Abstract

Coral reefs are invaluable ecosystems that provide critical services, supporting biodiversity and offering a habitat for numerous marine species (Moberg and Folke, 1999). These vibrant underwater ecosystems also contribute to coastal protection by acting as natural barriers against storm surges and waves, safeguarding adjacent shorelines. Furthermore, coral reefs play a pivotal role in sustaining fisheries, ensuring the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them for food and income. The effectiveness of these ecosystem services is decreasing due to various threats, including severe storms, hurricanes, sea level rise, ocean acidification, increased pollution, and, of course, rising seawater temperatures. The potential consequences of higher seawater temperatures include coral disease outbreaks and bleaching events. Caribbean reefs are known as hot spots for reef diseases, and the latest deadly coral disease is Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). Since its first observation in 2014 in Florida, it has spread to at least 30 countries. In The Bahamas, SCTLD was first reported in 2019 off Grand Bahama and in 2020 around New Providence (Dahlgren et al. 2021). In this study we wanted to understand how many coral colonies have been lost as a result of SCTLD and how this was changing the coral community around New Providence (The Bahamas).

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