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INCIDENCE OF CORAL DISEASE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND DRY TORTUGAS (ABSTRACT)
Citation:
Santavy, D L., E. Mueller, E. C. Peters, J. W. Porter, AND L. G. MacLaughlin. INCIDENCE OF CORAL DISEASE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND DRY TORTUGAS (ABSTRACT). Presented at 25th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop, Plymouth, MA, 10-14 April 2000.
Description:
Disease in corals is one factor that has been implicated in serious declines in the ecological condition of coral reefs. In particular, coral reefs in the Western Atlantic Province have undergone large-scale and consistent ecological changes during the last two decades. Few studies have attempted to document the prevalence of different coral diseases in a large geographic area. Most coral disease studies have focused on a single disease within several proximal reefs. In 1997 and 1998, we initiated a comprehensive effort to assess coral diseases in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Dry Tortugas National Park. Systematic efforts began in 1997 to develop protocols for the selection of permanent stations and data collection methodology. Permanent reef stations were established in 1998 by using a stratified random design and employing bethic maps to demarcate reef areas. Sampling was conducted inside a radial belt transect with a 10 m-radius (314 M2). At each station, colonies (>10 cm) of species known to be affected by described diseases were counted to determine disease frequency. Eleven disease conditions affecting eighteen species of scleractinian corals and sea fans were described by gross visual signs. Reefs in the Key West area had a higher incidence of disease than reefs in the New Grounds or Key West reefs in September 1997 (22.4% | 6.9), excluding bleached corals. Bleaching data were recorded by a separate observer for September 1998. Overall bleaching of colonies ranged from 26.0% | 4.4 at Key West reefs to 2.20% | 1.7 at New Grounds Reef.