Coral Stress and Disease

White pox disease on Elkhorn Coral by Reef Relief

This is a photograph of a diseased Elkhorn coral (courtesy of Reef Relief)

The best direct biological indicator of coral reef health are the corals themselves. They are increasingly being threatened and damaged by pollution, disease and habitat destruction. Increased sea temprature is also harmful to coral. Diseased coral die gradually and have become almost an epidemic world-wide. (see the US Coral Reef Task Force and The World Conservation Monitoring Centre Global Coral Disease Database)

Healthy and Diseased Corals

See Reef Relief's photo database on Healthy Corals

Some of the diseases facing coral include:

Algal Galls
Aspergillosis
Bacterial bleaching
Black band disease
Dark spots disease
Plague (White Plague)
White band disease
White Pox
Yellow band disease

photo of healthy Elkhorn coral by Reef Relief

Here is a photograph of a healthy Elkhorn coral (courtesy of Reef Relief)

Important Links:

United States Coral Reef Task Force - Coral Disease and Health Consortium: Recommendations for Action
NOAA's Coral Health and Monitoring Program - Coral Disease Identification and Information
Reef Relief Coral Stress and Disease

Biological Indicators | Aquatic Biodiversity | Statistical Primer

Coral Stress and Disease

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