Progressive coral tissue mortality following predation by a corallivorous nudibranch ('Phestilla' sp.)

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that predatory organisms, such as the fireworm 'Hermodice carunculata' (a winter reservoir of the bacterial pathogen Vibrio shiloi) may become vectors of microbial pathogens at high seawater temperatures, resulting in disease of scleractinian corals (Sussman et al. 2003). During coral disease/syndrome laboratory experiments conducted on the common eastern Australian subtropical scleractinian coral 'Turbinaria mensenterina', spreading mortality was noted following predation by a cryptic corallivorous nudibranch.