Stony coral tissue loss disease: a review of emergence, impacts, etiology, diagnostics, and intervention

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Jan. 25, 2024

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is destructive and poses a significant threat to Caribbean reef ecosystems. Characterized by the acute of tissue, SCTLD has impacted over 22 stony species across region, leading visible declines in health. Based on duration, lethality, host range, spread this disease, considered most devastating outbreak ever recorded. Researchers are actively investigating cause transmission SCTLD, but exact mechanisms, triggers, etiological agent(s) remain elusive. If left unchecked, could have profound implications for health resilience reefs worldwide. To summarize what known about identify potential knowledge gaps, review provides holistic overview research, including susceptibility, transmission, ecological impacts, etiology, diagnostic tools, defense treatments. Additionally, future research avenues highlighted, which also relevant other diseases. As continues spread, collaborative efforts necessary develop effective strategies mitigating its impacts critical These need include researchers from diverse backgrounds underrepresented groups provide additional perspectives that requires creative urgent solutions.

Language: Английский

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Biofilm-forming bacteria associated with corals secrete melanin with UV-absorption properties

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 40(10)

Published: Aug. 30, 2024

Language: Английский

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Biofilms associated with ship submerged surfaces: implications for ship biofouling management and the environment

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: June 7, 2023

Biofouling (including initial microbial biofilms) of submerged ship surfaces can directly impact vessel operations, leading to increases in fuel usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and the likelihood non-indigenous species (NIS) transfer impacts. Considerations attainable consistent biosecurity goals are paramount success widespread adoption biofouling management policy. Proactive in-water cleaning (IWC) biofilms from may provide a viable option operations standpoint, however these benefits need be balanced against other environmental costs, including potential for increased risks associated with elevated release diverse microbes surfaces.

Language: Английский

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Stony coral tissue loss disease accelerated shifts in coral composition and declines in reef accretion potential in the Florida Keys

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Oct. 25, 2023

Outbreaks of coral disease have been a dominant force shaping western Atlantic coral-reef assemblages since the late 1970s. Stony tissue loss (SCTLD) is nonetheless having an unprecedented impact in region. Whereas numerous studies over last decade worked to characterize this novel pathogen and its impacts on populations, few quantified functional effects reef ecosystems. Of particular importance how SCTLD may be impacting essential reef-accretion process myriad ecosystem services it supports. Here, we evaluated potential by estimating carbonate budgets taxon-level production at 43 sites throughout Florida Keys from 2016−2022. Average regional declined already low, but positive rate 0.30 ± 0.16 mm y -1 (mean standard error) 2016 before was first observed, state accretionary stasis (0.08 0.12 ) 2022. This 70% relative decline driven reef-building corals, with significant decreases massive taxa including Colpophyllia natans , Montastraea cavernosa Pseudodiploria strigosa Orbicella spp., Siderastrea siderea increasing contributions less susceptible, weedy Millepora Agaricia Porites astreoides . In general, changes following outbreak mirror long-term shifts response previous stressors. One striking exception, however, S. which had become increasingly recent decades, significantly SCTLD. Overall, further decimating depauperate populations Keys, has caused functionally shift composition Florida’s accelerated capacity. The dire south serve as early warning that persistence invaluable ecological socioeconomic functions reefs provide will threatened aftermath

Language: Английский

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Biofilm characterization: Imaging, analysis and considerations

Methods in microbiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 39 - 79

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Investigating microbial size classes associated with the transmission of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD)

