KEY LARGO, Florida (18 June 2002) -- Scientists have found the cause of white pox, a disease which has killed more than 90% of elkhorn coral in the Florida Keys and is spreading throughout the Caribbean. A University of Georgia research team led by James W. Porter and Kathryn Patterson has traced the disease to Serrate marcescens bacteria, which are found in the intestines of animals and humans. "This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a bacterial species associated with the human gut has been shown to be a marine invertebrate pathogen," the report stated. White pox, scientifically known as Acropora palmataon, targets elkhorn coral and is one of the fastest spreading coral diseases killing 2-10 centimeters of coral tissue per day. There is no cure for the disease. "Elkhorn used to be the commonest coral in the Caribbean, but now it has been proposed for inclusion on the endangered species list,'' Porter said. "Elkhorn coral is the giant redwood of the coral forest.'' Although the research team is still tracking down the source of the bacteria, many suspect the culprit is sewage runoff, a major problem in the Florida Keys, where both resident and tourist population has exploded during the past 50 years. A recent University of South Florida study of manatees that died during the last two years in Florida waters found that all had high levels of microsporidia in lung, liver, kidney, spleen and lymph node cells. Microsporidia is excreted in the urine and feces of infected humans and animals. (CDNN Report March 29, 2002: "Is sewage killing Florida's Manatees?") Local officials ignoring infrastructure to promote more tourism Despite primitive wastewater treatment infrastructure on a par with third world countries, poor freshwater management practices, overcrowding, three million tourists a year and substantial evidence that sewage runoff is one of the primary causes of the collapse of nearby coral reefs, local government officials and business interests have attempted to divert tax funds from sewage-treatment appropriations to projects that will bring even more tourists to the Keys. | | Just say 'NO' to overdevelopment Most recently, Monroe County Commissioner and Spiegel Grove project champion, Murray Nelson, along with fellow commissioners Dixie Spehar and County Mayor Sonny McCoy came under fire from citizens and environmentalists after passing a resolution to loan Grove organizers $300,000 from tax funds set aside for wastewater management. Despite strong opposition, the Monroe County Commission eventually pushed through the loan by guaranteeing it with other tax funds, but the accounting scheme sent a clear message to local citizens that as far as Florida Keys officials are concerned, desperately needed infrastructure takes a back seat to development of dive tourism projects and business proposals from other special interest groups. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
