1. Eyes of the ReefEyes of the Reef
Community Reporting NetworkCommunity Reporting Network
Coral Bleaching, Disease, COTS,Coral Bleaching, Disease, COTS,
and Marine Invasive Speciesand Marine Invasive Species

2. World Resources InstituteWorld Resources Institute
20112011
Global, map-basedGlobal, map-based
analysis of threats to theanalysis of threats to the
world’s coral reefsworld’s coral reefs
Threats:Threats:
Local:Local: overfishing,overfishing,
destructive fishing, coastaldestructive fishing, coastal
development, pollutiondevelopment, pollution
Global:Global: climate change ->climate change ->
rising ocean temperatures,rising ocean temperatures,
coral bleachingcoral bleaching

3. 75% world’s coral reefs currently threatened75% world’s coral reefs currently threatened
Threats have increased 30% in the past decadeThreats have increased 30% in the past decade

4. •In 2002, the US Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF)In 2002, the US Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF)
identified six management focus of nationwide threats:identified six management focus of nationwide threats:
• Coral reef fisheriesCoral reef fisheries
• Land-based pollutionLand-based pollution
• Lack of public awarenessLack of public awareness
• Recreational useRecreational use
• Coral bleachingCoral bleaching
• Reef organism diseaseReef organism disease
The USCRTF requested that each U.S. jurisdictionThe USCRTF requested that each U.S. jurisdiction
develop three-year plans, or local action strategiesdevelop three-year plans, or local action strategies
(LAS), for each of the priority threats(LAS), for each of the priority threats

5. • Climate Change and Marine Disease
• Aquatic Invasive Species
Address Hawaii’s need to maintain
reef resources in the face of increasing
human populations and changing
climatic conditions

6. Photo by Greta AebyPhoto by Greta Aeby
Photo by Greta AebyPhoto by Greta Aeby Photo by Greta AebyPhoto by Greta AebyPhoto by Darla WhitePhoto by Darla White

7. Rapid response by management agencies to
events of coral bleaching, coral disease, COTS,
and marine invasive species
• Requires Early Detection of these events
• Community Reporting System

8. Eyes of the Reef Network: Level I InvolvementEyes of the Reef Network: Level I Involvement
• All ocean usersAll ocean users
• Train to spot 5 dangers to reef healthTrain to spot 5 dangers to reef health
• Watch and report!Watch and report!
•Activate a rapid responseActivate a rapid response
by managementby management
•Develop a database ofDevelop a database of
changing reef conditionschanging reef conditions

9.  Coral Bleaching
 Coral Disease
 Crown-of-Thorns Sea Stars
 Marine Alien Invasive Species
 Native Species Blooms

10. You will know how to:
• Classify coral types by shape and texture
• Recognize and categorize coral diseases
• Differentiate between coral disease and biological
interactions
• Recognize the 5 most dangerous alien invasive algae
• Recognize and assess native invasive blooms
• Report reef threats to the Eyes of the Reef Network
YOU WILL BE THE “EYES” ON OUR HAWAIIAN REEFS

11. Our Reefs: The Facts
• Hawaii’s reefs are vast
– 410,000 acres, representing almost
85% of coral reefs under US protection
– Over 5,000 species, almost 25% endemic
– Culturally, economically, biologically critical

12. Coral Reefs 101
Coral reefsCoral reefs should be considered as wholewhole
ecosystems.ecosystems.
The habitathabitat and associated marine lifemarine life are
deeply interlinked!interlinked!
Coral reefs
evolved inevolved in
CleanClean,,
Clear,Clear,
Low nutrientLow nutrient
waterwater
•BiologyBiology
•PhysicsPhysics
•ChemistryChemistry
InseparableInseparable

13. Coral:Coral:
Animal,Animal,
Plant,Plant,
oror
Mineral?Mineral?

14. Corals as GardenersCorals as Gardeners
Plant: ZooxanthellaePlant: Zooxanthellae
ZooxanthellaeZooxanthellae
• Produce sugarsProduce sugars
(carbohydrates)(carbohydrates)
• Oxygen for theOxygen for the
coralcoral
• 90% of production90% of production
goes to coralgoes to coral
• Photosynthesis byPhotosynthesis by
zooxanthellae helpszooxanthellae helps
corals build theircorals build their
skeletons, formingskeletons, forming
reefsreefs
• Zooxanthellae giveZooxanthellae give
corals their colorcorals their color
Coral PolypCoral Polyp
Provides a safe homeProvides a safe home
Fertilizer from wasteFertilizer from waste
Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide
Photos courtesy of NOAA and Dr. Greta AebyPhotos courtesy of NOAA and Dr. Greta Aeby

