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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Coral Reef Research
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1512371
This article is part of the Research Topic Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the Caribbean View all 50 articles

Assessing the Impact of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) on Coral Cover on Bonaire's Leeward Side

Provisionally accepted
Bernardo Aurelio Pepe Bernardo Aurelio Pepe 1,2*Viggo Van Der Roest Viggo Van Der Roest 1,2Olivier Vlam Olivier Vlam 1,2Sam Nouse Sam Nouse 1,2Erik H. Meesters Erik H. Meesters 2*
  • 1 Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • 2 Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Den Helder, Netherlands

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The effects of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) in the Dutch Caribbean, specifically in Bonaire, have not been documented since its first sighting in March 2023. By comparing the results of the 2023 surveys with data from previous surveys conducted over the past 9 years, this study quantifies the overall decline in coral cover and investigates the spatial variability of SCTLD's impact across different subregions of the reef on the leeward side of Bonaire. In the year 2023, a crucial period in the initial phase of the progression of SCTLD, significant reduction in coral coverage was observed, with six key reef-building coral species showing significant vulnerability. Importantly, this research identifies specific subregions that have been disproportionately affected. The insights gained from this study are important for the potential development of specific conservation and restoration strategies for Bonaire, underscoring the necessity for ongoing ecosystem monitoring to safeguard the future of highly sensitive coral reefs in a changing ocean. By advancing our understanding of SCTLD dynamics, this research contributes to the global effort to preserve coral reef ecosystems in the face of emerging coral diseases.

    Keywords: Coral Reef Decline1, Bonaire Coral Health2, Coral Disease Outbreak3, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD)4, Dutch Caribbean Marine Conservation5, Coral Disease Outbreak6, Wageningen Marine research7

    Received: 16 Oct 2024; Accepted: 11 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Pepe, Van Der Roest, Vlam, Nouse and Meesters. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Bernardo Aurelio Pepe, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
    Erik H. Meesters, Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Den Helder, 1781, Netherlands

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.