Widespread Occurrence of Coral Growth Anomalies in the Republic of Maldives

In the last decades, there has been a concerning increase in the frequency and severity of coral disease outbreaks on a global scale, resulting in significant damage to the coral reef ecosystem and biodiversity. Growth anomalies (GAs) have been increasingly observed, with significantly higher occurr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chiara Bises, Inga Dehnert, Greta Aeby, Michelle Dennis, Jacopo Gobbato, Jessica Hodge, Miriam Staiger, Federica Siena, Paolo Galli, Simone Montano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/1/15
Description
Summary:In the last decades, there has been a concerning increase in the frequency and severity of coral disease outbreaks on a global scale, resulting in significant damage to the coral reef ecosystem and biodiversity. Growth anomalies (GAs) have been increasingly observed, with significantly higher occurrences in larger and older coral colonies compared to their smaller counterparts. However, there is a notable lack of knowledge and reports regarding growth anomalies in the Maldivian region. Here, we provide the first evidence of four distinct growth anomalies on three coral species, respectively on <i>Acropora</i> sp., <i>Montipora</i> sp., and <i>Pachyseris speciosa</i>, observed across four different locations across three atolls within the Maldivian Archipelago.
ISSN:1424-2818