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Abstract

Coral disease prevalence and distribution were surveyed in three discrete impacted sites along the Red Sea coast. Prevalence differences between reefs were significant (ANOVA; F=10.777, p<0.0001). Sites closed to oil pollution (sites 1 & 2) displayed much higher levels of disease prevalence (25.3%±8.3 2 and 18.5%±3.1 respectively), than site 3 that close to land filling (12.9%± 2.1). A total of 99 coral braches representing 20 important reef building scleractinian species affected by at least 12 diseases/ syndrome at the surveyed sites. However, site 3 is characterized by the highest diversity (Simpson?s Index=0.081) and highest percentage cover of life coral (35.2%±11.4) showed the lowest coral diseases number (3). In opposite, 10 coral diseases were recorded at site 1 and 8 coral diseases at site 2. While, the coral disease atramentous necrosis attained the highest prevalence percentage at sites 1 & 2 (3.2% & 4.5% respectively) did not recorded at site 3. Sediment damage disease recorded the highest prevalence percentage at site 3 (5.1%) but did not record at sites 1 & 2. Diseases having lowest percentage cover were white band disease (sites 1 & 2) and white tips disease. The most commonly distributed disease (atramentous necrosis) infected five corals in site 1 and six corals in site 2. The least commonly distributed disease (white tips) infected only two corals (Acropora humilis and Acropora formosa) at site 3. It is observed that the coral disease atramentous necrosis is always associated with Vermetidae predation in both earlier and later stages of the disease and in many cases with Tridacna boring in later stages of the disease; while Drupella predation is associated with skeletal eroding band. A coral pathogen was isolated from the diseased Stylophora pistillata, Porites sp. and Acropora sp. the pathogenic bacterium referred to as Vibrio fischeri.

Biography

Montaser A M M Al-Hammady has completed his PhD from Assuit University, Egypt and Postdoctoral studies from National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries. He is approved as Environmental Consultant from Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency-Presidency of the Council of Ministers. He has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.