15. Coral Reef Ecology
What does a healthy reef look like?

16. Bacteria
Virusses
Herbivores
Predators
Apex predators
Coral
Crustose coralline
algae
Benthic algae
Slide courtesy of Dr Mark VermeijSlide courtesy of Dr Mark Vermeij

17. Bleaching:
loss of symbiotic algae within coral tissue
leads to reduced growth, reproduction
and sometimes death
19981998
world-wideworld-wide
massmass
bleachingbleaching
16% of16% of
world’sworld’s

18. Understanding Coral Bleaching

19. Bleaching risk = regional SST + local weather
Regional temperature anomaly
+ Lack of clouds
+ Little to no wind
+ Weak currents
Understanding Coral Bleaching
Conditions conducive to bleaching

20. Causes of Mass Coral Bleaching
Relationship between intensity and
duration of temperature stress
Understanding Coral Bleaching
Thresholds are a function of temperature & time
4 degree heating weeks = bleaching
8 degree heating weeks = mortality

21. Sunlight
Max light level a
coral is adapted
to handle.
Damage from
excess light.
daily cycle
Full repair of
daily damage.
NORMAL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS
Roberto Iglesias, UNAM
Understanding Coral Bleaching

22. daily cycle
High temperature
lowers the light
threshold.
More light damage.
Not enough
repair, so damage
builds up.
STRESSFUL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS
Sunlight
Roberto Iglesias, UNAM
Understanding Coral Bleaching

23.  Bleached coral enhances light
 Normal conditions: coral skeleton
scatters light to enhance the light
field for the zooxanthellae
 Bleaching: more light reaching the
skeleton, more scattering, more
enhancement of the light field
 Past a tipping-point, the bleaching
makes the cause of bleaching
worse
Understanding Coral Bleaching

24.  Severe stress
may cause
cell death
directly
 Starvation
from chronic
bleaching
may occur in
the long term.
Understanding Coral Bleaching

25. Courtesy of K. Michalek-Wagner
• Less calcification / slower growth rates
• Less reproductive output
• Less resistance to disease and competition
Photo: Andrew Baird
Understanding Coral Bleaching

26. Bleaching = mortality unless:
• Temperatures soon drop below thresholds
• Corals have good lipid reserves
• Corals can feed heterotrophically
Understanding Coral Bleaching
Physiology of bleaching

27. Photo: Masanori Nonaka
Recovery of coral populations is dependent on:
▪ Growth of surviving colonies
▪ Recruitment of new corals
Understanding Coral Bleaching

28. The first mass bleaching occurred in 1996 in the
main Hawaiian Islands.
A second major bleaching event occurred in 2002
centered in the northern portion of the Archipelago

30. Midway backreef Sept. 2002

31. Midway backreef July 2003

32. Maui - Montipora & Pocillopora:
Molokini, Kapalua Bay, Makena
Landing, Maluaka, Kahakeli
Big Island – Montipora:
Along West Coast
O‘ahu - Montipora:
North Shore

33. Coral Disease

34. Disease: Any impairment of vital body
functions, systems, or organs.
• Biotic
– Causal agent a living organism
• Pathogen,such as viruses or bacteria
• Parasites
• Abiotic
– Causal agent an environmental stressor
• Changes in salinity, temperature, light, etc.
• Exposure to toxic chemicals

35. Black band
Coral disease
Before 1996: 4 diseases described
2004: 29 diseases described
Aspergillosis
White pox
Yellow band
Dark spots

36. Black band
Florida Keys
1996-2000
# stations w/ disease: 26 -> 131
# coral species w/ disease: 11 -> 36
Overall coral cover: decreased by 37%
Porter et al. (2002)
Aspergillosis
White pox
Yellow band
Dark spots

37. Black band
Australia
GBR
1998-2003
# reefs w/ white syndrome: 4 -> 33
avg. # cases of white syndrome/reef: 1.7 -> 47.7
Willis et al. (2004)
Lobophyllia white syndrome Acropora white syndrome
Acropora growth anomalies

