Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients
Abstract Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is the deadliest scleractinian coral disease reported, causing significant coral loss in the Western Atlantic reefs. Environmental conditions are known to influence disease dynamics, but determining the specific conditions that exacerbate SCTLD remain...
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| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06322-0 |
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| author | Ana M. Palacio-Castro Nash Soderberg Zachary Zagon Kenzie Cooke Michael S. Studivan Taylor Gill Chris Kelble Tyler Christian Ian C. Enochs |
| author_facet | Ana M. Palacio-Castro Nash Soderberg Zachary Zagon Kenzie Cooke Michael S. Studivan Taylor Gill Chris Kelble Tyler Christian Ian C. Enochs |
| author_sort | Ana M. Palacio-Castro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is the deadliest scleractinian coral disease reported, causing significant coral loss in the Western Atlantic reefs. Environmental conditions are known to influence disease dynamics, but determining the specific conditions that exacerbate SCTLD remains challenging. We developed a robotic multi-stressor system to study the effects of temperature and ammonium on SCTLD transmission. For a month, coral fragments were preconditioned to two temperatures (28 °C and 31 °C) and nutrient treatments (with and without ammonium dosing), and subsequently exposed to SCTLD. Environmental treatments only caused modest effects in the corals (based on calcification, photochemical efficiency, and symbiotic algal communities). However, SCTLD incidence was strongly reduced at higher temperature (17% at 31 °C compared to 70% at 28 °C), contrasting with other coral diseases that typically worsen with increased heat. Disease management approaches may involve concentrating SCTLD treatment efforts during warmer periods when reduced incidence might enhance treatment efficacy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e099aa2b2971463e80cf0fdf4792e8bf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e099aa2b2971463e80cf0fdf4792e8bf2025-08-20T03:45:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-06322-0Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrientsAna M. Palacio-Castro0Nash Soderberg1Zachary Zagon2Kenzie Cooke3Michael S. Studivan4Taylor Gill5Chris Kelble6Tyler Christian7Ian C. Enochs8Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesNOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological LaboratoryCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric StudiesNOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological LaboratoryAbstract Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is the deadliest scleractinian coral disease reported, causing significant coral loss in the Western Atlantic reefs. Environmental conditions are known to influence disease dynamics, but determining the specific conditions that exacerbate SCTLD remains challenging. We developed a robotic multi-stressor system to study the effects of temperature and ammonium on SCTLD transmission. For a month, coral fragments were preconditioned to two temperatures (28 °C and 31 °C) and nutrient treatments (with and without ammonium dosing), and subsequently exposed to SCTLD. Environmental treatments only caused modest effects in the corals (based on calcification, photochemical efficiency, and symbiotic algal communities). However, SCTLD incidence was strongly reduced at higher temperature (17% at 31 °C compared to 70% at 28 °C), contrasting with other coral diseases that typically worsen with increased heat. Disease management approaches may involve concentrating SCTLD treatment efforts during warmer periods when reduced incidence might enhance treatment efficacy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06322-0Coral diseaseHigh temperatureNutrientsMultiple stressorsDisease transmissionOrbicella faveolata |
| spellingShingle | Ana M. Palacio-Castro Nash Soderberg Zachary Zagon Kenzie Cooke Michael S. Studivan Taylor Gill Chris Kelble Tyler Christian Ian C. Enochs Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients Scientific Reports Coral disease High temperature Nutrients Multiple stressors Disease transmission Orbicella faveolata |
| title | Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients |
| title_full | Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients |
| title_fullStr | Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients |
| title_short | Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients |
| title_sort | elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission with little effect of nutrients |
| topic | Coral disease High temperature Nutrients Multiple stressors Disease transmission Orbicella faveolata |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06322-0 |
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