This study aimed to provide baseline knowledge of coral diseases prevalence and coral reef health in the region of El-Ain Al-Sukhna, Red Sea. The results revealed high disease prevalence (40 %) with the presence of five coral diseases/syndromes; Sea urchin predation (23.6%), Pink Line Syndrome (PLS) (7.5%), Compromised Health Signs (6.3%), Coral Bleaching (1.3%) and Drupella cornus predation (1.3%). Five hard coral families Poritidae, Faviidae, Agariciidae, Occulinidae and Siderastreidae were affected by coral diseases, while families Acroporiidae, Pocilloporidae, and Fungiidae showed no
signs of diseases. Massive and submassive corals were the major growth forms vulnerable to the coral diseases observed in this region. The higher prevalence of coral diseases were recorded in the species Porites lutea (13.5%), Echinopora gemmacea (7.5%), and Goniastrea pectinata (5.6%). Sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei) predation
was the main potential factor responsible for coral reef degradation in El-Ain Al-Sukhna. The species suffered from higher sea urchin predation were Echinopora gemmacea (6%), Goniastrea pectinata (5.6%), Porites lutea (5.5%) and Galaxea fasicularis (3%). Pink
Line Syndrome (PLS) was selectively infected the massive corals Porites lutea (5%) and Porites solida (2.5%). Compromised Health Signs was mostly observed on Porites solida (1.9%), Porites lutea (1.5%) and Echinopora gemmacea (1.5%). Platygyra daedalea and
Favites complanata were the only two species exposed to Coral Bleaching (0.8% and 0.5%, respectively). Drupella cornus snails were only reported to feed on Porites lutea. The enhanced local anthropogenic stresses and increasing sea surface temperature (SST)
due to global warming may be the suggested potential factors responsible for initiation and persistence of some coral diseases in EL-Ain Al-Sukhna coral reef. |
