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Title: ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AMONG BACTERIA NEAR SEWAGE OUTFALLS IN BERMUDA.
Creator: Alker, Amanda, Moore, Jon A., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description: Antibiotic resistance among bacteria is a portentous global concern, which threatens the ability of medical professionals to successfully treat bacterial infections. In Bermuda, there is no wastewater treatment plant; therefore, about 4.3x106 L per day of untreated sewage is released into the ocean through two marine outfalls. Water samples were collected from 12 sample sites (outfalls, offshore sites, and onshore beach sites near the outfalls) over 4 sampling events between August and...
Show moreAntibiotic resistance among bacteria is a portentous global concern, which threatens the ability of medical professionals to successfully treat bacterial infections. In Bermuda, there is no wastewater treatment plant; therefore, about 4.3x106 L per day of untreated sewage is released into the ocean through two marine outfalls. Water samples were collected from 12 sample sites (outfalls, offshore sites, and onshore beach sites near the outfalls) over 4 sampling events between August and October, 2013. Water samples were analyzed for the presence of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility of each purified isolate was tested and classified using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute standards. PCR analysis confirmed the presence of at least one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolate. Documentation of antibiotic resistant bacteria in Bermudian waters supports the need for improved sewage treatment to ensure safe recreational use of these areas.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013646
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: CHARACTERIZING THE IMPACTS OF STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE ON CORAL IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA USING 3D PHOTOGRAMMETRY.
Creator: Combs, Ian R., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Since 2014 stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has contributed substantially to declines of reef-building corals in Florida. Monthly surveys were conducted throughout the northern Florida reef tract to monitor the spread and impacts of SCTLD on a larger spatial scale. SCTLD disease prevalence was lower in Palm Beach County than in Broward or Martin County, but there were no significant changes in prevalence over time. To assess colony level impacts of the disease, this study optimized a...
Show moreSince 2014 stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has contributed substantially to declines of reef-building corals in Florida. Monthly surveys were conducted throughout the northern Florida reef tract to monitor the spread and impacts of SCTLD on a larger spatial scale. SCTLD disease prevalence was lower in Palm Beach County than in Broward or Martin County, but there were no significant changes in prevalence over time. To assess colony level impacts of the disease, this study optimized a 3D photogrammetry technique for fate-tracking infected Montastraea cavernosa coral colonies with a low-cost, rapid protocol that measured tissue area over three time points. Total colony area and healthy tissue area decreased significantly over time, while disease area did not significantly vary. Traditional coral surveys combined with the 3D photogrammetry method provide greater insights into the spatial/temporal dynamics and impacts of this disease on individual corals and reef populations than surveys alone.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013368
Subject Headings: Photogrammetry, Corals--Diseases, Scleractinia, Montastraea, Corals--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR MONTASTRAEA CAVERNOSA.
Creator: Shilling, Erin N., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
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....
Show moreStony 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.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013616
Subject Headings: Stony corals, Montastraea, Corals--Diseases
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: POPULATION GENETICS AND ALGAL SYMBIONT COMMUNITIES OF THE CORAL SPECIES MONTASTRAEA CAVERNOSA ON THE BELIZE BARRIER REEF.
Creator: Eckert, Ryan J., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Coral reefs worldwide are experiencing unprecedented and rapid declines. However, deeper, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–150 m) may act as refuges for coral species, providing larvae to recolonize degraded shallow reefs. This study assessed the genetic connectivity of shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa populations on the Belize Barrier Reef and the community structure of their endosymbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae) across a fine-scale depth gradient (10, 16, 25, 35 m)....
