11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

7.203
Spatial and temporal variability in Caribbean coral and octocoral diseases.
Ernesto WEIL 1 , Aldo CROQUER* 1
1 Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Lajas, Puerto Rico
Coral reef diseases have become a major threat to Caribbean coral reefs in recent years. A
nested ANOVA design was used to assess the status and spatial and temporal variability
in the number, distribution and prevalence of major coral reef diseases in the wider
Caribbean since 2005 as part of the GEF-World bank Coral Reef Targeted Research and
Capacity Building project. Using a modified CARICOMP protocol, five permanent band
transects (20m²) were surveyed yearly during the summer-fall in each of three depth
intervals (0-4, 5-10 and >15m) in each of three reefs in each of six geographic localities
(Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Panamá, Curacao and Grenada). Preliminary
results indicate high variability in the number and prevalence of the different diseases at
the genera and community levels at different spatial scales and over time. At the genera
level, significant differences in disease prevalence were found across reefs and among
countries, but not across habitats and regions. At the community level, significant
differences in disease prevalence was only found across reefs (high variability in other
spatial scales). Montastraea was affected by more diseases with WP-II and YBD
prevalence ranging between 4 and 35%. Agaricia, Colpophyllia and Diploria were
affected by WP-II (0.5-16%), black band (0.4-5%) and ciliates (0.2-12%), Siderastrea and
Stephanocoenia by dark spots in Curacao (19%) and Grenada (9%). Aspergillosis mainly
affected Gorgonia ventalina (0.2-8%) and other conditions affected other common and
widespread octocorals (1-14%). Strong dependency between the frequency of particular
diseases and regions (?2 = 426.25), countries (?2 = 1030.8), reef sites (?2 = 1704.2) and
habitats (?2 = 161.9) was found. Furthermore, a strong dependency between disease
prevalence and the genus they affect (?2 = 1168.6) was present. Overall, the prevalence
of diseases in coral reef communities seems to be persistent but highly variable spatially.
7.204
Host Range And Infection Intensity Of The Ectoparasite neobenedenia Melleni
(Maccallum 1927) On Caribbean Coral Reef Fishes
Paul SIKKEL* 1 , Donna NEMETH 2 , Amber MCCAMMON 2 , Ernest WILLIAMS 3 ,
Lillian TUTTLE 1
1 Biology, Centre College, Danville, KY, 2 Center for Marine and Environmental Studies,
University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (U.S.), 3 Marine Science,
University of Puerto Rico, Lajas, Puerto Rico
The nature of parasite-host interactions on coral reefs and how they are affected by
environmental change is poorly understood. Among the parasites whose abundance is
most likely affected by changing environmental conditions are monogenean flatworms.
One monogenean in particular, Neobenedenia melleni (MacCallum 1927) is an abundant
and highly damaging parasite in captive reef fishes. Unlike most monogeneans, which
infect a narrow range of hosts, this parasite occurs almost worldwide on a long and
complex list of fish species, families, and orders. However, it has rarely been found on
wild hosts. Thus, data on patterns of infestation among free-living fishes are sorely
needed. As a step toward a better understanding of the dynamics of Caribbean
ectoparasites and their fish hosts in general, and Caribbean N. melleni in particular, we
are conducting a comprehensive assessment of N. melleni loads among reef fishes in the
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Thus far, we have used non-lethal techniques to sample
over 300 individuals, representing 35 species from 18 families. Among these, infections
were limited to diurnally active fishes from 5 families, with infections being rare in all
but two. All three Caribbean species of surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) were infected, with
blue tang (A. coeruleus) having the highest levels of infection of any species we have
sampled. All three species of boxfishes (Ostraciidae) we sampled were also infected, but
at significantly lower levels than blue tang. Our findings thus far suggest that N. melleni
in the Caribbean infects diurnally active fish at night while they are resting, and infects a
narrower range of hosts in the field than in captivity.
Poster Mini-Symposium 7: Diseases on Coral Reefs
7.205
Differences in The Susceptibility To Black Band Disease (Bbd) Between Two Species Of
diploria On The Reefs Of Bermuda
Kristin KUEHL* 1 , Ross JONES 2 , Laurie RICHARDSON 1
1 Florida International University, Miami, FL, 2 Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St. George,
Bermuda
Throughout the wider Caribbean, Diploria spp. are susceptible to black band disease (BBD). On
the reefs of Bermuda, however, D. labyrinthiformis demonstrates an apparent resistance to
BBD. For example, in surveys along five × 30 m transects at 26 long-term monitoring sites
across the Bermuda platform conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006, BBD prevalence averaged
0.62% (n=45,000) in D. strigosa, and only 0.01% (n=21,000) in D. labyrinthiformis. Why D.
labyrinthiformis is seldom observed to be infected with BBD in Bermuda is unknown. We are
currently examining whether there are differences between the two species in (1) the BBD
pathogen(s), (2) the microbes normally present in the surface mucopolysaccharide layer (SML),
(3) the antibiotic properties of the SML, and (4) the physical characteristics that might prevent
pathogen entry into host tissue. Ongoing work includes inoculating healthy D. labyrinthiformis
colonies with BBD collected from an infected D. strigosa, characterization of the microbial
communities normally present in the SML of healthy colonies, and the apparently healthy
region of diseased colonies, using LH-PCR molecular profiling, and inoculating water column
bacteria onto marine agar plates treated with SML of both Diploria species. Differences in the
ability of the species to prevent pathogen(s) from colonizing healthy tissue was tested by
examining the rate at which they could clear themselves of foreign objects. In these
experiments, 2 g of finely graded (< 250 μm) oven dried marine sediment was directly applied
to the surface of the colonies. After one hour, D. labyrinthiformis was able to clear 72% of the
sediment, which was significantly more than the 39% cleared by D. strigosa. These early results
suggest that differences in SML properties between the two Diploria species may make D.
labyrinthiformis more efficient at physically expelling the BBD pathogen(s).
7.206
Reduced Fecundity in Yellow Band Diseased Colonies Of The Caribbean Reef-Building
Species Montastraea Faveolata.
Ernesto WEIL* 1 , Aldo CROQUER 1 , Isabel URREIZTIETA 1
1 Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Lajas, Puerto Rico
Significant losses of live coral tissue and colonies caused by diseases compromise the
survivorship and recovery of coral populations. Sexual reproduction is critical to the long-term
maintenance of coral populations, however, little is known about the effect diseases have at this
level. The ongoing Yellow Band Disease epizootic in the Caribbean is devastating three of the
four Montastraea species, the main reef-building genus in the region. The impact of YBD on the
fecundity (eggs/polyp) of M. faveolata was investigated by coring diseased, transition and
healthy tissue areas of five YBD colonies and five healthy-looking colonies. Cores were also
taken from healthy-looking surviving patches of different sizes within disease-free colonies to
test effect of reduction in effective reproductive area on fecundity. Samples were processed and
analyzed using well tested coral histological methods. Significant decreases in fecundity (99%
fewer eggs) (F = 22.6, p