Coral Lesions Around Some Iranian Islands in the Persian Gulf

Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies 13: 5-6（2011）

Photogallery

Coral lesions around some Iranian Islands in the Persian Gulf

Javid KAVOUSI* and Hamid REZAI

Iranian National Center for Oceanography, P.O. Box 14155-4181, Tehran, Iran

* Corresponding author: J. Kavousi E-mail: [email protected]

Communicated by Beatriz E. Casareto (Biogeochemistry Editor)

Keywords coral lesions, Iranian islands, the Persian Gulf

Little is known about the prevalence of coral diseases and their effects on coral community structure in the Persian Gulf (Rezai et al. 2004). Previously, White Band, Black Band and Yellow Band Diseases (YBD) have been reported from the southern part of the Persian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates (Korrûbel and Riegl 1998; Riegl 2002). More recently, YBD occurred in the northern part of the Gulf, around Farur (26°15′N, 54°33′E) and Kish (26°29′N, 53°53′E) Islands, in 2000 and 2002, respectively (Rezai et al. 2004). During 2009 coral surveys, some coral lesions were observed for the ﬁ rst time around three Iranian islands (3-4 times for each island in the year). Serpulid worm invasion, along with pink spots (Fig. 1A) and an unusual bleaching pattern (Fig. 1B) on Porites colonies, was observed at Qeshm Island (26°55′N, 56°16′E) in the southeast. It was the prevalent destructive factor; causing large coral mortality (Samimi-Namin et al. 2010). Moreover, in the south of Qeshm Island, tissue loss on Platygyra daedalea (Fig. 1C) and YBD-like signs on Favites (Fig. 1D) were observed. Pigmentation response (Fig. 1E) on Porites lutea and white syndrome on Acropora colonies (Fig. 1F) were also recorded from Hengam Island (26°37′N, 55°50′E). Furthermore, growth anomalies (GA) on Favia (Fig. 1G) were noted on Larak Island (26°53′N, 56°23′E). GA in a variety of shapes and sizes was the only disease on P. daedalea (Fig. 1H), occurring on three islands throughout the year. Except for a GA on Favia (Fig. 1G) in 12 meters depth, all other lesions were observed in shallow waters of 2-6 meters depth. It is not clear what exactly caused the lesions, however, it has been demonstrated that serpulid infestations among other factors were the result of persistent red tides in Qeshm Island (Samimi-Namin et al. 2010) and in the region occurring during 2008-2010, but it is

Fig. 1 A serpulid worms and pink spots and B unusual bleaching of Porites C tissue loss in Platygyra daedalea D YBD-like signs on Favites E pigmentation response on Porites lutea F white syndrome on Acropora G and H growth anomalies on Favia and P. daedalea, respectively 6 Kavousi and Rezai: Coral lesions around some Iranian Islands in the Persian Gulf disputable whether the red tides could be the causative factor for the other observed lesions. Although, the abundance and distribution of the affected colonies were limited (e.g. YBD-like signs on Favites (Fig. 1D) and growth anomalies on Favia (Fig. 1G) on two colonies, and pink spots (Fig. 1A) on many colonies, but in a small region), and further survey and investigations on these matters are necessary, the new lesions could be an alarm for the corals in the Persian Gulf, which could encounter widespread coral mortalities due to diseases in the years to come.

Acknowledgments Thanks to Drs T. Goreau, C. Woodley, E. Peters, J. Cervino, D. Fenner, Mr. K. Samimi-Namin and two unknown reviewers for their pro fessional comments. We also appreciate Dr. J.D. Reimer for his English editing.

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