INTRODUCTION Status and progress in coral reef disease research Ernesto Weil1,*, Garriet Smith2, Diego L. Gil-Agudelo3

Weil, Ernesto; Smith, Garriet W.; Gil-Agudelo, Diego L.

doi:10.3354/dao069001

Cited by 220 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…WPD is described as a bacterial infection (Dustan, 1977;Richardson et al, 1998) reported to potentially afflict over 40 coral species (Weil et al, 2006) and is responsible for several local and widespread epizootic events that have caused significant reef degradation in the Caribbean (Miller et al, 2009;Weil and Croquer, 2009). Reports of three WPD types (I, II, and III) in the Caribbean are distinguished by disease progression rates (Dustan, 1977;Richardson et al, 1998), which range from mm to cm of tissue loss per day.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metatranscriptome analysis of the reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata indicates holobiont response to coral disease

et al. 2015

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White Plague Disease (WPD) is implicated in coral reef decline in the Caribbean and is characterized by microbial community shifts in coral mucus and tissue. Studies thus far have focused on assessing microbial communities or the identification of specific pathogens, yet few have addressed holobiont response across metaorganism compartments in coral disease. Here, we report on the first metatranscriptomic assessment of the coral host, algal symbiont, and microbial compartment in order to survey holobiont structure and function in healthy and diseased samples from Orbicella faveolata collected at reef sites off Puerto Rico. Our data indicate holobiont-wide as well as compartment-specific responses to WPD. Gene expression changes in the diseased coral host involved proteins playing a role in innate immunity, cytoskeletal integrity, cell adhesion, oxidative stress, chemical defense, and retroelements. In contrast, the algal symbiont showed comparatively few expression changes, but of large magnitude, of genes related to stress, photosynthesis, and metal transport. Concordant with the coral host response, the bacterial compartment showed increased abundance of heat shock proteins, genes related to oxidative stress, DNA repair, and potential retroelement activity. Importantly, analysis of the expressed bacterial gene functions establishes the participation of multiple bacterial families in WPD pathogenesis and also suggests a possible involvement of viruses and/or phages in structuring the bacterial assemblage. In this study, we implement an experimental approach to partition the coral holobiont and resolve compartment-and taxa-specific responses in order to understand metaorganism function in coral disease.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metatranscriptome analysis of the reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata indicates holobiont response to coral disease

et al. 2015

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“…The episode is seasonal and show maximum intensities during rainy season. Evidence of seasonal bleaching has previously been documented for a number of species (Antonius, 1981;Kaczmarsky, 2006;Weil et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bleaching events have been observed in coral reefs around the world, and most of them have been associated with changes in water temperature (Fitt et al, 1993Glynn, 1993;Costa et al, 2001;Glynn et al, 2001;Weil et al, 2006). Other factors include extreme salinity, photic conditions, pollution (Goreau & MacFarlane, 1990;Saxby et al, 2003;Weil et al, 2006) and UV radiation (Brown et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other factors include extreme salinity, photic conditions, pollution (Goreau & MacFarlane, 1990;Saxby et al, 2003;Weil et al, 2006) and UV radiation (Brown et al, 2000). In severe situations, corals can lose between 60 and 90% of their zooxanthellae, and those that remain within the host tissues show photosynthetic pigment concentrations reduced by 50 to 80% (Fitt et al, 1993Glynn, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bleaching is associated with stress conditions that decrease the di-sease resistance of coral colonies (Rosenberg & BenHaim, 2002;Borger, 2005;Santavy et al, 2005;Weil et al, 2006;Palmer et al, 2008Palmer et al, , 2010, and brakes down the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae (Kaczmarsky, 2006;Weil et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pigmentation changes in Siderastrea spp. during bleaching events in the costal reefs of northeastern Brazil

Sassi

Gorlach‐Lira

et al. 2015

lajar

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ABSTRACT. We report here the occurrence of seasonal changes in the pigmentation of colonies of Siderastrea spp. during bleaching events on coastal reefs in northeastern Brazil. Bleached affected almost 50% of coral colonies analyzed in Cabo Branco reefs (Paraiba state) in the summer of 2005. The same phenomenon was detected along various coastal reefs in northeastern Brazil during the summer of 2007 and 2008. These events were seasonal, and began with the emergence of pale colonies that became pale-pink and then purple during the rainy months. The patterns and intensity of colonies pigmentation changes varied with the studied sites. The decrease in zooxanthellae density and chlorophyll-a content was quantified in the colonies with their pigmentation pattern altered (bleaching). Microbiological analyses revealed higher densities of bacteria in pink colonies (bleached) as compared to brown colonies (normal). Environmental disturbances may lead to the pigmentation changes in Siderastrea spp., but the immediate causes of this phenomenon are not clear and require further investigations. Keywords: zooxanthellae, bacteria, marine ecology, pink colonies, Brazilian reefs.Cambios en la pigmentación de colonias de Siderastrea spp. durante los eventos de blanqueamiento en arrecifes costeros del noreste de Brasil RESUMEN. Se relata aquí la aparición de cambios estacionales en la pigmentación de colonias de Siderastrea spp. durante los eventos de blanqueamiento en arrecifes costeros del noreste de Brasil. En verano de 2005, existían casi 50% de colonias blanqueadas en los corales analizados en Cabo Branco, Estado de Paraíba. El mismo fenómeno se detectó a lo largo de varios arrecifes costeros en el noreste del país durante el verano de 2007 y 2008. Estos eventos son asociados a la variación estacional, que comenzaron con la aparición de colonias pálidas que luego se convirtieron en rosa pálido y después a morado, durante los meses de lluvias. Los patrones e intensidad de los cambios en la pigmentación de las colonias fueron diferentes en los sitios estudiados. La disminución de la densidad de zooxantelas y del contenido de clorofila-a fue cuantificada en las colonias y comparados con el patrón de pigmentación alterada (blanqueo). Los análisis microbiológicos revelaron densidades más altas de bacterias en colonias rosas (blanqueada) en comparación con las colonias marrones (considerados normales). Las alteraciones ambientales pueden conducir a estos cambios de pigmentación en Siderastrea spp., pero las causas inmediatas de este fenómeno no están claras y requieren más investigación. Palabras clave: zooxantelas, bacterias, ecología marina, colonias rosas, arrecifes brasileños.

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Coelenterates

Stoskopf

2011

Invertebrate Medicine

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INTRODUCTION Status and progress in coral reef disease research Ernesto Weil1,*, Garriet Smith2, Diego L. Gil-Agudelo3

Cited by 220 publications

References 44 publications

Metatranscriptome analysis of the reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata indicates holobiont response to coral disease

Metatranscriptome analysis of the reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata indicates holobiont response to coral disease

Pigmentation changes in Siderastrea spp. during bleaching events in the costal reefs of northeastern Brazil

Coelenterates

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