Show moreCoral reefs worldwide are experiencing unprecedented and rapid declines. However, deeper, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–150 m) may act as refuges for coral species, providing larvae to recolonize degraded shallow reefs. This study assessed the genetic connectivity of shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa populations on the Belize Barrier Reef and the community structure of their endosymbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae) across a fine-scale depth gradient (10, 16, 25, 35 m). Evaluation of nine polymorphic microsatellite markers demonstrated that relatively shallow (10 and 16 m) M. cavernosa populations were genetically distinct from relatively deep (25 and 35 m) populations. High throughput sequencing of ribosomal coding DNA from Symbiodiniaceae communities of M. cavernosa revealed differences in community structure across depth, with shallow-specialist and depth-generalist community profiles. This research provides important information for the management of distinct deep and adds to the body of research on the understudied MCEs of the Mesoamerican Reef.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013302
Subject Headings: Montastraea, Coral reefs and islands--Belize, Mesoamerican Reef, Population genetics, Symbiosis
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND RESISTANCE: GENOMIC FACTORS AMONG ORBICELLA FAVEOLATA CORALS IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
Creator: Klein, Allison M., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has spread throughout the entirety of Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) and across the Caribbean, impacting over 50 coral species. The threatened hermatypic coral, Orbicella faveolata, demonstrates intraspecific variation in SCTLD resistance and has been categorized into three resistance levels: “High”, “Medium”, and “Low”. This study evaluated potential genomic underpinnings of variable disease susceptibility by monitoring and sampling 90 O. faveolata...
Show moreStony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has spread throughout the entirety of Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) and across the Caribbean, impacting over 50 coral species. The threatened hermatypic coral, Orbicella faveolata, demonstrates intraspecific variation in SCTLD resistance and has been categorized into three resistance levels: “High”, “Medium”, and “Low”. This study evaluated potential genomic underpinnings of variable disease susceptibility by monitoring and sampling 90 O. faveolata colonies from Southeast Florida and the Lower Keys. High resolution analyses of >11,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms identified no significant genetic lineages among O. faveolata colonies associated with SCTLD resistance or susceptibility. Algal symbiont community analysis revealed that Durusdinium was present in greater abundances in SCTLD-affected colonies compared to the “High” resistance group, suggesting that algal symbiont community structure may play a role in SCTLD resistance. Data generated by this research will be combined with complementary approaches to further investigate the complex drivers of SCTLD resilience.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013996
Subject Headings: Corals--Diseases, Scleractinia, Intraspecific variation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: SCLERACTINIAN CORAL COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS AND RECRUITMENT PATTERNS IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA.
Creator: Haymaker, Caroline, Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Quantifying and understanding coral community dynamics, including recruitment, is critical for developing effective ecosystem management strategies, particularly in areas that have experienced significant coral losses such as Southeast Florida’s Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area. While several federal, state, and regional efforts effectively track annual changes in juvenile and adult coral colonies, few coral reef monitoring programs are designed to track new coral...
Show moreQuantifying and understanding coral community dynamics, including recruitment, is critical for developing effective ecosystem management strategies, particularly in areas that have experienced significant coral losses such as Southeast Florida’s Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area. While several federal, state, and regional efforts effectively track annual changes in juvenile and adult coral colonies, few coral reef monitoring programs are designed to track new coral recruitment. This study’s aims were to assess potential differences in community composition of adult and recruit stony corals in southeast Florida using phototransects, and to test the efficacy of eDNA approaches for monitoring coral recruitment. Replicate phototransects demonstrated significant differences in recruit density and community composition across sites. This photogrammetry approach was more applicable than eDNA and indicates that site specific management and restoration strategies in a regional context may be warranted for the study area.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013946
Subject Headings: Corals--Florida, Scleractinia, Coral communities, Photogrammetry
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: GENETIC STRUCTURE OF SHALLOW AND MESOPHOTIC POPULATIONS OF A DOMINANT, BROADCAST SPAWNING CORAL, MONTASTRAEA CAVERNOSA, IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN.
Creator: Sturm, Alexis B., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Coral reef ecosystems across the Tropical Western Atlantic, are rapidly degrading due to a combination of anthropogenic stressors including coastal development, overfishing, and climate change-induced coral bleaching and disease outbreaks. Despite this general pattern, certain reef ecosystems are less exposed to these stressors due to a lack of/or distance from coastal development and/or their depth. These characteristics protect these coral reef ecosystems from rapid degradation and these...
