Soto-Santiago, Francisco J.

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    Epizootiology of Caribbean Yellow Band Disease in La Parguera, Puerto Rico
    (2011) Soto-Santiago, Francisco J.; Weil, Ernesto F.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Schizas, Nikolaos V.; Yoshioka, Paul M.; Aponte, Nilda E.; Department of Marine Sciences; Navarro, Ana
    Caribbean Yellow Band Disease (CYBD) is one of the most important coral diseases affecting Montastraea species in the Caribbean. This work includes two studies of the current status of CYBD affecting Montastraea faveolata and M. franksi in reefs off La Parguera, Puerto Rico from 2008 to 2009. The first study included the study of the spatial and temporal variability in prevalence of CYBD in the important frame-builders Montastraea faveolata and M. franksi. Diseased and healthy colonies were counted along each of four band transects (10x2m = 20m²) in each of 3 depth intervals (3-8; 8-15 and > 15m) in two inner- (Pelotas and Enrique) and two mid-shelf (Media Luna and Turrumote) fringing reefs, and two deep bank reefs (Weinberg and Buoy) at the shelf-edge (>18m). Temperature varied normally from 26 to 29 oC. Contrary to my hypotheses, prevalence of CYBD decreased, although not significantly, from winter 2008 to summer 2009 and it was low when compared to past reports for the wider Caribbean. Intermediate depth (8- 15m) habitats showed the highest densities of M. faveolata and mean CYBD prevalence decreased (26.9 ± 24.9% to 24.1 ± 23.4%) from 2008-2009 with reef mean values ranged from 0-33%. CYBD prevalence in M. franksi decreased (5.4±10.7% to 5.0± 12%) from 2008-2009 at deep (>15m) habitats, where the highest densities of these colonies were found, and mean prevalence ranged from 0-24.4% among reefs. M. faveolata populations in the mid-shelf zone showed significantly higher mean CYBD prevalence (28±27%) than inner shelf reefs (9.9±20.6%) and shelf edge reefs (5.3±5.6%) (K-W=31.62; df=2; p=0.00) throughout the study. Mean CYBD prevalence in M. franksi was significantly higher (U=1756; p=0.00) at the mid-shelf zone (16.3±31%) compared to shelf-edge zone (1±1.4%). No infected colonies were found in the inner reefs. There was a significant and positive correlation between densities of M. faveolata and CYBD prevalence (Spearman’s r=0.7; p=0.00). However, for M. franksi, a significantly negative correlation (Spearman’s r=-0.5; p=0.04) was found. Results indicate that M. faveolata seems to be more susceptible to CYBD compared to M. franksi and that deep (>15m) habitats may serve as a refuge from CYBD for both populations. The drop in the proportion of infected colonies in both, M. faveolata and M. franksi populations could imply either that the disease virulence has dropped, or that there are no more susceptible hosts and therefore, no new infections, or a combination of these. Some of the infected colonies lost more than 90% of their live tissues. Future work should include the study of potential variability in putative pathogens, environmental factors affecting the onset and etiology of this disease and the overall impact on reef communities off La Parguera. The second study included the study of incidence and spatial distribution patterns of CYBD in M. faveolata in reefs off La Parguera. The incidence and spatial distribution patterns of CYBD were assessed by counting, tagging, mapping and following through a year all diseased and infected colonies in three 100 m² quadrants in two inner, two mid-shelf and two shelf-edge reefs off La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Healthy colonies were checked and photographed every two months from January to December of 2009 to monitor any pattern of disease spread in the population and new diseased colonies. HOBO temperature loggers were deployed to record temperature variability. Temperature increased from 26 in winter to 29 oC in summer of 2009, which is considered a normal range. Incidence of CYBD was low for all reefs in both seasons, but increased significantly (Sign Test; Z=2.40; p=0.01) from winter to summer with an average of 1.33 newly infected colonies/month in the winter and 2.50 newly infected colonies/month in the summer. Mid-shelf reefs had the highest host abundance and showed significantly higher CYBD incidence (an average of 0.58 infected colonies/month) compared to innerand shelf-edge zones (KW=9.74; df=2; p≤0.05). The increased incidence levels in the summer indicate that warmer months seem to favor development of CYBD on M. faveolata. Analysis of spatial distribution patterns showed a significant aggregated pattern of CYBD infected colonies and for the whole population (i.e. healthy + diseased) in all reefs at the spatial scales sampled. Aggregated colonies would facilitate spread of infectious agents within populations, but, CYBD has not been showed to be infectious. Similar stressful conditions, then, might trigger the disease in susceptible, aggregated colonies harboring the potential pathogens.