Aeby, G. S., Work, T. M., Runyon, C. M., Shore-Maggio, A., Ushijima, B., Videau, P., Beurmann, S., Callahan, S. M.

First record of black band disease in the Hawaiian Archipelago: Response, outbreak status, virulence, and a method of treatment

2015

Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology; U.S. Geological Survey; University of Hawaii

PLoS ONE

10

3

17

"A high number of coral colonies, Montipora spp., with progressive tissue loss were reported from the north shore of Kauai by a member of the Eyes of the Reef volunteer reporting network. The disease has a distinct lesion (semi-circular pattern of tissue loss with an adjacent dark band) that was first observed in Hanalei Bay, Kauai in 2004. The disease, initially termed Montipora banded tissue loss, appeared grossly similar to black band disease (BBD), which affects corals worldwide. Following the initial report, a rapid response was initiated as outlined in Hawaiis rapid response contingency plan to determine outbreak status and investigate the disease. Our study identified the three dominant bacterial constituents indicative of BBD (filamentous cyanobacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, sulfide-oxidizing bacteria) in coral disease lesions from Kauai, which provided the first evidence of BBD in the Hawaiian archipelago. A rapid survey at the alleged outbreak site found disease to affect 6-7% of the montiporids, which is higher than a prior prevalence of less than 1% measured on Kauai in 2004, indicative of an epizootic. Tagged colonies with BBD had an average rate of tissue loss of 5.7 cm2/day over a two-month period. Treatment of diseased colonies with a double band of marine epoxy, mixed with chlorine powder, effectively reduced colony mortality. Within two months, treated colonies lost an average of 30% less tissue compared to untreated controls."

10.1371/journal.pone.0120853

Funded by the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative, the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, and the University of Hawaii