Studies on coral disease in Turbinaria peltata

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21510247
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Resource conservation science
• Research Institution: Okinawa National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: YAMASHIRO Hideyuki 沖縄工業高等専門学校, 生物資源工学科, 教授 (80341676)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2011
• Keywords: 保全生物 / 病気 / オオスリバチサンゴ / 宮崎県

Research Abstract

We studied the coral disease-like syndrome found on the colony of Turbinaria peltata which is distributed in the temperate region of Japan, where coral reefs do not develop. On the basis of spot size and color of the syndrome this was described as a new coral disease-like syndrome, white spot syndrome(WSS). The bleached spots, where the number of zooxanthellae was decreased(29% of ordinary tissue), were roughly circular and about 1cm in diameter. Almost one third of the colonies(total of 100 colonies examined) were affected, and sometimes resulted in coral death. Isolation of bacteria collected from those coral surface, many bacteria including Vibrio were identified. Although infection experiment was done using cultured Vibrio sp. onto Okinawan Turbinaria peltata, focal bleaching was not appeared. WSS has been increasing among other coral species even including soft corals. The causative agent(s) is still unclear but bacterial infection is suggested because of its shape(circular), size(1 cm in diam.), distribution in the colony and temperature-dependent increase.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Volcanic ashfall preserved in the skeleton of Acropora (2012)
  • Author(s): Yamashiro, H. and H. Fukami.
  • Journal Title: Galaxea, JCRS Volume: (in press)
• [Journal Article] White spot syndrome of Turbinaria peltata in the temperate region of Japan (2009)
  • Author(s): Yamashiro, H. and M. Fukuda.
  • Journal Title: Coral Reefs Volume: vol.28 Pages: 893
• [Presentation] 宮崎産オオスリバチサンゴのホワイトスポットシンドロームについて (2009)
  • Author(s): 山城秀之・磯村尚子・池松真也
  • Organizer: 日本サンゴ礁学会(第12回大会)
  • Year and Date: 20090000
• [Remarks] 山城秀之. 2010.サンゴの病気(p50).田中聡(編)造礁サンゴ-楽園をつくった偉大な建築家-沖縄県立博物館・美術館. 56pp.
• [Remarks] 山城秀之. 2009.サンゴの病気と環境.環境省Lagoon vol.13 pp.2-4.
• [Remarks] MRT宮崎2012.ニュース(ニュースNEXT)に出演(サンゴが火山灰に負けず生息)
• [Remarks] 読売新聞九州版2012.1面に掲載「サンゴ骨格に火山灰」
• [Remarks] MRT宮崎. 2012.特別番組に出演
• [Remarks] 読売新聞九州版2009.1面に掲載「謎の病サンゴ守れ」
• [Remarks] 朝日新聞2009.1面に掲載「サンゴを襲う謎の死病」
• [Remarks] ヤフーニュース(トップ)に掲載