Stressors of Eastern Australian Subtropical Corals: Australian Subtropical White Syndrome and Coral Bleaching

Abstract

Subtropical benthic communities associated with island fringing reefs along eastern Australian are comprised of a mix of tropical, subtropical and temperate coral species that compete with other sessile organisms such as macroalgae for available substrate. Increasingly, various types of perturbation, both natural and anthropogenic, are exerting stress on these subtropical coral communities. My research focused on the ecology of progressive coral tissue loss associated with a subtropical disease epizootic. Additionally, I completed 'in situ' coral stress surveys and monitored the benthic community at representative eastern Australia subtropical locations (Flinders Reefs southern Queensland, Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP), Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP) and South West Rocks northern New South Wales) to determine if disease and/or bleaching were affecting coral cover. Observations made in the field, with respect to the mode of disease spread and the impacts of ambient temperature were further explored in aquarium experiments using 'Turbinaria mesenterina' and 'Pocillopora damicornis'.