Show moreCoral reef ecosystems across the Tropical Western Atlantic, are rapidly degrading due to a combination of anthropogenic stressors including coastal development, overfishing, and climate change-induced coral bleaching and disease outbreaks. Despite this general pattern, certain reef ecosystems are less exposed to these stressors due to a lack of/or distance from coastal development and/or their depth. These characteristics protect these coral reef ecosystems from rapid degradation and these coral populations potentially serve as important refugia. Developing an understanding of the connectivity dynamics among these refugia and to more degraded reefs is critical to developing networks of marine protected areas and management to ensure the persistence and recovery of coral metapopulations. In particular, increased research focus has been placed on mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs, 30-150 m) which are deeper and more buffered from anthropogenic stressors than shallow reefs (<30 m). A collection of hypotheses known as the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis surmises that MCEs may serve as larval sources to reseed shallow coral populations following a disturbance-driven decline. This dissertation research focuses on quantifying the population genetic structure of a dominant, depthgeneralist, coral species, Montastraea cavernosa, across previously understudied shallow and mesophotic reefs throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean to quantify the refugia potential of these reefs and characterize their roles in the regional coral metapopulation. Chapter 1 provides a review of the ecology and population genetic connectivity dynamics of shallow and mesophotic coral populations in the Tropical Western Atlantic.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014054
Subject Headings: Montastraea, Corals, Mexico, Gulf of, Caribbean Area
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT EFFECTS ON STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE.
Creator: Carreiro, Ashley M., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Marine Science and Oceanography, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Florida’s coral reefs are facing a multi-year coral disease outbreak described as stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), affecting at least 24 species of scleractinian corals. Potential anthropogenic and environmental drivers of SCTLD progression and severity are still poorly understood. This project was designed to determine the potential impacts of elevated nutrients on the progression and spread of SCTLD on reefs in Southeast Florida. We attempted to increase nutrient levels near coral...
Show moreFlorida’s coral reefs are facing a multi-year coral disease outbreak described as stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), affecting at least 24 species of scleractinian corals. Potential anthropogenic and environmental drivers of SCTLD progression and severity are still poorly understood. This project was designed to determine the potential impacts of elevated nutrients on the progression and spread of SCTLD on reefs in Southeast Florida. We attempted to increase nutrient levels near coral colonies using fertilizer amendments to mimic the effects of agricultural and urban runoff. SCTLD lesion progression, coral tissue loss, and disease prevalence were tracked overtime. There were no significant differences in nutrient concentrations between nutrient-amended and control groups or SCTLD progressions or surrounding SCTLD prevalence. However, water temperature was positively correlated to SCTLD activity. These findings provide insight to reef managers seeking to limit and mitigate the prevalence and impacts of SCTLD.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014091
Subject Headings: Scleractinia, Corals--Diseases, Eutrophication, Coral reef management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: CAN GENOMIC AND ALGAL SYMBIONT DATA PREDICT CORAL RESTORATION SUCCESS? CORAL AND ALGAL SYMBIONT SEQUENCING IN A MULTI-SPECIES SOUTH FLORIDA CORAL RESTORATION EXPERIMENT.
Creator: Bell, Sydney L., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) emerged in 2014 and has since spread across Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) and the Caribbean. This thesis is part of a larger project assessing the efficacy of restoring SCTLD-susceptible corals Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, and Pseudodiploria clivosa in SCTLD endemic areas. As part of Florida’s largest coral restoration experiment to date, 1,152 cement bases with 5,760 coral fragments from 99 source colonies were outplanted across six regions...
Show moreStony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) emerged in 2014 and has since spread across Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) and the Caribbean. This thesis is part of a larger project assessing the efficacy of restoring SCTLD-susceptible corals Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, and Pseudodiploria clivosa in SCTLD endemic areas. As part of Florida’s largest coral restoration experiment to date, 1,152 cement bases with 5,760 coral fragments from 99 source colonies were outplanted across six regions throughout FCR and monitored monthly over two years for survival, disease, and growth. Before outplanting, coral tissue samples were collected for high-resolution 2bRAD and ITS2 sequencing to genotype the corals and characterize their initial algal symbiont communities. Neither host genetic lineages nor algal symbiont types significantly affected SCTLD susceptibility or survival, negating the hypothesis of SCTLD-resistant “super coral” lineages. Results from this study will inform the feasibility and design of future coral restoration efforts in SCTLD endemic zones to maintain or enhance coral biodiversity.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014204
Subject Headings: Corals--Diseases, Coral reef restoration
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ASSESSING CORAL RESTORATION FEASIBILITY IN THE FACE OF STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE ON FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF.
