Probiotic paste treatment of a great star coral colony infected with stony coral tissue loss disease (IMAGE)
Caption
Scientists with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have discovered that a bacterial probiotic helps slow the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) in already infected wild corals in Florida. The findings, published today in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, reveal that applying the probiotic treatment across entire coral colonies helped prevent tissue loss.
Kelly Pitts, a research technician with the Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce, Fla., and co-lead author of the study, applies a paste containing probiotic strain McH1-7 with a syringe directly onto the disease lesion of an SCTLD-infected great star coral (Montaststraea cavernosa) colony. The paste was then smoothed flat with a gloved hand so that all apparently infected tissue was covered by the lesion-specific treatment.
The research team conducted field tests on a shallow reef near Fort Lauderdale. They focused on 40 M. cavernosa colonies that displayed signs of SCTLD. Some of the corals received a paste containing McH1-7 that was applied directly onto disease lesions. Other corals were treated with a solution of seawater containing McH1-7.
Credit
Hunter Noren.
Usage Restrictions
News media use of the photos in relation to the study is only permitted with attribution.
License
Original content