Abstract
The growing incidence of tropical-marine diseases is attributed to increases in pathogen prevalence and virulence associated with global warming. Additionally, the compromised-host hypothesis suggests that rising ocean temperatures may increase disease activity by making the corals more susceptible to ubiquitous pathogens. We tested the effects of reducing irradiance stress on coral-disease progression rates by shading corals showing signs consistent with white-plague disease. Our results showed that white-plague disease on shaded corals progressed significantly more slowly than on controls. Although the mechanisms are unknown, this study suggests that light intensity influences the rate of coral-disease progression.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Lianna Jarecki and the The Falconwood Foundation for on-site support, Allan Bright for field assistance, Buck Island Reef National Monument and University of the Virgin Islands for use of light sensors, Dr. Caroline Rogers for use of camera, Dr. Mike Lesser for absorbance spectrum analysis, and S. van Woesik for editorial comments. E Muller is supported by the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship. Research by RvW is supported by the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility through the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for management program. This is contribution # 4 from the Institute for Adaptation to Global Change at the Florida Institute of Technology.
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Communicated by Ecology Editor Prof. Peter Mumby
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Muller, E.M., van Woesik, R. Shading reduces coral-disease progression. Coral Reefs 28, 757–760 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0504-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0504-x