The University of Hawai’i at Manoa Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has developed a new tool for forecasting coral disease that could aid conservation efforts. Ecological forecasts are essential for managing marine ecosystems, but few systems can account for the complexities in real-time. The Multi-Factor Coral Disease Risk product predicts the risk of two diseases across reefs in the Pacific and Australia based on ecological and marine environmental conditions. This tool, accessible through the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch program, can help detect early changes in the environment and protect coral reef ecosystems.
The NASA-funded Principal Investigator and HIMB Interim Director Megan Donahue, along with lead author Jamie Caldwell of Princeton University’s High Meadows Environmental Institute, are excited about the potential of this new tool. It allows users to make decisions to manage coral health, much like using weather forecasts for travel planning. With over half a billion people relying on Earth’s coral reefs, it is crucial to ensure their resilience against various threats. Tools like this one play a vital role in safeguarding these essential ecosystems for the future.
The tool provides insights that can help managers better understand localized risks of coral disease and develop timely intervention strategies. Consultation with coral reef managers from across the Pacific, including in Australia, played a key role in developing the tool. Training sessions have been provided to stakeholders to ensure effective reef management practices. Coral reefs are culturally significant to Indigenous people worldwide and provide various benefits such as food, jobs, recreation, and coastline protection. While disease is natural, human impacts and climate change have stressed corals, making them more susceptible to diseases.
The Multi-Factor Coral Disease Risk Product was developed by HIMB in collaboration with NOAA Coral Reef Watch, James Cook University, University of Newcastle, and University of New South Wales. The tool’s integration of ecological and environmental factors allows for more accurate predictions of coral disease outbreaks, facilitating timely action by conservationists and managers. By working together with stakeholders and experts from various institutions, the tool provides valuable insights that can inform proactive reef management strategies and help protect these vital ecosystems. This new forecasting tool represents a significant step towards ensuring the survival and resilience of Earth’s coral reefs in the face of ongoing threats.