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STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR MONTASTRAEA CAVERNOSA

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Date Issued:
2020
Abstract/Description:
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has been spreading throughout Caribbean coral reefs since 2014, heavily impacting scleractinian corals. To mitigate losses, this experiment assessed the effectiveness of two SCTLD intervention treatments in situ. SCTLD-affected Montastraea cavernosa colonies offshore of Broward County were divided into three treatment groups: 1) chlorinated epoxy, 2) Base 2B plus amoxicillin, and 3) untreated controls, plus a fourth group of healthy untreated controls. These colonies were monitored over 11 months to record SCTLD status, lesion activity, colony mortality, and changes in healthy tissue area with 3D modelling. The Base 2B plus amoxicillin treatment was more effective at halting SCTLD lesions, slowing the rate of tissue loss, and decreasing the overall proportion of tissue lost as compared to chlorinated epoxy or no treatment. However, neither treatment prevented new SCTLD lesions from developing. These findings can enhance the effectiveness of Caribbean management efforts to mitigate SCTLD impacts.
Title: STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR MONTASTRAEA CAVERNOSA.
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Name(s): Shilling, Erin N. , author
Voss, Joshua D., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Department of Biological Sciences
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2020
Date Issued: 2020
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 89 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has been spreading throughout Caribbean coral reefs since 2014, heavily impacting scleractinian corals. To mitigate losses, this experiment assessed the effectiveness of two SCTLD intervention treatments in situ. SCTLD-affected Montastraea cavernosa colonies offshore of Broward County were divided into three treatment groups: 1) chlorinated epoxy, 2) Base 2B plus amoxicillin, and 3) untreated controls, plus a fourth group of healthy untreated controls. These colonies were monitored over 11 months to record SCTLD status, lesion activity, colony mortality, and changes in healthy tissue area with 3D modelling. The Base 2B plus amoxicillin treatment was more effective at halting SCTLD lesions, slowing the rate of tissue loss, and decreasing the overall proportion of tissue lost as compared to chlorinated epoxy or no treatment. However, neither treatment prevented new SCTLD lesions from developing. These findings can enhance the effectiveness of Caribbean management efforts to mitigate SCTLD impacts.
Identifier: FA00013616 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Stony corals
Montastraea
Corals--Diseases
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013616
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.