Assessing threats from coral and crustose coralline algae disease on the reefs of New Caledonia

Marine and Freshwater Research
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

The present study reports the results of the first quantitative survey of lesions on coral and crustose coralline algae (CCA) on reefs in the lagoon of New Caledonia. Surveys on inshore and offshore reefs were conducted at 13 sites in 2010, with 12 sites resurveyed in 2013. Thirty coral diseases affecting 15 coral genera were found, with low overall disease prevalence (<1%). This study extends the known distribution of growth anomalies to the coral genera Platygyraand Hydnophora, endolithic hypermycosis to PlatygyraLeptoria and Goniastrea and extends the geographic range of three CCA diseases. We found the first trematode infection in Porites outside of Hawaii. Disease prevalence differed among coral genera, with Porites having more lesions, and Acropora and Montipora fewer lesions, than expected on the basis of field abundance. Inshore reefs had a lower coral-colony density, species diversity and reduced CCA cover than did the offshore reefs. Disease prevalence was significantly higher on inshore reefs in 2013 than in 2010, but did not change on offshore reefs. The potential ecological impact of individual coral diseases was assessed using an integrative-scoring and relative-ranking scheme based on average frequency of occurrence, prevalence and estimated degree of virulence. The top-five ranked diseases were all tissue-loss diseases.

 

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Assessing threats from coral and crustose coralline algae disease on the reefs of New Caledonia
Series title Marine and Freshwater Research
DOI 10.1071/MF14151
Volume 34
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher CSIRO Publishing
Contributing office(s) National Wildlife Health Center
Description 14 p.
First page 393
Last page 406
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details