The Emergence and Initial Impact of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the United States Virgin Islands
The Emergence and Initial Impact of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the United States Virgin Islands
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DOI：
10.3389/fmars.2021.715329
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发表时间：
2021-08-18
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Smith, Tyler B.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Brandt, Marilyn E.;Ennis, Rosmin S.;Smith, Tyler B.
加勒比地区的珊瑚群落面临着一种新的致命威胁，即剧毒的多宿主石珊瑚组织丧失病。2019年1月下旬，发现一种症状和特征与SCTLD相符的疾病影响了美属维尔京群岛（USVI）圣托马斯托马斯海岸的珊瑚礁。确定其出现在美属维尔京群岛提供了一个机会，以记录其空间分布的初步演变，珊瑚物种的敏感性特点，以及其对珊瑚覆盖的比较影响，在受影响和未受影响的珊瑚礁位置。在哨点和长期监测地点进行的重新评估被用来跟踪疾病的传播，评估受影响的物种，并量化其影响。这种疾病最初仅限于圣托马斯西南部几个月，然后蔓延到该岛周围和邻近的圣约翰岛东部。物种间疾病流行率的差异与其他地区的SCEROID报告相似。高度受影响的物种包括Colpophyllia natans、Eusmilia fastigiata、Montastraea cavernosa、Orbicella spp.和糙伏伪复叶藓（Pseudodiploria strigosa）。圆柱状树回和Meandrina曲流也受到高度影响，但在疾病流行率方面表现出更多的变异性，可能是由于最初的低丰度和疾病导致的菌落迅速丧失。星菱属受影响较小，患病率较低。以前报告为未受影响或数据不足的物种被发现受SCE2影响，包括蘑菇属，马德拉斯属，和Mycetophyllia spp.我们还观察到多灶性病变的SCTLD影响的网站上的殖民地Porites astreoides，尽管poritids以前被认为是低或不敏感的SCTLD。在几个监测地点，由于急性组织丧失疾病（主要是SCH3N1）造成的珊瑚覆盖丧失是显著的，在一些地点比以前的大规模漂白事件更具影响力。目前没有迹象表明美属维尔京群岛的SCREEN疫情正在减弱，因此这种疾病很可能在不久的将来在美国加勒比海和英属维尔京群岛广泛传播。
Coral communities in the Caribbean face a new and deadly threat in the form of the highly virulent multi-host stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). In late January of 2019, a disease with signs and characteristics matching that of SCTLD was found affecting a reef off the coast of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Identification of its emergence in the USVI provided the opportunity to document the initial evolution of its spatial distribution, coral species susceptibility characteristics, and its comparative impact on coral cover at affected and unaffected coral reef locations. Re-assessments at sentinel sites and long-term monitoring locations were used to track the spread of the disease, assess species affected, and quantify its impact. The disease was initially limited to the southwest of St. Thomas for several months, then spread around the island and to the neighboring island of St. John to the east. Differences in disease prevalence among species were similar to reports of SCTLD from other regions. Highly affected species included Colpophyllia natans, Eusmilia fastigiata, Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella spp., and Pseudodiploria strigosa. Dendrogyra cylindrus and Meandrina meandrites were also highly affected but showed more variability in disease prevalence, likely due to initial low abundances and the rapid loss of colonies due to disease. Siderastrea spp. were less affected and showed lower prevalence. Species previously reported as unaffected or data deficient that were found to be affected by SCTLD included Agaricia spp., Madracis spp., and Mycetophyllia spp. We also observed multi-focal lesions at SCTLD-affected sites on colonies of Porites astreoides, despite that poritids have previously been considered low or not susceptible to SCTLD. Loss of coral cover due to acute tissue loss diseases, which were predominantly SCTLD, was significant at several monitoring locations and was more impactful than previous mass bleaching events at some sites. There are no signs that the USVI SCTLD outbreak is abating, therefore it is likely that this disease will become widespread across the U.S. Caribbean and British Virgin Islands in the near future.