoomed, and annotated on a computer individually or via
web conferencing groups. Virtual slide technology allows educators, experts, and
students to view microslides across the internet using web browsers enabling distance
learning, ‘grand rounds among pathologists’ and case reviews. IRCP collaborates with
coral researchers in disease investigations, participates in responses to coral mortality
events, conducts research on coral histology techniques, and provides training in
histological techniques to researchers and students. Information gained from utilization of
IRCP products is useful to managers, researchers, and students and provides insights into
the causes and mechanisms of coral disease and the measures needed to preserve and
protect coral reef ecosystems.
Poster Mini-Symposium 7: Diseases on Coral Reefs
7.181
Distribution And Morphology Of Growth Anomalies in Acropora From The Indo-Pacific
Thierry WORK* 1 , Greta AEBY 2 , Steve COLES 3
1 National Wildlife Health Center, US Geological Survey, Honolulu, HI, 2 Hawaii Institute of
Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kanehoe, HI, 3 Zoology, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI
We assessed the distribution and prevalence of growth anomalies (GAs) in Acropora from
French Frigate Shoals (Hawaii), Johnston Atoll, and Tutuila (American Samoa), developed a
nomenclature for gross morphology, characterized GAs at the cellular level, and obtained
preliminary indices of their spatial patterns and progression within coral colonies. Acropora
GAs were found in all three regions, but the distribution and prevalence of Acropora GAs was
highest in American Samoa. GAs were grouped into 7 gross morphologies (exophytic,
bosselated, crateriform, nodular, vermiform, fimbriate, or annular). On histology, GAs
consisted of proliferating basal body wall (calicodermis, mesoglea, and gastrodermis apposed to
skeleton) with three distinct patterns of necrosis. There was no evidence of anaplasia or mitotic
figures (common but not necessarily required morphologic indicators of neoplasia). Compared
to normal tissues, GAs had significantly fewer polyps, zooxanthellae within the gastrodermis of
the coenenchyme, mesenterial filaments, and gonads but significantly more necrosis. On two
colonies with GAs monitored at two points over 11 months, numbers of GAs per colony
increased from 90 to 300%, and significant clustering of GAs occurred within colonies. The
evidence of GAs being true neoplasias (tumors) is mixed, so a cautionary approach is urged in
use of morphologic terminology.
7.182
Description Of New Putative Coral Diseases Infecting Corals in The Tropical Eastern
Pacific.
Raul NAVAS-CAMACHO* 1 , Alberto RODRÍGUEZ-RAMÍREZ 1 , Diego GIL-AGUDELO 2
1 Biodiversity and Marine Ecosystems, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras
INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Colombia, 2 Conservation Biology and Strategies, Instituto de
Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Colombia
The first report of coral diseases in the tropical eastern Pacific (TEP) took place by the end of
1990´s in the Island of Malpelo, an oceanic island located almost 400 Km from the nearest
point in continental Pacific coast of Colombia. Almost ten years later, the number of diseases
affecting the TEP, their characteristics, occurrence and incidence, continue to be less studied
than those in Caribbean or Indo-Pacific reefs. Recently, our research group performed the first
survey of coral diseases in the area, determining the occurrence of at least two putative diseases
affecting Pocillopora capitata, and their extent of damage on the reefs of Malpelo Island. Both
diseases have a low spreading rate, no more than a couple mm per week, one of them
progressing towards the tip of the branch while the other progresses towards the center of the
colony. Although the incidence of these diseases in considered low, their presence in the area is
intriguing, due to the geographic isolation, the small human presence and the absence of
pollution sources. Beside coral diseases, recordings of coral tumors and a possible coralline
algae disease were also performed in the area. These coral and algae alterations in these reefs
are a major cause of preoccupation, since these coral formations are isolated, with little
connectivity with other reefs and a major disease outbreak can cause massive loss of coral
cover, with little possibility of recuperation.
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