[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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