Come join us in the Library for a presentation either in person or via webinar!
Speaker: William F. Precht, Director Marine & Coastal Programs, Dial Cordy and Associates, Inc., Miami FL
Abstract: Following a major coral bleaching event in the late summer of 2014, we documented the impact of an extremely high-prevalence outbreak of white-plague disease (a.k.a. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease) at 14 sites off southeastern Florida. The first signs of active disease were observed near Virginia Key, Florida, in late September 2014. After four years the disease has spread the length of the Florida Reef Tract from Key West in the south to Martin County in the north. The disease outbreak has affected at least 17 coral species. Eusmilia fastigiata, Meandrina meandrites, and Dichocoenia stokesi were the most heavily impacted coral species and were reduced to <3% of their initial population densities in Miami-Dade County. Several other coral species, including Colpophyllia natans, Pseudodiploria strigosa, Diploria labyrinthiformis, and Orbicella annularis were reduced to <25% of their initial densities. Similar observations by other researchers have been made throughout Florida. Importantly, there appears to be a strong phylogenetic preference to disease susceptibility and mortality patterns observed regionally, however, to-date a putative pathogen has not been isolated. The high prevalence of disease, the number of susceptible species, its transmissibility, and the high mortality of corals affected suggests this disease outbreak is arguably one of the most lethal ever recorded on a contemporary coral reef system. Recent reports of continued spread through other regions of the Caribbean (Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Yucatan of Mexicco, the USVI, and St. Maarten) is troubling indeed and may portend continued decline to a reef system already at risk.
About the Speaker: Since completing his graduate degree from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Bill has specialized in the assessment, monitoring, restoration, and rehabilitation of various coastal resources, especially coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove systems. His contributions to the professional and academic ecological sciences community are nationally and internationally recognized, particularly in regard to historical ecology and the application of ecological principals to coastal restoration. Bill’s work draws upon significant, state-of-the-art research experience in field studies and theoretical analysis. From 2002-2008 he served as the Chief Scientist responsible for the long-term monitoring of the reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. He was also NOAA’s Program Manager of the Damage Assessment, Restoration and Resource Protection Program for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary from 2008-2012. He has been the Director of Marine and Coastal Programs for Dial Cordy and Assoc. since 2012. He is based in Miami, FL.
