Abstract Summary
In February 2018, an outbreak of coral disease with multiple pathologies was observed at the Killer Pillar dive site in the West Bay Marine Park off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman. By June 2018, seven individual colonies of Dendrogyra cylindrus were infected by a combination of black-band and white-plague coral disease. Within a few months, the disease had spread rapidly both within and between colonies of D. cylindrus leading to high levels of partial mortality and morbidity of the infected colonies. Because this charismatic coral is rare and based on the rapid and catastrophic losses of D. cylindrus in Florida from 2014-2017 to a similar combination of diseases, it was determined that rapid intervention was warranted. An emergency triage plan was initiated and included using a combination of methods. These included: (1) placing silicon tape around the pillar directly above the active disease band to halt the progression of the disease, (2) the application of quick-setting underwater epoxy directly to the active disease band to smother the active disease, (3) removal of healthy tissue fragments for propagation at local coral nurseries, and (4) the salvage of whole pillars from the diseased colonies. To accomplish the latter, the healthy portions of the upright pillars were sawed off above the active disease band by science officers of the Department of Environment, Cayman Islands. These pillars were then relocated to a new location away from the disease site and reattached directly to the reef using Portland cement. In total, 16 individual pillars were relocated in the restoration effort. Based upon preliminary results, it appears that active intervention and rapid relocation of the pillars has been successful (100% initial survivorship with no active disease signs). Due to the initial success of the operation, additional pillars are slated to be relocated within the next few weeks (August 2018). If longer-term monitoring results prove equally successful, the salvage, relocation and restoration of actively diseased coral colonies could become an everyday tool in the restoration toolbox for coral reef managers.
