Coral reef disease workshop and pre-spawn! - WS GUAM 2014
Laurie stresses the importance of aquarists to be included in the network of coral disease expertise. Certainly, diseases affecting corals on reefs can also impact cultured corals if introduced into an aquarium. But culture environments are unique―which may influence disease dynamics―and they may have their own suite of diseases. Still very little is known regarding these aspects within the coral science fields. Connecting with other experts facilitates guidance, advice on possible treatments, sample processing and careful documentation, which can lead to improved techniques and information.
[Coral disease ID]
After a tasty lunch Laurie and Dave guided us to the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve for field observations. Snorkeling around, it's pretty rueful to see how hard the bleaching events have hit here. Last year, our workshop participants were stunned by the many colors in the reef. Now almost all the color is gone and many corals are dead or suffer partial mortality. It appears to be role reversed: the corals that did recover from last year's event, are heavily affected by this year's early bleaching event in June. They probably have used up all of their energy and reserves. It's sad, but all the more reason to be doing the work we are!
While we were out at Tumon Bay, Dirk Petersen and James Guest took a small group to the midwater nursery at the Pity Bomb Holes site. They collected the remaining tiles in the nursery, which we will outplant tomorrow and the day after.
[Nursery]
At night, we split again into two groups. In the field, no Acropora sp. was observed spawning, but around 9.30PM a Gonastrea sp. released some egg-sperm bundles. In the lab, three of the Acropora surculosa colonies released a 'dribble' of pre-spawn. A small but significant sign that raises expectations for a great spawning tomorrow night!
[Lab]
