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Coral Disease
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Over the last 20 years, unprecedented increases in disease on coral reefs have contributed significantly to coral reef degradation. Disease-related damage of coral reefs has been well documentedin the Caribbean, but recent observations of coral disease in other regions of the world are just beginning, and disease occurrence in these other regions may be a potential harbinger for increasing outbreaks and impacts associated with increased climate warming.
What has prompted this rapid emergence of coral disease?
The Disease Working Group (DWG)is targeting investigations to address this question, to understand this emergent problem and to develop tools and responses that can be used for management.
The Disease Working Group is basing its work program around the following major tasks and hypotheses:
Identify major coral diseases.....
What diseases are global in their distribution?
Infectious disease significantly reduces coral reef biodiversity.....
Can some diseases enhance biodiversity?
Coral disease (and pathogenic organisms) are higher during bleaching events and in more bleached locales.....
Are bleached corals more sensitive to super-infection with other pathogens?
Coral Disease prevalence and severity are higher in high nitrogen eutrophic situations.....
Does chronic stress (such as eutrophication) result in higher incidence of disease?
What is the host range of known coral pathogens?....
Remediation for coral disease. Can anti-microbial agents limit infections?
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