[Coral-List] Yellow blotch syndrome outbreak

[EWeil]

Dear Colleagues and friends, 

We are experiencing an outbreak of yellow blotch syndrome (YBS) in shallow (4-12 m) reef habitats in many coastal fringing reefs in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. It started within the last month (after the spawning event in Septyember 5-6) and it is moving fast. It is affecting a high proportion of the large (very old) colonies of Montastraea faveolata, the main reef-building species in these reefs, and is producing extensive tissue loss at a much higher rate than previously reported for this syndrome. I am monitoring several colonies in several reefs and assessing the prevalence and impact of the epizootic event. 

I would like to know if somebody has observed something similar in other Caribbean reefs. 

Thanks!

EWeil

Ernesto Weil, Ph.D
Department of Marine Sciences
University of Puerto Rico
PO Box 908
Lajas PR 00667
Pho: (787) 899-2048 x. 241/272
Fax: (787) 899-5500