Coral disease distribution at Ras Mohammed and the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt (original) (raw)

2013, Nusantara Bioscience

Ammar MSA, Ashour F, Abdelazim H. 2013. Coral disease distribution at Ras Mohammed and the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt. Nusantara Bioscience 5: 35-43. Six sites along the Gulf of Aqaba and Ras Mohammed, Red Sea, Egypt were studied for coral disease distribution relative to environmental stress. These sites are (i) South Taba, (ii) South Nuweiba, (iii) Canyon, (iv) Eel Garden (at Dahab), (v) Shark Observatory and (vi) Yolanda. Number of coral diseases ranges from 6 diseases at site 4 (Eeel Garden) to 12 diseases at site 3 (Canyon). The site having the lowest number of coral diseases (site 4) is characterized by the highest percentage cover of coral diseases (24%). The coral disease atramentous necrosis attained the highest percentage cover in all sites (5, 5, 6, 6, 2 and 3%) in sites 1-6 respectively. A total of 16 diseases were reported being distributed in the following order in sites 1-6: 9, 9, 12, 6, 8 and 7 respectively. The coral disease atramentous necrosis is the most widely distributed one being found in all 6 sites followed by dark spots disease and ulcerative white spots being reported in 5 sites. The disease that is least distributed is the white tips being reported in site 5 only. The most commonly distributed disease (atramentous necrosis) infected six corals in site 1, two corals in site 2, nine corals in site 3, two corals in site 4, five corals in site 5 and five corals in site 6. However, the least commonly distributed disease (white tips) infected only two corals (Acropora humilis and Millepora dichotoma). Site 1, having Cyphastrea serialia being infected with highest number of diseases is characterized by the maximum metal concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni in water and highest metal concentrations for Cu, Zn and Pb in sediments. Site 2, having M. dichotoma being infected with the highest number of diseases, is characterized by the highest Cu concentration in water. Site 4, having fewer number of coral diseases and highest percentage disease cover attained the highest levels of Cd and Ni in sediments. Abstrak. Ammar MSA, Ashour F, Abdelazim H. 2013. Distribusi penyakit karang di Ras Mohammed dan Teluk Aqaba, Laut Merah, Mesir. Nusantara Bioscience 5: 35-43. Enam situs di sepanjang Teluk Aqaba dan Ras Mohammed, Laut Merah, Mesir dipelajari untuk mengetahui distribusi relatif penyakit karang terhadap tekanan lingkungan. Lokasi yang diteliti adalah (i) South Taba, (ii) South Nuweiba, (iii) Canyon, (iv) Eel Garden (di Dahab), (v) Shark Observatory dan (vi) Yolanda. Jumlah penyakit karang berkisar dari 6 penyakit di lokasi 4 (Eeel Garden) hingga 12 penyakit di lokasi 3 (Canyon). Lokasi yang memiliki jumlah penyakit karang terendah (lokasi 4) ditandai dengan persentase penutupan penyakit karang tertinggi (24%). Penyakit karang nekrosis atramentous mencapai persentase penutupan tertinggi di semua lokasi (5, 5, 6, 6, 2 dan 3%) secara berturut-turut dari lokasi 1-6. Sebanyak 16 penyakit dilaporkan terdistribusi dengan urutan dari lokasi 1-6 secara berturut-turut sebagai berikut: 9, 9, 12, 6, 8 dan 7. Penyakit karang nekrosis atramentous merupakan penyakit yang paling luas distribusinya yang ditemukan di semua ke-6 lokasi, diikuti oleh penyakit bintik-bintik gelap dan bintik-bintik putih ulseratif yang dilaporkan pada 5 lokasi. Penyakit yang paling sempit distribusinya adalah pucuk putih yang dilaporkan dalam 5 lokasi. Penyakit yang paling luas distribusinya (nekrosis atramentous) menginfeksi enam terumbu karang di lokasi 1, dua karang di lokasi 2, sembilan karang di lokasi 3, dua karang di lokasi 4, lima karang di lokasi 5 dan lima karang di lokasi 6. Namun, penyakit yang paling sempit distribusinya (pucuk putih) hanya menginfeksi dua karang (Acropora humilis dan Millepora dichotoma). Lokasi 1, terdapat Cyphastrea serialia yang terinfeksi penyakit dengan jumlah paling tinggi ditandai dengan konsentrasi maksimum logam Zn, Cd, Pb dan Ni dalam air dan konsentrasi logam tertinggi untuk Cu, Zn dan Pb dalam sedimen. Lokasi 2, terdapat M. dichotoma yang terinfeksi penyakit dengan jumlah tertinggi, ditandai dengan konsentrasi Cu tertinggi dalam air. Lokasi 4, memiliki lebih sedikit jumlah penyakit karang dan persentase penutup penyakit tertinggi mencapai tingkat tertinggi Cd dan Ni dalam sedimen.