‘YELLOW SYNDROME’ IN SCLERACTINIAN CORALS THROUGHOUT BINTAN DISTRICT, KEPULAUAN RIAU PROVINCE, INDONESIA
Abstract: Coral disease
surveys were conducted in Bintan, Kepulauan Riau Province. The purpose was to
identify the abundance of corals showing signs of Yellow Syndrome (YS) disease
and to describe similar pathological signs to that of AYBD throughout Bintan
District. Three belt transects (2 m x 50 m in size) were set up to determine
the abundance of coral reef attacked by YS disease. Line intercept transects
were used to determine the percentage of live corals in the surveyed areas. The
survey showed that the YS disease syndrome attacked 8 different genera i.e.
Acropora, Montipora, Porites, Pavona, Turbinaria, Favia, Platygyra, and
Favites. The highest attack happened at Mapur Island (0.06 kol/m2) on Porites
lutea, Turbinaria peltata, T. mesenterina, Acropora bruggemanni, and Pavona
frondifera. The survey also indicated that there may have been at least two
types of YS i.e. the first type caused by a boring and/or over-growing sponge
species and the second type caused by a kind of pathogenic microbe. Regardless
the causal agent of YS, the severity of YS attack on coral urged immediate
action to be undertaken and should include initial microscopic and histology
examinations. Based on this initial microscopic and histology examinations it
was found out that YS bears a close resemblance to the Arabian Yellow Band
Disease. This study, however, argued that the word “disease” may have been
incorrectly used without identifying a specific causal agent.
Keywords: Arabian Yellow Band
Disease; coral disease; sponge
Author: Ofri Johan, Agus
Budianto
Journal Code: jpperikanangg170012
