White band disease has been ravaging staghorn and elkhorn coral colonies in the Caribbean, but researchers have now pinpointed the major pathogenic agent behind this devastating phenomenon.
Professor Steven Vollmer from Northeastern University and his team utilized a combination of fieldwork, tank experiments, and machine learning models to identify the culprit as a berry-shaped bacterium named Cysteiniphilum litorale.
This discovery is crucial as white band disease, linked to rising water temperatures, has decimated over 90% of these coral species since the 1970s. Vollmer’s research indicates that identifying this bacterium allows for better screening of corals before transplantation efforts.
Currently, environmentalists are cultivating disease-resistant corals in nurseries, ensuring they are disease-free through a three-month quarantine. By testing for Cysteiniphilum litorale, researchers can expedite the process of reintroducing healthy corals back into the wild.
Vollmer emphasizes the importance of isolating pathogens to understand the complex dynamics of coral diseases, marking a significant step forward in marine conservation efforts.