Volume 74
Importance of the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) on the reefs of Guadeloupe Island (Lesser Antilles)
Authors
Bouchon. C;S. De la Lavigne; S. Mege; Y. Bouchon-Navaro Download PDF Open PDF in BrowserOther Information
Date: November. 2021
Pages: 32-33
Event: Proceedings of the Seventy-four Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
City: Virtual
Country: Virtual
Abstract
About fifty coral diseases are known around the world and about fifteen affect the Scleractinian corals of the French Antilles Islands. The last coral disease identified in the region appeared in Florida in 2014. following an episode of coral bleaching. Named "Stony Corals Tissue Loss Disease" (SCTLD). that disease spread to the Caribbean region and affected many countries and islands. It was observed for the first time in Guadeloupe Island in May 2020 and. like in Florida. after an episode of bleaching that stroke the corals of the island from September 2019 to January 2020. On the reefs of Guadeloupe Island. about half of the stony coral species were affected by that disease. Among the species impacted some are more sensitive than others. that is to say in decreasing order of importance: Diploria labyrinthiformis. Meandrina meandrites. Montastrea cavernosa. Orbicella faveolata. O. annularis. Colpophyllia natans. Siderastrea siderea. The most resistant species appeared to belong to the Poritidae family (Porites astreoides. P. divaricata. P. furcata). Until now. the disease has spared the two endangered species of acroporid corals: Acropora palmata. and A. cervicornis. as well as their hybrid A. prolifera. The evolution of tissue necrosis on the colonies reached 2 to 3 centimeters per day. In general. the issue was lethal after one week to one month according to the initial stage of the colonies. Nowadays. the abundance of the impacted coral species has drastically dropped. Fortunately. the recruitment of juveniles of those corals is observable even on the most affected reefs.