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An Integrative Analysis of Environmental Factors, Coral Population and Community Structure, and Microbial Community Composition Associated With Coral Diseases in Three Caribbean Regions
EPA Grant Number: U916086Title: An Integrative Analysis of Environmental Factors, Coral Population and Community Structure, and Microbial Community Composition Associated With Coral Diseases in Three Caribbean Regions
Investigators: Voss, Joshua D.
Institution: Florida International University
EPA Project Officer: Just, Theodore J.
Project Period: January 1, 2002 through January 1, 2004
Project Amount: $53,390
RFA: GRO Graduate Fellowships (2002)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Biology/Life Sciences , Fellowship - Natural and Life Sciences
Description:
Objective:The objectives of this research project are to: (1) examine both environmental and coral community factors that may influence coral diseases on reefs of the Northern Florida Keys, Lee Stocking Island (Bahamas), and Bocas del Toro (Panama); (2) evaluate the effect of disease outbreaks on coral population and community structure; and (3) analyze microbial community variation in a specific coral disease (black band) using a molecular approach.
Approach:This will be the first study to quantitatively document coral diseases on reefs surrounding Lee Stocking Island. This research and ongoing efforts to identify coral pathogens, elucidate etiology, and understand and reduce the impacts of coral diseases are necessary to reduce coral degradation and give hope to our conservation initiatives. The increase in the number of coral diseases and the expansion of their ranges in the past 20-25 years poses serious threats to the health of coral reef ecosystems worldwide. However, thus far, little is known about coral epizootiology, the conditions that promote coral infection, and the potential impacts on reef communities. Of the described coral diseases and syndromes, only six have been well characterized. Although some published studies provide data on the distribution of coral diseases, few studies have addressed the factors that drive these distributions.
Supplemental Keywords:fellowship, coral diseases, epizootiology, coral population, community structure, black band disease, Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida Keys, Panama. , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Scientific Discipline, RFA, ECOSYSTEMS, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Risk Assessment, Oceanography, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecological Risk Assessment, Aquatic Ecosystem, Environmental Microbiology, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecosystem Protection, Aquatic Ecosystems, coral reef communities, toxicity studies, adverse impacts, anthropogenic stresses, monitoring, stressors, coral reef ecosystem, anthropogenic pollutant effects, natural stressors, ecological exposure, coral disease, Carribean, coral reefs, aquatic ecology, anthropogenic stress, ecosystem stress