Research Article

The etiology of white pox, a lethal disease of the Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata

Kathryn L. Patterson, James W. Porter, Kim B. Ritchie, Shawn W. Polson, Erich Mueller, Esther C. Peters, Deborah L. Santavy, and Garriet W. Smith
PNAS June 25, 2002 99 (13) 8725-8730; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.092260099

  1. Communicated by Eugene P. Odum, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (received for review December 12, 2001)

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Figures

  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    White pox disease lesion on A. palmata at Looe Key Reef, FL, August 1998. The square pin (1.61 cm2) was used to calibrate the image tracing software (photograph by K.L.P.).

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    The size class distribution of white pox disease lesions and percent total tissue loss per size class on A. palmata colonies at Looe Key Reef, FL, after 15 days (August 6–20, 1998) in situ.

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Scanning electron micrograph of the white pox pathogen (PDL100). The bacterium was identified as S. marcescens by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, carbon source utilization patterns, and standard microbiological testing (photograph by S.W.P.).

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    (A) The percent cover of A. palmata at seven reef sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 1996–1999. By 1999, percent cover of this species had decreased at each of the sites: Carysfort Reef (diamond), 85%; Grecian Rocks Reef (rectangle), 71%; Molasses Reef (upward triangle), 84%; Rock Key Reef (oval), 77%; Sand Key Reef (circle), 95%; Sombrero Reef (downward triangle), 100%; Western Sambo Reef (square), 84%. Data are presented as mean ± SD. (B) The percent cover of A. palmata at Eastern Dry Rocks Reef, Key West, FL, 1994–2000. The effects of seasonal seawater temperatures on rate of tissue loss are evidenced by the stair-step pattern of the graph. Between July 1994 and December 2000, 98% of the A. palmata cover on this reef was lost. Data are presented as mean ± SD.

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Photographic time series of damage caused by white pox disease on A. palmata at Eastern Dry Rocks Reef, Key West, FL: (A) July 22, 1994, (B) October 29, 1996, (C) September 9, 1998, and (D) December 28, 2000. Disease signs were first recognized in 1996. By 2000, no living A. palmata remained within this photostation frame (photographs by J.W.P. and K.L.P.).

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The etiology of white pox, a lethal disease of the Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata
Kathryn L. Patterson, James W. Porter, Kim B. Ritchie, Shawn W. Polson, Erich Mueller, Esther C. Peters, Deborah L. Santavy, Garriet W. Smith
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jun 2002, 99 (13) 8725-8730; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.092260099
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: 99 (13)
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