Haapkylä , J., Melbourne-Thomas, J., and Flavell, M. (2015) The association between coral communities and disease assemblages in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, south-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 66 (10). pp. 948-955.

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Abstract

The relationship between coral community structure and disease prevalence is poorly understood, particularly in the Coral Triangle. Improved understanding of this relationship will assist in identifying assemblages that might be particularly vulnerable to disease, and in predicting possible future impacts. Here, we report results from the last 2 years (2010 and 2011) of a 4-year coral disease-monitoring program (2005, 2007, 2010, 2011) in the Wakatobi Marine National Park (Indonesia), and evaluate changes in total disease prevalence and coral cover since 2005. A comparison with previously published results from 2005 and 2007 indicates that the number of coral diseases increased from two to eight and total disease prevalence tripled between 2005 and 2011. We observed a dramatic decline in coral cover and an increase in disease prevalence at a site with a unique community of foliose corals. However, because of the 3-year period between surveys (2007, 2010), it is likely that the peak of the disease event was not observed. While multi-year studies provide useful insights into the relationships between community structure and disease, our results emphasise how determining the drivers of change in remote reef locations is especially challenging if events such as disease outbreaks are missed.

Item ID:	44409
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1448-6059
Keywords:	coral disease dynamics, disease drivers
Funders:	Winifred Violet Scott Foundation (WVSF)
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2016 05:44
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 60% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0605 Microbiology > 060502 Infectious Agents @ 40%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9604 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species > 960407 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Marine Environments @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50%
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