Home Institution
University of Virginia
Publication Date
Fall 2016
Abstract
Coral mortality from disease and other afflictions is a rising concern for reefs around the world. The aim of this study was to provide to a baseline for the prevalence of coral disease and other afflictions, which indicate compromised coral health, in Chumbe Island Coral Park, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Chumbe's reef experienced a widespread bleaching event earlier this year and this baseline study will provide a starting point to see how the bleaching event affected the prevalence of disease and other afflictions within the reef. A baseline study will also allow the park to investigate if their current monitoring procedures are effective in protecting the coral from disease and other afflictions. Results based mostly on signs of compromised reef health indicate that the north is the unhealthiest region of the reef, while the south is the healthiest. Infectious disease is currently at relatively low numbers on the reef, but if the other afflictions are not addressed the numbers could rise drastically in the near future.
Disciplines
Biodiversity | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Environmental Sciences | Environmental Studies | Marine Biology | Oceanography | Sustainability
Recommended Citation
Turley, Hannah, "Coral Disease in Chumbe Island Coral Park: A baseline survey of the prevalence of coral disease and other afflictions within Chumbe Marine Protected Area" (2016). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2440.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2440
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Oceanography Commons, Sustainability Commons
Program Name
Tanzania-Zanzibar: Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management