2023-2024 SE FL ECA Reef-building-coral Disease Intervention and Preparation for Restoration

SCTLD was first discovered in the Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area (Coral ECA) in 2014 and remains present in the region. As of April 22, 2024, a total of 1,850 colonies of fifteen species were treated by the coral disease interventions strike teams in the Coral ECA since 2018 (including the experimental sites, but not the large priority corals) totaling 1,046 meters of treatment. Between July 1st, 2023 and April 22nd, 2024, a total of 296 colonies were treated on fourteen species. The amount and species of corals treated in broad scale recon surveys indicates that there are still some rare survivors of the highly susceptible brain coral species in the area and some are still succumbing to the disease.

Large priority corals still required monthly visits to ensure their survival. This year had months with the third and fourth highest number of treatments and the highest number of diseased corals in the four years of this work. Of the 116 monitored corals between July 1 and May 15, 2024, a total of 395 antibiotic ointment treatments were conducted on 52 colonies. Thirty-eight treatments failed, equating to 90.4% effectiveness on lesions. The number of new infections varied throughout the period. The months with the highest treatments were July and August. August had the highest total treatment length. Monthly visits should continue to maximize treatment success and capture new infection frequencies.

During this reporting period, NSU divers conducted a total of 124 recon and intervention dives over 31 dive days. Four newly identified recon sites: three large Orbicella faveloata colonies and one large area of dense corals.

This period NSU assisted the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. NSU divers conducted a total of 4 dives over 3 days assisting with probiotics experimental treatment monitoring.

The large coral new treatment data collected herein and previously were summarized to evaluate statistical relationships to environmental predictors funded by DEP PO B9CAF9 and EPA award SF02D21722. They will also be used to evaluate the outcomes of the SCTLD Resistance Research Consortium (RRC) laboratory analyses funded by DEP B8A48D and the EPA grant. They are the primary dataset for the FDEP hydrographic modeling (C1FC2C) and the continuation of the SCTLD RRC (C2205D).