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Coral
Disease Identification and Information
Environment and Coral Diseases
One of the most important, yet least understood, aspects of coral
disease is the relationship between disease incidence and the
environment. While it has been suggested that the recent increase in
coral diseases is associated with a decline in reef environmental
quality, very little quantitative work has been carried out in this
area. We now know that five coral diseases are positively correlated
with high water temperature – these are bacterial bleaching, black
band disease, plague, aspergillosis and dark spots disease. Nutrient
(sewage) input, sedimentation, and runoff have all been cited as
correlated with disease incidence, however in almost all of these
reports no data are provided. Only two quantitative studies to date
have revealed statistical relationships between water quality
factors and disease prevalence. Kim and Harvell (2002) demonstrated
positive correlations between the prevalence of aspergillosis and
both elevated dissolved inorganic nitrogen and slightly lower water
clarity. Kuta and Richardson (in press) found that black band
disease incidence was correlated with elevated concentrations of
nitrite (and lower concentrations of soluble reactive phosphate).
This research area is critical.
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