Porites Pink Blotch Disease

[James M. Cervino]

Regarding the Porites Pink Spot/Ring/Blotch Disease, I have seen this
syndrome at many sites in the Pacific....including my study sites in Papua
New Guinea.  I collected samples and brought them back to my lab on ice. I
observed what appears to be a mesh work of hyphae, as well as a high
concentration of coral mucus.  I have heard that someone has isolated a
fungus (European marine biologists)??

I see this particular syndrome closer to the continental slope, and it
seems to disappear in the outer reefs (far away from anthropogenic run-off
or deforestation).  If this pink blotch is isolated and proven  to be a
confirmed fungus and not a symbiotic consortium of bacteria, would it be
easy to link this un-known species to the land as a  soil based microbe
from soil run-off?

James M. Cervino