Award: OCE-1927277

Coral reefs in the US Virgin Islands are in the third years of a deadly outbreak of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). This collaborative project brought together ecologists, physiologists, molecular scientists, and modelers to investigate how this disease transmits through reef communities. As an outcome of this study, and using coral tissue histopathology, we have a better understanding of how coral animals and their symbiotic algae respond to this disease. Further, using epidemiological and hydrodynamic modeling, we now understand that ocean currents play a major role in the dispersal of this disease between coral reefs, which will help in an ongoing effort to identify the disease pathogen, and in current and future disease mitigation and coral reef restoration activities. This project has resulted in two peer-reviewed manuscripts, a master's thesis , several oral presentatios at the 2021 International Coral Reef Symposium, and at least four anticipated collaborative oral presentations at the 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (2022). The project has supported the undergraduate research of thirteen undergraduates at Louisiana State University. This project has also led to several successful additional proposals to NSF, including to NSF's Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Program and to NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Last Modified: 07/13/2021 Submitted by: Daniel M Holstein