White Band Disease

What is white band disease? This is the primary condition that Ben is researching in his coral disease project. White band disease, or white syndrome, infects Acroporid corals, killing the coral tissue to leave behind a bare, white skeleton. This gives the appearance of a white band moving up the coral as it spreads. This illness has killed approximately 90% of the branching corals in the Caribbean since it was first recognized in the 1970s. Understanding its mechanisms and impacts is essential for Florida Reef Conservation.