[Coral-List] sea cucumber disease

[John Cubit]

Megan --- We have seen epidemics of diseases with similar symptoms cause 
mass mortality of other echinoderms (sea urchins and starfish) elsewhere 
in the world.  When my colleagues and I tracked the great die-off of 
Diadema antillarum through the Caribbean and into the Western Atlantic, 
reports like yours were  helpful in documenting the pattern of spread, 
which better fit a model of spreading contagious disease rather than 
models based on chemical contaminants or other physical causes, per se. 

If no one is working on this already, recording the timing and spatial 
(including geographic) pattern of mortality for the sea cucumbers could 
be a valuable learning experience for your students as well as providing 
valuable data for persons investigating this disease or the population 
biology of the sea cucumbers.  --- John

megan berkle wrote:
>
>   Dear coral-listers:
>
>   The   sea  cucumbers off  the  island  of  Rota,  N.  Marianas  island
>   chain appear  to  have  a  disease.   It  appears that there is tissue
>   necrosis leaving white spots all over their bodies.  Does anyone study
>   sea cucumber disease?
>
>   Megan Berkle
>
>   Marine Science teacher, N. Marianas Islands
>
>
>
>
>     _________________________________________________________________
>
>   [1]Dont  miss  your  chance to WIN 10 hours of private jet travel from
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> References
>
>   1. http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2737??PS=47575
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-- 
John Cubit, Ph.D.
Regional Resource Coordinator, Southwest Region
NOAA Assessment and Restoration Division, Suite 4470  
501 W. Ocean Blvd.  
Long Beach, CA 90802  
 
John.Cubit at noaa.com  
tel 562 980-4081  
fax 562 980-4084  
 
Cell phone (for urgent matters and travel contact) 562 810-4949