The significance of coral disease epizootiology for coral reef conservation

Green, Edmund P.; Bruckner, Andrew W.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(00)00073-2

Cited by 253 publications

(201 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Maximum rates of BBD progression (3.7G0.1 mm d K1 ) in our study are also comparable to rates on massive corals in the Caribbean (meanZ3 mm d K1 ; maximumZ2 cm d K1 ; ). This study confirms that coral diseases such as BBD, which have caused significant mortality in Caribbean coral assemblages (Green & Bruckner 2000), can also reach epizootic proportions on Indo-Pacific reefs.…”

Section: (C) Data Analysessupporting

confidence: 79%

Dynamics of seasonal outbreaks of black band disease in an assemblage of Montipora species at Pelorus Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)

2009

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Recurring summer outbreaks of black band disease (BBD) on an inshore reef in the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR) constitute the first recorded BBD epizootic in the region. In a 2.7 year study of 485 colonies of Montipora species, BBD affected up to 10 per cent of colonies in the assemblage. Mean maximum abundance of BBD reached 16G6 colonies per 100 m 2 (nZ3 quadrats, each 100 m 2 ) in summer, and decreased to 0-1 colony per 100 m 2 in winter. On average, BBD lesions caused 40 per cent tissue loss and 5 per cent of infections led to whole colony mortality. BBD reappearance on previously infected colonies and continuous tissue loss after the BBD signs had disappeared suggest that the disease impacts are of longer duration than indicated by the presence of characteristic signs. Rates of new infections and linear progression of lesions were both positively correlated with seasonal fluctuations in sea water temperatures and light, suggesting that seasonal increases in these environmental parameters promote virulence of the disease. Overall, the impacts of BBD are greater than previously reported on the GBR and likely to escalate with ocean warming.

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Section: (C) Data Analysessupporting

confidence: 79%

Dynamics of seasonal outbreaks of black band disease in an assemblage of Montipora species at Pelorus Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)

2009

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“…Coral diseases are recognised as a major form of disturbance for coral reefs (Sutherland et al 2004) and anthropogenic influences are considered to increase their prevalence (Green and Bruckner 2000;Bruno et al 2003). At present, approximately 20 diseases have been identified that affect more than 100 species of corals (Sutherland et al 2004).…”

Section: Coral Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioindicators of changes in water quality on coral reefs: review and recommendations for monitoring programmes

2009

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Effective environmental management requires monitoring programmes that provide specific links between changes in environmental conditions and ecosystem health. This article reviews the suitability of a range of bioindicators for use in monitoring programmes that link changes in water quality to changes in the condition of coral-reef ecosystems. From the literature, 21 candidate bioindicators were identified, whose responses to changes in water quality varied spatially and temporally; responses ranged from rapid (hours) changes within individual corals to long-term (years) changes in community composition. From this list, the most suitable bioindicators were identified by determining whether responses were (i) specific, (ii) monotonic, (iii) variable, (iv) practical and (v) ecologically relevant to management goals. For long-term monitoring programmes that aim to quantify the effects of chronic changes in water quality, 11 bioindicators were selected: symbiont photophysiology, colony brightness, tissue thickness and surface rugosity of massive corals, skeletal elemental and isotopic composition, abundance of macro-bioeroders, micro-and meiobenthic organisms such as foraminifera, coral recruitment, macroalgal cover, taxonomic richness of corals and the maximal depth of coralreef development. For short-term monitoring programmes, or environmental impact assessments that aim to quantify the effects of acute changes in water quality, a subset of seven of these bioindicators were selected, including partial mortality. Their choice will depend on the specific objectives and the timeframe available for each monitoring programme. An assessment framework is presented to assist in the selection of bioindicators to quantify the effects of changing water quality on coral-reef ecosystems.

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“…Coral diseases are among the most recent in a series of threats affecting coral reefs (e.g., eutrophication, coral bleaching, oil and heavy metals pollution, coastal development, increased sedimentation and over-exploitation of marine species) that is challenging the resilience of coral reef communities. Since the first report of coral disease by Antonius in 1973, the rate of discovery of new diseases has increased dramatically with ca.30 coral diseases now described (Green and Bruckner 2000;Weil 2003). Although coral disease is emerging as a serious cause of coral reef deterioration in many reefs around the world, at present we know very little about the ecology or pathology of coral diseases in Red Sea reefs in general (Antonius and Riegl 1997), and Eilat's reefs in particular (Ben-Haim et al 2003).…”

Section: Coral Diseases and Syndromesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Coral Reefs of Eilat — Past, Present and Future: Three Decades of Coral Community Structure Studies

Loya¹

2004

Coral Health and Disease

115

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The significance of coral disease epizootiology for coral reef conservation

Cited by 253 publications

References 49 publications

Dynamics of seasonal outbreaks of black band disease in an assemblage of Montipora species at Pelorus Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)

Dynamics of seasonal outbreaks of black band disease in an assemblage of Montipora species at Pelorus Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)

Bioindicators of changes in water quality on coral reefs: review and recommendations for monitoring programmes

The Coral Reefs of Eilat — Past, Present and Future: Three Decades of Coral Community Structure Studies

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