2024-2025 SE FL KJCAP Reef-building-coral Disease Intervention and Preparation for Restoration
SCTLD was first discovered in the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve (KJCAP) in 2014 and remains present in the region. As of May 15, 2025, a total of 1,964 colonies of seventeen species were treated by the coral disease interventions strike teams in the KJCAP since 2018 (including the experimental sites, but not the large priority corals) totaling 1,102 meters of treatment. Between July 1st, 2024 and May 15, 2025, a total of 70 colonies were treated on eight species. The amount and species of corals treated in broad scale recon surveys indicates that there are still some survivors of highly and intermediately susceptible species in the area succumbing to the disease. Broadscale treatments were halted in February by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and not permitted to continue.
Large priority corals still required monthly visits to ensure their survival. Of the 108 monitored corals between July 1 and May 15, 2025, a total of 153 antibiotic ointment treatments were conducted on 31 colonies. Twenty treatments failed, equating to 86.9% effectiveness on lesions. The number of new infections varied throughout the period. July and November were the months with the highest treatments. September 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 109 recon and striketeam intervention dives over 21 dive days. Our reconnaissance for coral restoration sites identified two new notably large Orbicella faveolata colonies, three areas of exceptional coral diversity or density, and an exceptionally large patch of live Madracis sp.
The large coral new treatment data collected herein and previously were summarized to evaluate statistical relationships to environmental predictors funded by DEP PO B9CAF9, C3D88F, and EPA award SF02D21722. They were also used to evaluate the outcomes of the SCTLD Resistance Research Consortium (RRC) laboratory analyses funded by DEP B8A48D and the EPA grant. They were the primary dataset for the FDEP hydrographic modeling (C1FC2C), the continuation of the SCTLD RRC (C2205D), and the 2025-26 expansion of the water quality modeling to the whole FCR.