Caroline S. Rogers
Anthony S. Spitzack
R. van Woesik
E. M. Muller
2008
<div id="Abs1-section" class="c-article-section"><div id="Abs1-content" class="c-article-section__content"><p>Anomalously high water temperatures may enhance the likelihood of coral disease outbreaks by increasing the abundance or virulence of pathogens, or by increasing host susceptibility. This study tested the compromised-host hypothesis, and documented the relationship between disease and temperature, through monthly monitoring of<span> </span><i>Acropora palmata</i><span> </span>colonies from May 2004 to December 2006, in Hawksnest Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands (USVI). Disease prevalence and the rate of change in prevalence showed a positive linear relationship with water temperature and rate of change in water temperature, respectively, but only in 2005 during prolonged periods of elevated temperature. Both bleached and unbleached colonies showed a positive relationship between disease prevalence and temperature in 2005, but the average area of disease-associated mortality increased only for bleached corals, indicating host susceptibility, rather than temperature per se, influenced disease severity on<span> </span><i>A. palmata</i>.</p></div></div><div id="cobranding-and-download-availability-text" class="note test-pdf-link"><br></div>
application/pdf
10.1007/s00338-007-0310-2
en
Springer
Bleaching increases likelihood of disease on Acropora palmatao (Lamarck) in Hawksnest Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands
article