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THE EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF CORAL DISEASES IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Citation:
SANTAVY, D. L., J. G. CAMPBELL, R. L. QUARLES, J. PATRICK, M. PARSONS, L. MACLAUGHLIN, J. HALAS, E. MUELLER, E. PETERS, AND J. HAWKRIDGE. THE EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF CORAL DISEASES IN SOUTH FLORIDA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-05/146, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
The condition of South Florida reefs was assessed to determine the prevalence of coral diseases.
Description:
The condition of South Florida reefs was assessed to determine the prevalence of coral diseases. Ten surveys were conducted from 1997 until 2004 in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne National Park, New Grounds, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Tortugas Ecological Reserve. Surveys were conducted using a radial arc transect in the 8-10m radius segment (113m2). The "white diseases" assessed included white band disease, white plague, and white pox. Annual disease prevalence ranged from 0 to 43%. No "hotspots" were found where a high level of disease was sustained for multiple survey periods. The highest disease prevalence was observed at Looe Key, in the back reef, during the summer 1998. Here, 42.9% of all the colonies were diseased, with white pox affecting 41.4% of the corals. In all cases, white pox was the most abundant disease observed in sites which had greater than 20% diseased colonies. The dominant diseases found among all the sites were white pox, white-band disease, and white plague. The highest disease prevalence was in 1998 and 1999, with lower disease prevalence observed in subsequent years. Overall, the greatest destruction of coral occurred during the summer of 1998, when a period of high disease prevalence, massive bleaching, and a powerful hurricane passed over this area causing great destruction of the reefs.