38. Disease outbreaks across the Indo-Pacific

39. Coral disease
in Hawaii
18 disease states
widespread
low prevalence
Montipora multi-focal TLS
Montipora dark band
Por trematodiasis
Poc white-band disease
Acrop white syndrome
Acrop growth anomalies
Porites growth anomalies

40. The first disease outbreak occurred in 2003 at French
Frigate Shoals
Acropora white syndrome

41. May 2005
May 2006
Acropora white syndrome
kills coral

42. Year # reefs surveyed # reefs w/ AWS
2002 6 0
2003 7 1
2004 6 3
2005 5 4
2006 9 7
AWS is spreading across FFS

43. Outbreak of Montipora
white syndrome

44. Montipora white syndrome
2006
2007
Sept 2006
57 colonies tagged
Rate of tissue lost:
~3% of colony/month
Sept 2007
53 colonies (93%) suffered
partial to total mortality
Case fatality rate:
2006-2007=7%
2006-2008=28%

45. Montipora white syndrome – Acute Outbreak
Kaneohe Bay – 2010

46. Montipora white
syndrome outbreak
Dr Greta Aeby & team
surveyed 12 sites
198 colonies

47. 3-22-10
4-1-10
Acute Montipora White Syndrome

48. April 2010 April 2011

49. 2nd
outbreak of acute MWS
Kaneohe Bay
December 2011

50. 2012 surveys
NB
CB
SB
area 2010 2012
SB 313 1179
CB 0 23
NB 39 30
3
8
46
2
17
0
3
10
285
31
46
163
86
132
239
197
MWS outbreak
2012
Rapid response surveys

51. Outbreak of Montipora White Syndrome on Maui in 2008
Ahihi Kinau, Maui
MWS prevalence=9.5%

54. 2008-2011
M. capitata declined from
48.5% to 27.5%
Ross et al., in press
MWS outbreak on Maui
March 2010
Sept. 2010

55. EOR report
Terry Lilley
March 2011
Tunnels, Kauai

56. EOR report: Terry Lilley Kauai, November 2012

57. EOR report: Terry Lilley Kauai, November 2012

58. EOR report: Terry Lilley Kauai, November 2012

60. GBR- 3 major COTS outbreaks in the past 40 years

61. Sept 1969-Nov 1970
Outbreak of COTS
off Molokai
20,000 animals
Branham et al. 1971. Science 172(3988):1155-1157

62. Sept 2005
Outbreak of COTS
off Oahu
1,000 animals
5 min tow
2,260m2
Kenyon & Aeby, in press
CRED

63. Naturally occurring in small numbers,
but report unusually large numbers of COTS
Causes for COTS outbreaks:
- Increased nutrients lead to increased planktonic
food for larvae
- Fluctuations in salinity and temperature contribute
to larval survival
- Removal of natural predators
- Triton trumpets, Harlequin shrimp, stripebelly
puffers

64. Maui’s Kihei coast
lost potential revenue $20 million
Oahu
Smothering corals

65. Fish disease
Tumors in butterflyfish
severe
mild
moderate
Skin cancer in kole

66. • Coastal Development
– Nutrient runoff
• Injection wells, cesspools,
septic tanks
• Agriculture, ranching
• Fertilizing
– Sedimentation
– Pollution

67. Maui’s Reefs in Danger
Sedimentation Invasive Algae
Over Fishing
Over-use
Groundings and
Anchor Damage

68. Maui Monitoring Program

69. Changing weather patterns
Increased sea surface temperatures
Ocean Acidification
Decreases in Coral growth and
recruitment
Increases in:
Coral Bleaching
Coral Disease

70. Climate Change + increasing anthropogenic stressors
Reefs at risk

71. Are Hawaii’s reefs at risk?
YES!

73. 1. What type of coral?
2. What kind of change?
– Is there a change in color?
– Are there growths or protuberances?

