Outbreak of growth anomalies in coral communities of Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf

Abstract

Reports on the outbreaks of coral diseases are on the rise, stating that diseases are considered to be one of the main drives in the decline of global coral reefs. In this study, the outbreak of growth anomalies (GAs) in coral communities of the south of Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf is reported. Despite a previous report on the localized GAs on a few colonies, this is the first report of GA outbreak from the Persian Gulf, in which 28 ± 11 % (±SE) and 21 ± 13 % of <em>P. daedalea</em> and <em>Porites</em> colonies contracted GAs in July 2012. A year later, we recorded GAs on 37 ± 07 % of <em>P.</em> <em>daedalea</em> and 23 ± 12 % of <em>Porites</em> colonies. Pearson's correlation test showed a strong positive relationship between coral colony size and the number of GAs (<em>r</em> = 0.907, <em>p</em> < 0.05). Further investigation is needed to understand the cause of GAs, their progress trend, and prospective impacts on the coral communities at our studied site.