Lesions in octocorals of the Costa Rican Caribbean During The 2015–2016 El Niño

Calderón-Hernández, Alejandra; Urbina-Villalobos, Andrea; Mora-Barboza, Cristian; Morales, Juan Alberto; Fernández‐García, Cindy; Cortés, Jorge

doi:10.1007/s00338-021-02122-w

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Instead, losses resulted after lesions from an unknown source. Sclerite proliferation can occur around predation lesions (Calderón-Hernández et al 2021), but no evidence of proliferation was found in this study. In addition, no pathogens were noted on histological sections, suggesting that the disease was either caused by a noninfectious agent or the infectious agent is not observable on light microscopy and a higher resolution technique, such as electron microscopy, could possibly identify the cause.…”

Section: Australis Declines and Recoverycontrasting

confidence: 74%

“…Gorgonian octocorals also have clearly defined granular amoebocyte immune cells that show up well under haematoxylin and eosin staining (Mydlarz et al 2008). The majority of research into octocoral diseases has focused on gorgonian sea fans and little is known about histopathology of alcyonacean octocorals (Mydlarz et al 2008;Tracy et al 2018Tracy et al , 2021Dennis et al 2020;Calderón-Hernández et al 2021; but see Slattery et al 2013). Octocoral colonies are made up of polyps connected by coenenchyme, which capture and digest food, and the gastrovascular canals and siphonophores, which move water through the colony and maintain the colony shape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The gastrodermal layer lines the interior structures, and the epidermis lines the outside of the colony; between the two cell layers is the mesoglea, a layer of connective tissue and sclerites. Disruption of these structures can be indicative of predation or disease, such as visible aggregations of pathogens or necrotic tissues (Mydlarz et al 2008;Work et al 2012;Work and Aeby 2014;Raymundo et al 2016;Tracy et al 2018Tracy et al , 2021Dennis et al 2020;Calderón-Hernández et al 2021). Documenting changes in tissue health and the proportions of tissue types can characterise the damage to the colony caused by disease.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of necrotising disease on the Endangered cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya australis)

Steinberg,

Turnbull,

Ainsworth

et al. 2024

Mar. Freshw. Res.

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Context Diseases have affected coral populations worldwide, leading to population declines and requiring active restoration efforts. Aims Describe population and individual impacts of necrotising disease in the Endangered octocoral Dendronephthya australis. Methods We quantified population loss and recruitment by using reference photos, survey and GPS mapping and described disease lesions by using histopathology. Key results From December 2019 to January 2020, we observed polyp loss, necrotic lesions and loss of large colonies of D. australis at Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia. By September 2020, only a few scattered recruits remained, and all large colonies were lost. Histopathology of colonies sampled in January 2020 confirmed that the disease had resulted in necrosis, gastrovascular canal collapse and internal colony integrity loss, leading to mortality. New recruits were recorded within 10 months of disease onset, and large colonies within 18 months. Conclusions Although the necrotising disease had significant impacts on both the individual and population level, natural recruitment began quickly. As such, unlike in other populations, restoration is not currently required in the Bare Island D. australis population. Implications The extent of disease impact at the individual and population levels suggests that monitoring for lesions should be undertaken before developing conservation and restoration strategies for this species.

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Section: Australis Declines and Recoverycontrasting

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of necrotising disease on the Endangered cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya australis)

Steinberg,

Turnbull,

Ainsworth

et al. 2024

Mar. Freshw. Res.

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“…Among the denizens of the oceanic realm, octocorals (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) are becoming increasingly susceptible to an onslaught of novel and potent infectious agents. This heightened vulnerability has manifested in a concerning surge of epidemic outbreaks, accompanied by substantial mass mortalities, with profound repercussions for the diversity and extent of octocoral populations [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing Geographic and Molecular Footprints of Copepod Crustaceans Causing Multifocal Purple Spots Syndrome in the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina

Korzhavina,

Nikitin,

Hoeksema

et al. 2024

Diversity

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The recent rise in ocean temperatures, accompanied by other environmental changes, has notably increased the occurrence and spread of diseases in Octocorallia, many species of which are integral to shallow tropical and subtropical coral reef ecosystems. This study focuses on the understanding of these diseases, which has been largely limited to symptomatic descriptions, with clear etiological factors identified in only a fraction of cases. A key example is the multifocal purple spots syndrome (MFPS) affecting the common Caribbean octocoral sea fan Gorgonia ventalina, linked to the gall-forming copepods of the genus Sphaerippe, a member of the widespread family, Lamippidae. The specialized nature of these copepods as endoparasites in octocorals suggests the potential for the discovery of similar diseases across this host spectrum. Our investigation employed four molecular markers to study disease hotspots in Saint Eustatius, Curaçao, northwest and southwest Cuba, and Bonaire. This led to the discovery of a group of copepod species in these varied Caribbean locations. Importantly, these species are morphologically indistinguishable through traditional methods, challenging established taxonomic approaches. The observed diversity of symbionts, despite the host species’ genetic uniformity, is likely due to variations in larval dispersal mechanisms. Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the Lamippidae copepods belong to the order, Poecilostomatoida (Copepoda), and revealed their sister group relationship with the Anchimolgidae, Rhynchomolgidae, and Xarifiidae clades, known for their symbiotic relationships with scleractinian corals. These results add to our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological interactions of copepods and their hosts, and the diseases that they cause, and are important data in a changing climate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing Geographic and Molecular Footprints of Copepod Crustaceans Causing Multifocal Purple Spots Syndrome in the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina

Korzhavina,

Nikitin,

Hoeksema

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The recent rise in ocean temperatures, accompanied by other environmental changes, has notably increased the occurrence and spread of diseases in Octocorallia, of which many species are integral to shallow tropical and subtropical coral reef ecosystems. This study focuses on the understanding of these diseases, which has been largely limited to symptomatic descriptions, with clear etiological factors identified in only a fraction of cases. A key example is the multifocal purple spots syndrome (MPSS) affecting the common Caribbean octocoral sea fan Gorgonia ventalina, linked to the gall-forming copepods of the genus Sphaerippe, a member of the widespread family Lamippidae. The specialized nature of these copepods as endoparasites in octocorals suggests the potential for the discovery of similar diseases across this host spectrum. Our investigation employed four molecular markers to study disease hotspots in Saint Eustatius, Curaçao, northwest and southwest Cuba, and Bonaire. This led to the discovery of a group of copepod species in these varied Caribbean locations. Importantly, these species are morphologically indistinguishable through traditional methods, challenging established taxonomic approaches. The observed diversity of symbionts, despite the host species' genetic uniformity, is likely due to variations in larval dispersal mechanisms. Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the Lamippidae copepods belong to the order Poecilostomatoida (Copepoda) and revealed their sister group relationship with the Anchimolgidae, Rhynchomolgidae, and Xarifiidae clades, known for their symbiotic relationships with scleractinian corals. These results add to our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological interactions of copepods and their hosts, and the diseases they cause, important data in a changing climate.

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Lesions in octocorals of the Costa Rican Caribbean During The 2015–2016 El Niño

Cited by 5 publications

References 45 publications

Impacts of necrotising disease on the Endangered cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya australis)

Impacts of necrotising disease on the Endangered cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya australis)

Tracing Geographic and Molecular Footprints of Copepod Crustaceans Causing Multifocal Purple Spots Syndrome in the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina

Tracing Geographic and Molecular Footprints of Copepod Crustaceans Causing Multifocal Purple Spots Syndrome in the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina

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