Coral Diversity and the Severity of Disease Outbreaks: A Cross-Regional Comparison of Acropora White Syndrome in a Species-Rich Region (American Samoa) with a Species-Poor Region (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands)
Joint Authors
Bourne, D. G.
Aeby, G. S.
Wilson, B.
Work, T. M.
Source
Issue
Vol. 2011, Issue 2011 (31 Dec. 2011), pp.1-8, 8 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2010-12-09
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
8
Main Subjects
Earth Science , Water and Environment
Abstract EN
The dynamics of the coral disease, Acropora white syndrome (AWS), was directly compared on reefs in the species-poor region of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and the species-rich region of American Samoa (AS) with results suggesting that biodiversity, which can affect the abundance of susceptible hosts, is important in influencing the impacts of coral disease outbreaks.
The diversity-disease hypothesis predicts that decreased host species diversity should result in increased disease severity of specialist pathogens.
We found that AWS was more prevalent and had a higher incidence within the NWHI as compared to AS.
Individual Acropora colonies affected by AWS showed high mortality in both regions, but case fatality rate and disease severity was higher in the NWHI.
The site within the NWHI had a monospecific stand of A.
cytherea; a species that is highly susceptible to AWS.
Once AWS entered the site, it spread easily amongst the abundant susceptible hosts.
The site within AS contained numerous Acropora species, which differed in their apparent susceptibility to infection and disease severity, which in turn reduced disease spread.
Manipulative studies showed AWS was transmissible through direct contact in three Acropora species.
These results will help managers predict and respond to disease outbreaks.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Aeby, G. S.& Bourne, D. G.& Wilson, B.& Work, T. M.. 2010. Coral Diversity and the Severity of Disease Outbreaks: A Cross-Regional Comparison of Acropora White Syndrome in a Species-Rich Region (American Samoa) with a Species-Poor Region (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands). Journal of Marine Sciences،Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-990919
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Aeby, G. S.…[et al.]. Coral Diversity and the Severity of Disease Outbreaks: A Cross-Regional Comparison of Acropora White Syndrome in a Species-Rich Region (American Samoa) with a Species-Poor Region (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands). Journal of Marine Sciences No. 2011 (2011), pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-990919
American Medical Association (AMA)
Aeby, G. S.& Bourne, D. G.& Wilson, B.& Work, T. M.. Coral Diversity and the Severity of Disease Outbreaks: A Cross-Regional Comparison of Acropora White Syndrome in a Species-Rich Region (American Samoa) with a Species-Poor Region (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands). Journal of Marine Sciences. 2010. Vol. 2011, no. 2011, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-990919
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-990919