Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Black-band disease in the Florida Keys Completed

By St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center September 25, 2018

Photos of corals affected by black-band disease in the Florida Keys.

Black-band disease (BBD) is one of the most easily identified coral diseases because of its distinctive appearance. The black band is a bacterial mat, consisting of cyanobacteria, sulfide-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing bacteria. As such, BBD is viewed as a polymicrobial disease, since all members of the microbial consortium must be present to cause tissue death on the coral. As the bacterial mat moves over the coral, the tissue is killed by the lack of oxygen, increased sulfide, and possibly also due to toxins produced by the cyanobacteria. As shown in the photos in this gallery, the black band is at the interface between the healthy coral tissue and the dead skeleton that remains as a result of the disease. BBD affects more than 40 species of coral and is found in marine waters all over the world. Credit for all photos: USGS/Christina Kellogg.

Brain coral, Diploria strigosa, affected by black-band disease Brain coral, Diploria clivosa, affected by black-band disease Star coral, Montastraea faveolata, affected by black-band disease Grooved brain coral affected by black-band disease Lobed star coral affected by black-band disease Symmetrical brain coral affected by black-band disease Star coral, Montastraea faveolata, and black-band disease Colony of Colpophyllia breviserialis affected by black-band disease Star coral, Montastraea cavernosa, and black-band disease Colony brain coral, Diploria clivosa, affected by black-band disease Star coral, Dichocoenia stokesii, affected by black-band disease Star coral, Montastraea faveolata, affected by black-band disease Interface between star coral polyps and black-band disease Brain coral with black-band disease

 

Below are multimedia items associated with this research.

No results found.