Mystery disease spreads, threatens coral reefs in the Lower Florida Keys

[riversedge]

A mysterious disease spreading across Florida's reef tract, the third largest barrier reef in the world, has now spread to the Lower Keys. The outbreak is now the longest and largest infectious disease outbreak for any coral. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission


Mystery disease spreads, threatens coral reefs in the Lower Florida Keys

By Jenny Staletovich


April 20, 2018 07:42 PM

Updated April 20, 2018 08:21 PM

A mysterious disease hammering Florida's dwindling reefs was found for the first time this week in the Lower Keys, alarming scientists who've used epoxy band-aids, amputated sick coral and even set up underwater "fire breaks" in a four-year battle to contain the outbreak.

Mote Marine Laboratory researchers working with state and federal investigators discovered the infected coral during a routine dive to collect samples, said biologist Erinn Muller, who heads Mote's coral health program.

The discovery off Looe Key, south of Big Pine in part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, puts in jeopardy the southern end of the world's third-largest barrier reef — a scuba-diving destination renowned for its biological diversity. It's also more bad news for a reef that has lost half its coral over the last two centuries, is already suffering impacts from climate change, and has emerged from a three-year bleaching event.


"It is just heartbreaking for us because it's such an iconic reef," Muller said. "I can’t sleep at night because I think about it and what else can we do. "

The disease, which now stands as the longest and largest infection for coral anywhere, jumped a gap in the 360-mile long reef tract at the Seven Mile Bridge, a point scientists had hoped would provide a natural obstacle. It first appeared off Virginia Key in 2014 and began spreading north, south and west. But until November 2017, it appeared to stop at the east end of the famous Keys bridge, Muller said.







Coral researchers tracked the death of this coral off Marathon east of the Seven Mile Bridge between February and March. This week scientists discovered the disease has moved west to the Lower Keys.
Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article209447494.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article209447494.html#storylink=cpy........................

[c-rational]

1. Thank you for this post-heartbreaking though it may be. And we have leaders who deny global warming

[NickB79]

2. Probably due to excessively warm water

Just like the starfish wasting disease outbreak a few years ago.

[Soxfan58]

3. BP?