74. Cauliflower CoralLace Coral Antler Coral
Key features:
• Discrete, branching coral heads
• Wart-like surface
• Polyps between and on
projections
(Pocillopora)

76. Red Blue
Key features:
• Encrusting, plate-like
• “Rice-like” projections
• Polyps between projections
Tan/Purple
(Montipora)

78. Massive Corals:
• Surface smooth,
• crowded, small polyps
• Forms mounds, plates,
encrustations, fingers
Finger CoralMounding Coral Plate and Pillar
(Porites)

80. Key features:
• Encrusting
• “Corrugated” appearance:
steep-sided ridges
• Polyps in valleys
(Pavona)

82. Rice Coral
Smooth Coral

83. Small/Branching Coral
Smooth Coral

84. Rice Coral

85. Smooth
Coral
Corrugated
Coral

87. 1. What type of coral?
2. What kind of change?
– Is there a change in color?
• Bleaching? Disease? Predation? Other?
– Are there growths or protuberances?

88. 1. What type of coral?
2. What kind of change?
– Is there a change in color?
• Bleaching? Disease? Predation? Other?
– Are there growths or protuberances?

89. Is the coral colony white?
Bleaching Bare Skeleton

90. • loss of symbiotic
algae within coral
tissue
– Polyps are alive
and present
– Leaves
transparent coral
tissue

91. Large, complete
colonies
Look for polyps!
Spotty
Appearance

92. • Fast growing branching
and plates corals first to
bleach
• Some change color

93. Is the coral colony white?
Bleaching Bare Skeleton

94. Predation Disease
Predator present?
Pattern of tissue loss
Progressive tissue loss

95. One or more:
– Progressive tissue loss
– Spotty, uneven areas
of bare skeleton
– Distinct banding
Pocillopora
white-band disease
Multi-focal tissue loss
Porites Tissue Loss
Montipora White
Syndrome
Montipora banded
tissue loss

96. • Discolored area, purple or red
• Raised, pink “zits”
Porites Trematodiasis
Pavona
Endolithic
Hypermycosis

97. 1. What type of coral?
2. What kind of change?
– Is there a change in color?
• Bleaching? Disease? Predation? Other?
– Are there growths or protuberances?

98. Porites Growth Anomalies
Montipora Growth Anomalies
Excess skeletal growth
- Paler tissue
- Enlarged calices

100. Natural Interactions between coral and other organisms
can be mistaken for disease or bleaching.
Do Not Report:
• Fish Predation
• Invertebrate Predation Burrowing
• Coral Competition
• Algal Interactions

101. • Numerous distinct
bites
• Large, deep scrapes
• Fresh bites over old
Blennies
Filefish
Parrotfish

102. Kahe
crab
Shrimp
burrows
COTS
Drupella snails

103. • Coral tissue
discoloration due to
algal interactions
Toxic compounds
Abrasion

104. • Colonies use stinging cells, resulting in
white, dead areas

105. Naturally occurring in small numbers,
but report unusually large numbers of COTS
Causes for COTS outbreaks:
- Increased nutrients lead to increased planktonic
food for larvae
- Fluctuations in salinity and temperature contribute
to larval survival
- Removal of natural predators
- Triton trumpets, Harlequin shrimp, stripebelly
puffers

106. Prefer small/branching corals
and rice coral
– Look for bare, white skeleton,
often with some live healthy
coral
– Look for animals in vicinity

109. COTS predation: note
tissue down in branches
Montipora growth anomaly

110. Porites trematodiasis
Discoloration due to
biological interaction

111. COTS predation: note
newly bare skeleton with no
discoloration, progression
or algal growth
Montipora White Syndrome:
note progressing deterioration

112. Growth Anomalies

113. Bleaching
Fish predation

114. Spotty Coral Bleaching:
Live coral polyps, irregular
sizes and shapes
Porites Multi-Focal Tissue
Loss: Intact, bare skeleton,
some algal growth in
middle

115. Coral Competition: Note
white are where two
colonies come together

116. Montipora Band Disease: note
dark band with progressing
deterioration
Pavona dark spot

120. Calculate percent affected

121. Calculate percent affected

122. •Percent Live Cover
•Percent Coral Affected
•# animals
EOR investigation

125. • Clear, clean, low nutrient water
– prevents algae from growing overly fast
• Intense grazing by fish and invertebrates
– controls algal biomass