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11, P. e15836 - e15836

Published: Aug. 23, 2023

Effective treatment and prevention of any disease necessitates knowledge the causative agent, yet agents most coral diseases remain unknown, in part due to difficulty distinguishing pathogenic microbe(s) among complex microbial backdrop hosts. Stony tissue loss (SCTLD) is a particularly destructive unknown etiology, capable transmitting through water column killing entire colonies within matter weeks. Here we used previously described method (i) isolate diseased apparently healthy individual mesocosms containing filtered seawater with low background levels; (ii) incubate for several days enrich coral-shed microbes; (iii) use tangential-flow filtration concentrate community mesocosm water; then (iv) filter resulting sequential series different pore-sized filters. To investigate size class microorganism(s) associated SCTLD transmission, 0.8 µm pore filters capture microeukaryotes expelled zooxanthellae, 0.22 bacteria large viruses, 0.025 smaller viruses. In an attempt further refine which fraction(s) contained transmissible element SCTLD, applied these "receiver" fragments monitored them onset signs over three separate experimental runs. However, factors outside our control confounded transmission results, rendering inconclusive. As bulk prior studies tissues have primarily investigated bacterial community, chose characterize prokaryotic all using Illumina sequencing V4 region 16S rRNA gene. We identified overlaps studies, including presence numerous bioindicators mesocosms. The identification specific amplicon sequence variants that also appear across spanning collection years, geographic regions, source material, species, suggests may play some role disease.

Language: Английский

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Evaluating the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease in the Bay Islands, Honduras

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: July 21, 2023

Scleractinian corals, considered key reef ecosystem engineers, have suffered irreparable damage over the last decades, with causes widely attributed directly and indirectly to increased human pressure on coral communities. Stony tissue loss disease (SCTLD), first detected in Florida 2014, by early 2023 had spread 26 jurisdictions wider Caribbean, causing severe effects reefs. In January 2020, monitoring efforts detect SCTLD began island of Roatan Honduras. The was reported Flowers Bay, Roatan, September 2020. Since then, dedicated collaborative been made assess severity disease, mitigate its effects, raise conservation awareness. To track progression outbreak, presence-absence data were collected using rover diver methodology. With at least 28 species affected, has across Bay Islands a period 13 months. Utila most impacted islands, encircling them rapidly rate approximately 155 m/day. overall rapid, but geographical patterns where it showed faster windward side than leeward side. Further research is required explore whether these disparities are related marine traffic, water quality, currents, or combination multiple factors. Our findings shed new knowledge Honduras, which can provide insights for other Caribbean nations whose economies also dependent health their

Language: Английский

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Examining coral reef ecosystem dynamics using microorganisms and metabolites

Published: June 1, 2023

Microorganisms and metabolites are foundational to the success productivity of biodiverse economically important coral reef ecosystems also tightly connected. Metabolites small organic compounds produced by organisms chemical currencies exchanged unicellular microorganisms (bacteria archaea) within seawater. Although central biogeochemical cycling, we still lack fundamental information on dynamics these components reefs. In this dissertation, I analyzed in Caribbean habitats over temporal, spatial health gradients as well a study. Chapter 2, applied rapid sequencing methodology corals afflicted with lethal stony tissue loss disease identified specific which were biological indicators disease. 3, investigated short temporal tidal diurnal cycles, spatially across US Virgin Island (USVI) coastal habitats. habitats, found cycles driving changes microbial communities mangroves, but patterns more 4, examined reefs longer scale contributing building 7-year time-series USVI ecology that water predictive hurricane impacts. Finally, 5, combined analyses untargeted targeted metabolomics, taxa, functional genes from metagenomics 300 km Florida, addition healthy diseased corals. With unprecedented combination ‘omics datasets, biogeographic zones, environmental features, underlying habitat characteristics related metabolite features ecosystem. Further, characteristic zones. Collectively, my work advances our understanding into natural face stress disturbance.

Language: Английский

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Analysing vessel traffic and ballasting trends in the port of Pago Pago, American Samoa from 2004 to 2021

The Journal of Pacific Studies, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 43(1), P. 6 - 24

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Commercial shipping has been associated with many introductions of marine invasive species globally. Unintentional transport stowaways in ship ballast water and biofouling account for the most unintentional Understanding vessel traffic ballasting behaviours can aid managers identifying research biosecurity gaps. We provide a quantitative baseline assessment commercial activities American Samoa between 2004 2021. Vessel data were downloaded from National Ballast Information Clearinghouse examined R. Since reporting began, arrivals territory gradually increased each year, reaching peak 229 vessels 2017. Over third all are container ships. Although arrive ports over world, come remain South Pacific. Containers tankers responsible discharges territory. The use alternative management systems began 2015 dramatically following years. Though Samoa's patterns similar United States as whole, we highlight key differences this small, yet important, Pacific port. This article importance assessments at individual to better inform decisions an emphasis on regional measures communication among Islands.

Language: Английский

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