Identifying Genotypes of Acropora cervicornis that are Resilient to White Band Disease
Date
2016
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College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa
Abstract
White band disease in the Caribbean, which targets frameworkbuilding
stony corals like Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral), has
become commonplace on reefs in the Florida Keys. This increase
in white band disease has resulted in significant loss of Acropora
species. To combat this rapid decline, A. cervicornis is grown in
nurseries in situ and transplanted onto affected reefs. In order for
transplanting efforts to be the most successful, the transplanted
corals should be resilient to disease outbreaks. To propagate resilient
corals in nurseries, scientists should first determine whether varying
genotypes differ in disease susceptibility. An experimental laboratory
manipulation was conducted to test whether nine genotypes from an
in situ nursery on Summerland Key varied in disease susceptibility.
The corals were arranged in three distances from a diseased
individual to test for genotypic resilience to white band disease.
Though the evidence suggests there is variation among genotypic
susceptibility, the data was not significant. However, the B/O genotype
was able to withstand contracting white band disease in all but
one individual, suggesting this genotype may be more resilient
than others. There was also no difference in susceptibility among
distances from the diseased coral, although there was a trend of
higher rates of disease infection at the closest distance. These
results suggest that there may indeed be differences in susceptibility
among genotypes of A. cervicornis, although further study with higher
replication is needed.
Description
Recommended Citation: Boyles , Alana L., and Erinn M. Mulle. “Identifying Genotypes of Acropora Cervicornis That Are Resilient to White Band Disease.” Acta Spartae, 2016. https://doi.org/10.48497/2FBG-0C37.
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Keywords
Genotypes, Acropora cervicornis, White Band Disease, Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES, Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Biology, Department of Biology, Coral Reef Ecology, Mote Marine Laboratory
Citation
Boyles , Alana L., and Erinn M. Mulle. “Identifying Genotypes of Acropora Cervicornis That Are Resilient to White Band Disease.” Acta Spartae, 2016. https://doi.org/10.48497/2FBG-0C37.