Patterns of coral diseases linked to the impact of climate change: a case study of scleractinia corals in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia’s coral triangle

• Published in: Modeling earth systems and environment 2023-11, Vol.9 (4), p.4265-4277
• Main Authors: Yasir Haya, La Ode Muhammad, Palupi, Ratna Diyah, Subhan, Subhan, Rahmadani, Rahmadani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Chemical analysis; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Climate change; Coastal management; Coastal zone management; Colonies; Computer Science; Coral reef ecosystems; Coral reefs; Corals; Data sampling; Disease; Dissolved oxygen; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Ecosystems; Environment; Environmental impact; Global warming; Human influences; Marine ecosystems; Marine environment; Marine invertebrates; Math. Appl. in Environmental Science; Mathematical Applications in the Physical Sciences; Ocean currents; Original Article; Phosphates; Physics; Satellite imagery; Sea currents; Sea surface; Sea surface temperature; Seawater; Statistics for Engineering; Surface temperature; Water analysis; Water quality; Water quality measurements
• ISSN: 2363-6203; 2363-6211
• DOI: 10.1007/s40808-023-01745-y

Climate change in the seawater of Southeast Sulawesi affects the health of coral reef ecosystems, causing disease infection at several observation sites. Therefore, this study examined the spread of coral diseases in the Southeast Sulawesi Sea to understand the environmental impact, especially the impact of climate change and global warming. The methods included data sampling techniques such as observing coral and disease conditions, collecting water quality measurements, and processing satellite imagery data. The results showed that the number of colonies at the sites varied. The Wanci site (Wakatobi Regency) had the highest number of colonies in the healthy and infected categories (627 colonies), followed by the Padamarang site (Kolaka Regency) and Pasijambe site (Kendari City), with 572 and 340 colonies, respectively. The number of infected colonies also fluctuated, with 46 in Wanci, 27 in Pasijambe, and 13 in Padamarang, while the respective prevalence rates were 7%, 8%, and 2%. Black band disease predominated at the three observation sites: the Wanci site (19 infected colonies), the Pasijambe site (4.5 infected colonies), and the Padamarang site (three infected colonies). Several climate change factors, including sea surface temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ocean currents, and nitrate and phosphate concentration, had positive correlations. These were confirmed to determine the number of infected coral colonies. The prevalence of coral disease showed a good correlation with the nitrate content ( r  = 0.844; p