Distribution and drivers of coral disease at Ningaloo reef, Indian Ocean

A study on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, reveals that coral disease prevalence is primarily driven by natural stressors rather than human activities. The research found that 2.3% of coral colonies exhibited signs of disease, with variations at both broad and local scales, comparable to other Indo-Pacific regions. Seven diseases were identified, with 'skeletal eroding band' being the most common. At a broader scale, this disease was positively linked to Drupella spp. feeding scars, while black-band disease (BBD) correlated with coral colony density. Locally, BBD severity and cyanobacterial bands were associated with anoxic events and Drupella spp. scars. No strong relationship was found between human activities, such as vessel or person density, and disease prevalence, suggesting natural stressors like anoxia may be key drivers of coral disease at Ningaloo Reef.

Onton, K., Page, C., Wilson, S., Neale, S., & Armstrong, S. (2011). Distribution and drivers of coral disease at Ningaloo reef, Indian Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 433, 75–84. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09156