Sudek M, Williams G J, Runyon C, Aeby G S, Davy S K
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Dis Aquat Organ. 2015 Feb 10;113(1):59-68. doi: 10.3354/dao02828.
The prevalence, number of species affected, and geographical extent of coral diseases have been increasing worldwide. We present ecological data on the coral disease Porites bleaching with tissue loss (PBTL) from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu (Hawaii, USA), affecting P. compressa. This disease is prevalent throughout the year, although it shows spatio-temporal variability with peak prevalence during the warmer summer months. Temporal variability in disease prevalence showed a strong positive relationship with elevated water temperature. Spatially, PBTL prevalence peaked in clearer waters (lower turbidity) with higher water flow and higher densities of parrotfish, together explaining approximately 26% of the spatial variability in PBTL prevalence. However, the relatively poor performance of the spatial model suggests that other, unmeasured factors may be more important in driving spatial prevalence. PBTL was not transmissible through direct contact or the water column in controlled aquaria experiments, suggesting that this disease may not be caused by a pathogen, is not highly infectious, or perhaps requires a vector for transmission. In general, PBTL results in partial tissue mortality of affected colonies; on average, one-third of the tissue is lost. This disease can affect the same colonies repeatedly, suggesting a potential for progressive damage which could cause increased tissue loss over time. P. compressa is the main framework-building species in Kaneohe Bay; PBTL therefore has the potential to negatively impact the structure of the reefs at this location.
在全球范围内，珊瑚疾病的患病率、受影响的物种数量以及地理范围都在不断增加。我们展示了来自美国夏威夷瓦胡岛卡内奥赫湾的关于伴有组织损失的多孔珊瑚白化病（PBTL）的生态数据，这种疾病影响多孔压缩珊瑚。这种疾病全年都很普遍，尽管它表现出时空变异性，在较温暖的夏季患病率达到峰值。疾病患病率的时间变异性与水温升高呈现出强烈的正相关关系。在空间上，PBTL患病率在水体更清澈（浊度较低）、水流较高且鹦嘴鱼密度较高的区域达到峰值，这些因素共同解释了PBTL患病率约26%的空间变异性。然而，空间模型的表现相对较差，这表明其他未测量的因素可能在驱动空间患病率方面更为重要。在受控水族箱实验中，PBTL不会通过直接接触或水柱传播，这表明这种疾病可能不是由病原体引起的，传染性不强，或者可能需要一个传播媒介。一般来说，PBTL会导致受影响珊瑚群体的部分组织死亡；平均而言，三分之一的组织会损失。这种疾病可以反复影响同一个珊瑚群体，这表明存在渐进性损害的可能性，随着时间的推移可能会导致更多的组织损失。多孔压缩珊瑚是卡内奥赫湾主要的造礁物种；因此，PBTL有可能对该地区珊瑚礁的结构产生负面影响。
