This is the first study on coral diseases in the Wakatobi Marine National Park (WMNP), south-east Sulawesi. It aimed to provide baseline knowledge of coral disease prevalence and coral health in this remote region. Results indicate a low disease prevalence of 0.57% with only two known diseases occurring within the sampling unit, white syndrome (0.42%) and tumours (0.15%). They affected 15 taxonomic groups from a total of 32 taxonomic groups. The presence of black-band disease (BBD), skeletal eroding band (SEB) disease and Porites ulcerative white spot disease (PUWSD) was identified outside the study area. A large number of corals were affected by previously undescribed conditions (9.7% of colonies). The impact of lesions named as green spot, green band, pigmented spot, and flatworm infestation is not known and represents an important area for future studies.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Environmental Sciences
Research Group:	Environmental Science and Management
Research Field:	Conservation and Biodiversity
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Natural Hazards
Objective Field:	Natural Hazards in Marine Environments
UTAS Author:	Trebilco, J (Dr Jessica Melbourne-Thomas)
ID Code:	51486
Year Published:	2007
Web of Science® Times Cited:	38
Deposited By:	Zoology
Deposited On:	2007-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-11-17
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