The journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms recently published a great collection of papers on coral diseases, focusing on the role of environment and microorganisms in diseases of corals. The articles are all open access; you can download the PDFs by clicking on the links below. The papers are the result of a special session at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, held in July 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Kiho Kim, Cathie A. Page, C. Drew Harvell organized the session and edited the papers.
Yellow band disease. Photo from Akumal Mexico, 2001 by J. Bruno.
Over the last several decades, diseases have become increasingly important in the decline of coral reefs. Yet the study of coral diseases is still nascent. Most disease conditions are not well characterized, the causative microbial agents are known for only a few, and we are only beginning to comprehend the role of environmental factors in disease emergence and impact. In this second special issue of DAO on coral diseases, we present an update on coral disease research, including new advances in the microbiology of causative agents and the role of climate as a driver of disease. We also consider management needs in light of a rapidly changing environment of coral diseases.
Publication date: November 16, 2009
Editors: Kiho Kim, Cathie A. Page, C. Drew Harvell
Kim K, Page CA, Harvell CD
INTRODUCTION: The role of environment and microorganisms in diseases of corals: overview of DAO Special 5
DAO 87:1-3 | Full text in pdf format 
Sokolow S
Effects of a changing climate on the dynamics of coral infectious disease: a review of the evidence
DAO 87:5-18 | Full text in pdf format
Bruckner AW, Hill RL
Ten years of change to coral communities off Mona and Desecheo Islands, Puerto Rico, from disease and bleaching
DAO 87:19-31 | Full text in pdf format
Cróquer A, Weil E
Changes in Caribbean coral disease prevalence after the 2005 bleaching event
DAO 87:33-43 | Full text in pdf format
Weil E, Cróquer A, Urreiztieta I
Yellow band disease compromises the reproductive output of the Caribbean reef-building coral Montastraea faveolata(Anthozoa, Scleractinia)
DAO 87:45-55 | Full text in pdf format
Krediet CJ, Ritchie KB, Teplitski M
Catabolite regulation of enzymatic activities in a white pox pathogen and commensal bacteria during growth on mucus polymers from the coral Acropora palmata
DAO 87:57-66 | Full text in pdf format
Mydlarz LD, Couch CS, Weil E, Smith G, Harvell CD
Immune defenses of healthy, bleached and diseased Montastraea faveolata during a natural bleaching event
DAO 87:67-78 | Full text in pdf format
Richardson LL, Miller AW, Broderick E, Kaczmarsky L, Gantar M, Stanić D, Sekar R
Sulfide, microcystin, and the etiology of black band disease
DAO 87:79-90 | Full text in pdf format
Rasoulouniriana D, Siboni N, Ben-Dov E, Kramarsky-Winter E, Loya Y, Kushmaro A
Pseudoscillatoria coralii gen. nov., sp. nov., a cyanobacterium associated with coral black band disease (BBD)
DAO 87:91-96 | Full text in pdf format
Myers RL, Raymundo LJ
Coral disease in Micronesian reefs: a link between disease prevalence and host abundance
DAO 87:97-104 | Full text in pdf format
Haapkylä J, Unsworth RKF, Seymour AS, Melbourne-Thomas J, Flavell M, Willis BL, Smith DJ
Spatio-temporal coral disease dynamics in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, South-East Sulawesi, Indonesia
DAO 87:105-115 | Full text in pdf format
Brandt ME, McManus JW
Dynamics and impact of the coral disease white plague: insights from a simulation model
DAO 87:117-133 | Full text in pdf format
Page CA, Baker DM, Harvell CD, Golbuu Y, Raymundo L, Neale SJ, Rosell KB, Rypien KL, Andras JP, Willis BL
Influence of marine reserves on coral disease prevalence
DAO 87:135-150 | Full text in pdf format
