11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

7-9
Coral Disease At Palmyra Atoll in The Remote Central Pacific: Patterns Of
Distribution And Histological Characterization
Gareth WILLIAMS* 1 , Greta AEBY 2 , Thierry WORK 3 , Simon DAVY 1
1 Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 2 Hawaii Institute of
Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, 3 US Geological Survey, Kaneohe, HI
Coral diseases are an ever increasing threat to coral reefs. This is clearly a concern for
conservation and management of these systems and their reef associated organisms. This
baseline survey was aimed at quantifying, in detail, the relationship between coral disease
occurrence, environmental variables and coral community structure. Work was conducted
over six weeks at the Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific, during
June to July 2007. Fifty-eight belt transects were haphazardly placed at 11 key sites (5
backreef and 6 forereef) established for long term monitoring around the atoll.
Environmental variables measured were temperature, salinity, turbidity and chlorophyll a
concentration. Sedimentation levels were also measured for all back reef sites. Growth
anomalies were recorded on four coral genera (Astreopora, Montipora, Fungia and
Acropora). In addition, tissue loss was seen on colonies of encrusting Montipora sp.
These diseases were restricted to the backreef sites and occurred with an overall
prevalence of 0.39 %, with prevalence at individual sites ranging from 0.2 – 1.0 %. This
presentation will discuss how prevalence of coral disease relates to the environmental
variables and coral community structure using an array of multivariate statistical
techniques. Histological characterisation of the Astreopora growth anomalies will also be
presented because this type of characterization is crucial to advancing our understanding
of how diseases affect coral at a cellular level. Palmyra Atoll represents a location where
the prevalence of coral disease and the impacts of environmental variables on this
prevalence can be monitored in circumstances where more recent major anthropogenic
impact has been greatly reduced. Moreover, knowledge of coral disease at this important
wildlife refuge will aid its future monitoring and management.
7-10
Effects Of Quick And Slow Diseases At Acropora Cytherea in Kerama Islands.
Akiyuki IRIKAWA* 1
1 Department of Research, Association for Kerama coral Reef Conservation, Naha-
Okinawa prefecture, Japan
In order to estimate effects of bleaching, Acanthaster planci, and diseases in a population
of the reef-building coral Acropora cytherea, decadal monitoring researches have been
conducted. The most severe impacts in the A. cytherea population are progressive
diseases.
Skeletal anomalies (SAs) in A.cytherea develop mainly as white masses. On the surface
of SAs, orderly skeletal structure and alignment of polyps became lost, and swelling SAs
covered normal area like an avalanche. Negative aspects of SAs are lower potential in
productivity and lack of fecundity. Although linear annual growth were 1.2~1.4cm/yr,
multiple SAs became fused with neighboring ones. SA tended to start to die over 10cm
diameter. If A.cytherea colonies keep usual growth rate, the impact by Sas are acceptable.
White syndrome (W.S.D.) arised at 2003, and became widespread at 2004.
Approximately 70% colonies of A.cytherea have been killed by W.S.D for recent 3 years.
By contrast with SAs, W.S.D have severe impact in a population of A.cytherea. On the
lesioned part appearing white band, coral tissues are broken off. White band spread at the
rate of up to 20cm centimeters per a month.
If W.S.D. does not blow over, A population of A.cytherea in Kerama Islands will be
crushed within 10 years by interaction of bleaching, Acanthaster, and disease impacts.
Oral Mini-Symposium 7: Diseases on Coral Reefs
7-11
Prevalence And Potential Origin Of The White Pox Disease Pathogen in The Florida
Keys, Usa
Kathryn SUTHERLAND* 1 , James PORTER 2 , Jeffrey TURNER 2,3 , Brian THOMAS 1 , Erin
LOONEY 4 , Trevor LUNA 1 , Victoria WATSON 1 , Erin LIPP 4
1 Department of Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, 2 School of Ecology, University of
Georgia, Athens, GA, 3 Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia,
Athens, 4 Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Serratia marcescens is a causal agent of the coral disease, commonly known as white pox and
etiologically known as acroporid serratiosis, that affects the Caribbean elkhorn coral Acropora
palmata. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the prevalence and the source of the
bacterium in the marine environment. Nearshore marine and reef environments in the Florida
Keys and raw sewage were screened for the presence of the bacterium. S. marcescens were
cultured and identified from environmental samples using a three-step method: culture on
MacConkey Sorbitol agar followed by culture on DNase with Toluidine Blue agar followed by
Serratia-specific PCR. PCR products from a sub-sample of confirmed isolates were sequenced
to verify identity. Restriction endonuclease digestion (SpeI) followed by pulsed-field gel
electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to determine genetic similarity among and between strains
and potential source areas. A total of 383 S. marcescens were isolated from the surface
mucopolysaccharide layers of the scleractinian corals Siderastrea siderea and Solenastrea
bournoni, the corallivorous snail Coralliophilia abbreviata, seabird guano, beach water, canal
water, and sewage. The majority of S. marcescens (72%) were obtained from sewage and
contaminated nearshore sources. A total of 118 distinct PFGE patterns were identified,
indicating that S. marcescens is genetically diverse in environments of the Florida Keys.
Eleven groups (strains) contained two or more identical isolates, and one of these strains
included isolates collected from sewage, C. abbreviata, S. siderea, and S. bournoni. This strain,
isolated from both reef and sewage sources, establishes a definitive connection between human
sewage and the reef ecosystem.
7-12
Epizootiology Of montipora white Syndrome in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii
Greta AEBY* 1 , Megan ROSS 2 , Thierry WORK 3 , Teresa LEWIS 1
1 Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, 2 University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI,
3 USGS, Natl Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu, HI
Coral disease is emerging as a problem in the Indo-Pacific yet little is known about the ecology
of these diseases or factors that may be affecting disease levels. Montipora white syndrome
(MWS) is a coral disease resulting in tissue loss that was identified in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu,
Hawaii in 2004. Kaneohe Bay has a north-south gradient in anthropogenic stressors and so
provided a model system to examine the relationship between proximity to potential stressors
and disease prevalence. The objectives of this study were to document the distribution and
abundance of Montipora white syndrome on reefs throughout Kaneohe Bay, examine the
relationship between disease prevalence and environmental stressors and determine the ultimate
damage to coral colonies from this disease. Montipora white syndrome was found in all regions
of Kaneohe Bay but prevalence was highest in south Kaneohe Bay, the region most subject to
terrestrial run-off. MWS was present on corals throughout the year with no significant
difference in disease prevalence in Fall vs. Spring. Fifty-four out of 57 tagged coral colonies
infected with MWS experienced progressive tissue loss ranging from 1% of the colony to
complete mortality (avg. loss=36.7%) within one year. Average rate of tissue loss was 3.1%
per month with one third of the colonies losing 90% or more of their tissues resulting in partial
to complete colony collapse within one year. MWS was found to stop and re-start on individual
colonies suggesting there are intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors controlling its progression. We
also discovered differential susceptibility to MWS between two color morphs of Montipora
capitata.
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