Creator: Pantoni, Gabrielle S., Voss, Joshua D., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Since the emergence of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) in 2014, 60% of live coral cover on Florida’s coral reefs have been lost. This study assessed the efficacy of outplanting microfragment colony arrays of three SCTLD-susceptible coral species (Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, and Pseudodiploria clivosa) as remediation technique in two SCTLD-degraded reef areas, St. Lucie Reef and Palm Beach, in southeast Florida. After approximately 2 years, outplanted colonies at both...
Show moreSince the emergence of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) in 2014, 60% of live coral cover on Florida’s coral reefs have been lost. This study assessed the efficacy of outplanting microfragment colony arrays of three SCTLD-susceptible coral species (Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, and Pseudodiploria clivosa) as remediation technique in two SCTLD-degraded reef areas, St. Lucie Reef and Palm Beach, in southeast Florida. After approximately 2 years, outplanted colonies at both reefs experienced ≥ 75 % survivorship, net positive growth rates, and fragment fusion, with some variation between species and across reefs. Additionally, outplanting SCTLD-susceptible species did not increase local disease prevalence and resulted in low disease prevalence on the outplanted colonies. The results from this study will be used to inform and optimize ongoing and future outplanting based coral restoration projects throughout Florida’s coral reefs and the wider Caribbean.
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Date Issued: 2024
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014416
Subject Headings: Corals--Diseases, Corals--Florida, Coral reef restoration
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: FAU Climate Change Initiative Priority Theme: Research, Engineering, and Adaption to a Change Climate.
Creator: Berry, Leonard, Koch, Marguerite, Center for Environmental Studies, Benscoter, Brian, Comas, Xavier, Devlin, Donna, Fadiman, Maria, Gerstein, E., Herzing, Denise L., Hindle, Tobin, Milton, Sarah L., Oleinik, Anton E., Proffitt, C. Edward, Restrepo, Jorge I., Root, Tara L., Wyneken, Jeanette, Xie, Zhixiao, Zhang, Xing-Hai, Esnard, Ann-Margaret, Mitsova, Diana, Murley, J., Vos, J., Escaleras, Monica, Mehallis, M., Shaw, Eric H., Hardman, Guillermo [John], Lambert, Julie, Thomas, G., Arockiasamy, Madasamy, Bloetscher, Frederick, Carvalho, G., Dhanak, Manhar R., Frisk, George V., Kaisar, Evangelos I., Kalva, Hari, Meeroff, Daniel E., Rodriguez, Jarice, Scarlatos, Panagiotis (Pete) D., Shankar, Ravi, Teegavarapu, Ramesh, Brown, Clifford T., McAfee, Francis, Widener, Patricia, Dalgleish, Fraser R., Hanisak, M. Dennis, McMulloch, S., O'Corry-Crowe, Gregory, Pomponi, Shirley A., Reed, John K., Scarpa, John, Voss, Joshua, Heimlich, Barry N., Alvarez, R., Jolley, J., Edwards, A., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, College of Business, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, College of Education, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003457
Format: Citation

FAU Theses and Dissertations (9)	+ -
FAU College Collections (1)	+ -
Honors Student Theses (1)	+ -

Corals--Diseases (6)	+ -
Montastraea (4)	+ -
Scleractinia (4)	+ -
Corals--Florida (3)	+ -
Coral reef restoration (2)	+ -

Photogrammetry (2)	+ -
Caribbean Area (1)	+ -
Coral communities (1)	+ -
Coral reef management (1)	+ -
Coral reefs and islands--Belize (1)	+ -
Corals (1)	+ -
Eutrophication (1)	+ -
Intraspecific variation (1)	+ -
Mesoamerican Reef (1)	+ -
Mexico, Gulf of (1)	+ -
Population genetics (1)	+ -
Stony corals (1)	+ -
Symbiosis (1)	+ -

Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (9)	+ -
report (1)	+ -
thesis (1)	+ -

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (10)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (10)	+ -
Voss, Joshua D. (10)	+ -
Department of Biological Sciences (8)	+ -
Alker, Amanda (1)	+ -

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