[CDHC] new papers from CDHC member Ernesto Weil
Cheryl Woodley
cheryl.woodley at noaa.gov
Sun Mar 15 15:44:19 EDT 2009
Hi CDHC Members
I wanted to bring two new papers to your attention. Please contact the
authors if you'd like further information.
Cheryl
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Vol. 83: 195–208, 2009
Spatial variability in distribution and prevalence of Caribbean
scleractinian coral and octocoral diseases. I. Community-level analysis
Ernesto Weil*, Aldo Cróquer
Abstract:
Geographic assessments of coral diseases are needed to understand their
local and geographic
spatial-temporal variability. Coral and octocoral diseases and their
prevalence were assessed
along 4 permanent 10 × 2 m band-transects in each of 3 depth habitats
(<4, 5–12 and >15 m) in each
of 2 reefs in each of 6 countries across the wider Caribbean during the
summer and fall of 2005. A permutational multivariate analysis of
variance was used to test variability of major diseases and community
level disease prevalence in corals and octocorals among habitats, reefs
and countries. The
most common and damaging diseases reported for the region were found in
most reefs surveyed, but
prevalence at the community level was generally low (ca. 2%) increasing
from northern to southern
latitudes. A significant interaction between sites (nested within
country) and depth habitats was
found (F = 2.1, df = 12, p = 0.02), with higher prevalence of coral
diseases in deep habitats of
Culebrita, Puerto Rico (14.8 ± SE 6.5%) and in shallow habitats of
Roldán, Panamá (10.2 ± SE 3.5%).
The relative importance of each particular disease was dependent on site
and habitat (depth intervals)
(F = 1.7, df = 12, p = 0.001), with black band disease more prevalent in
shallow habitats of Rita’s,
Bermuda (1.7 ± SE 0.4%) and yellow band disease (YBD) more prevalent in
deeper habitats of Chub
Cut, Bermuda (3.7 ± SE 0.5%). There was a significant interaction of
total octocoral diseases with
country and habitat (F = 2.8, df = 10, p = 0.04) with higher prevalence
in deeper habitats of Curaçao
(25.9 ± SE 4.2%). Our results indicate that patterns of prevalence of
coral and octocoral diseases were
not consistent across the different spatial scales, showing differences
produced by particular diseases
and community composition present. There were no widespread epizootics,
but local white plague-II
and YBD epizootics were observed in Puerto Rico and other localities.
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Vol. 83: 209–222, 2009
Spatial variability in distribution and prevalence of Caribbean
scleractinian coral and octocoral
diseases. II. Genera-level analysis
Aldo Cróquer*, Ernesto Weil
ABSTRACT: Geographic assessments of coral/octocoral diseases affecting
major reef-building genera
and abundant reef species are important to understand their local and
geographic spatial-temporal
variability and their impact. The status and spatial variability of
major Caribbean coral/octocoral
diseases affecting important reef-building coral (Montastraea, Diploria,
Siderastrea, Stephanocoenia,
Porites, and Agaricia) and common, widespread octocoral genera (Gorgonia
and Pseudopterogorgia)
was assessed along 4 permanent 10 × 2 m band-transects in each of 3
depth habitats (<4, 5–12 and
>15 m) on 2 reefs in 6 countries across the wider Caribbean during the
summer and fall of 2005. A
permutational multivariate analysis of variance was used to test the
spatial variability (countries, reef
sites and depth habitats) in prevalence of major diseases in these
genera. We found a significant
interaction of disease prevalence in the different coral and octocoral
genera between reef sites and
habitats (depth intervals). Montastraea was primarily affected by both
white plague (WP-II) and yellow
band disease in deep (16.9 ± SE 16% and 16.9 ± SE 2.3%) and intermediate
(8.1 ± SE 1.6% and
15.5 ± SE 2.3%) depth habitats of Culebrita (Puerto Rico) and Chub Cut
(Bermuda), respectively.
Prevalence of multiple diseases simultaneously and other
compromised-health problems affecting
Montastraea colonies varied between 0.2 to 2% and 0.2 to 1.8%,
respectively. Agaricia and Diploria
were mostly affected by WP-II (0.5 to 16%), black band disease (0.4 to
5%) and Caribbean ciliate
infections (0.2 to 12%). Siderastrea and Stephanocoenia were mainly
affected by dark spots disease
in Curaçao, with higher prevalence in intermediate (40.5 ± SE 6.2%) and
deep (26.6 ± SE 4.2%)
habitats. Aspergillosis and other compromised-health conditions affected
Gorgonia ventalina (0.2 to
8%) and other common and widespread octocoral genera (1 to 14%),
respectively.
--
Cheryl Woodley, Ph.D.
Coral Health and Disease Program
DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS
Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research
Hollings Marine Laboratory
331 Fort Johnson Rd
Charleston, SC 29412
843.762.8862 Phone
843.762.8737 Fax
cheryl.woodley at noaa.gov
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