126. Phase Shifts on Coral ReefsPhase Shifts on Coral Reefs
Transition from coral dominated to algal dominated reef

127. Lahaina, Maui: Cladophora spp.
•Algal overgrowth by:
–Introduced alien species
–Invasive native algae

128. The largest and most
destructive invasive algae in
Hawai‘i
• Branches coarse and
heavy, thick as a finger
• Up to 2m tall
• Shiny green to yellow
orange
• Gnarled with spines to
tangled, fleshy mats
• Found on calm reef flats
(Kappaphycus, Eucheuma)

129. Massive blooms on Maui
– Responds to increased
nitrogen and phosphorus
and fragments easily
• Flattened “hooks” at tips
• Usually red, varying to yellow
• Long, tendril-like branches
• Often attached to other algae
• May form large mats
• Found on calm, intertidal and
shallow reef flats
(Hypnea musciformis)

130. Massive blooms on
O‘ahu and overtaking fishponds on
Moloka‘i
- 3 dimensional growth, adapts to
most conditions
- Brittle, smallest fragment can grow
• Cylindrical, brittle branches, forked at tips
• Tips bluntly rounded
• Varies in color from bright yellow at tips to
orange or brown at base
• Found intertidal to subtidal to 4m
(Gracilaria salicornia)

131. Most common alien alga
- Responds quickly to
nutrients, out-competing &
displacing native species
- Grazed by fish and turtles
• Spine-like, brittle branches
• Red, brown to yellow in bright sunlight
• Easily fragment, forms floating masses
• Attaches to rock and coral rubble
• Found in brackish ponds, tide pools,
intertidal and reef flats
(Acanthophora spicifera)

132. Once established—very competitive
- Soft-bottom & deep water habitats
- Competing with native species and
endemic seagrass
• Fan-shaped, spongy blades
• Green to gray-green
• Densely clustered blades attached to a
thick stalk
• Clumps often covered with silty sand,
appearing muddy brown
• Calm, sandy bottoms, 1-80 m
(Avrainvillea amadelpha)

133. Upside-down Jellyfish
– Usually lies upside down on bottom
– Yellow-brown with white or pale spots
and streaks
– 12-14 inches in diameter
– Frilly tentacles, mistaken for
anemones
Snowflake Coral
– Polyps have eight tentacles
– Polyps and branches white,
but branches may appear
orange from encrusting sponge
– Settles and grows on other
corals and shellfish
(Carijoa)
(Cassiopea)

134. Common algae and invertebrate species that bloom
out of control
– Response to changing environmental conditions
– Nutrients
– Sedimentation
• Unusual organism that appears
to be spreading quickly
• Changes in biodiversity
• Stressed or overgrown corals
• Change in water quality, clarity
• All types of reef locations

135. • Blue-green algae, Honaunau
– Leptolyngbya crosbyana
• Green Bubble algae, Kāne‘ohe
Bay, O‘ahu
– Dictyosphaeria cavernosa
• Blue Octocoral, Kona Coast
– Sarcothelia edmondsoni

137. Leather Mudweed

138. Gorillo Ogo

139. Smothering Seaweed

140. Prickly Seaweed

143. Hookweed

144. Fish disease
Tumors in butterflyfish
severe
mild
moderate
Skin cancer in kole

145. Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work
`Ahihi Kina`u`Ahihi Kina`u

146. Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work
`Ahihi Kina`u`Ahihi Kina`u

147. Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work
Honlua BayHonlua Bay

148. Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work
Honlua BayHonlua Bay

149. Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work
Honlua BayHonlua Bay

150. Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work
KahekiliKahekili

151. `Ahihi Kina`u
The Aquarium
Photo Credits: Matt Ramsey, Greta Aeby, & Thierry Work

152. http://www.reefcheckhawaii.org/eyesofthereef.htm

157. http://eyesofthereef.myphotoalbum.com
Username: eotr
Password: eotr

158. Report unusual events of bleaching, disease or COTS to:
www.reefcheckhawaii.org/eyesofthereef.htm
808-953-4044
or
EOR site coordinators
Kauai: Paul Clark
SOS@saveourseas.org
Big Island: Linda Preskitt
preskitt@hawaii.edu
Maui: Darla White
Darla.J.White@hawaii.gov
Coral bleaching, disease & marine invasives reporting network

159. • Volunteers and members
• Reef Check Hawai‘i
• Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB)
• Malama Kai
• Project Aware
• DLNR/DAR/DOFAW-HISC