past projects

William Precht

Mr. Precht will give a presentation on stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) and its impacts in the Caribbean. First described near Miami, FL in 2014 the disease is still active and spreading throughout the Caribbean. SCTLD is likely the most lethal coral disease ever recorded. The intent of this presentation is to describe this disease using a multi-disciplinary approach. This includes understanding the ecological impacts of SCTLD from in-situ monitoring programs, the potential causes and transmission of this contagion (etiology and epidemiology), pathogenesis and pathobiology of the coral microbiome and surrounding water column associated with this epizootic, and the potential amelioration, intervention, and restoration strategies (including the genetic rescue of various at-risk coral species) that may be effective in conserving Caribbean reefs in the face of this catastrophic disease.

Presented at Cayman International School; 7 February 2023