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Coral disease dynamics at a subtropical location, Solitary Islands Marine Park, eastern Australia

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Abstract

Recent observations suggest that a spreading disease is increasingly contributing to hard coral mortality in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, NSW, Australia. This study determined coral disease prevalence and rate-of-spread through individual affected colonies and investigated the effect this epizootic had on coral populations at sites adjacent to South West Solitary Island. Quantitative data were collected between 2002 and 2004 using photographic and video methods, and visual census along radial arc belt transects. Disease similar to the reported white syndrome and white plague was apparent, spreading through hard coral species from the genera Turbinaria, Acropora, Goniastrea, Pocillopora, Stylophora and Porites. Coral disease prevalence varied between survey dates with mean prevalence increasing from 8.55% during March 2003 to 13.58% in June and declining to 7.75% in September and 6.21% during March 2004. There was a significant difference in mean prevalence between the affected species (p<0.001) and an overall difference between survey dates (p=0.001). Additionally, the rate-of-spread of coral disease through coral colonies determined using repeated, seasonal, still photographs followed similar patterns, with disease progression differing between affected species (p=0.004), and between survey dates (p<0.001). Analysis of the video-transects indicated significant difference in disease prevalence over larger spatial scales (100s of m). However, disease frequency did not vary significantly between 2002 and 2003.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the University of New England, National Marine Science Centre and the NSW Marine Parks Authority, and this paper constitutes a portion of the senior author’s Honours thesis. We would like to thank all the people who contributed to the data collection, including; Matthew Harrison, Rhys Edwards, Andrew Carroll, Beth Hastie, Angela Kirkman, Cris Damiano, Andrew Dingle, Paul Butcher, Scott Godwin and Rod Forbes. We also thank Stuart Cairns and Mike Rule for statistical discussions and others who provided comments on this manuscript. Finally, thanks are extended to the anonymous reviewers who provided constructive comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management, The National Marine Science Centre, University of New England, Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, 2450, Australia

    Steven J. Dalton & Stephen D. A. Smith

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  1. Steven J. Dalton
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  2. Stephen D. A. Smith
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Correspondence to Steven J. Dalton.

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Communicated by Biological Editor M. I. Mc Cormick

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Dalton, S.J., Smith, S.D.A. Coral disease dynamics at a subtropical location, Solitary Islands Marine Park, eastern Australia. Coral Reefs 25, 37–45 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-005-0039-8

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