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HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources says nearly half of the coral reef sites off Kauai are being affected by black band disease.
The disease is found globally around the tropics, but researcher Christina Runyon says this is the first outbreak in Hawaii. The disease hasn't been reported on any island other than Kauai.
Runyon says the disease appears to be more prevalent when temperatures are warm, which is a concern because sea surface temperatures are forecast to be higher this year than last year.
Researchers are having some success reducing coral tissue death using an experimental treatment that involves using a putty-like substance over the coral lesions to smother the disease.
Stress from warmer-than-average ocean temperatures prompted many of Hawaii's corals to expel algae last year — a phenomenon called bleaching.
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APPHOTO LA202: This undated photo by the University of Hawaii/Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, provided by the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, shows healthy coral, foreground, and coral that has black band coral disease, background, in waters off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Black band coral disease is affecting nearly half of the reef sites state officials have surveyed off Kauai, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The agency said Wednesday, April 29, 2015 that an experimental treatment involving using a putty-like substance over the coral lesions to smother the disease is showing some signs of success. Coral experts identified the outbreak a few years ago and have been studying it since.(University of Hawaii/Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology/Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources via AP). (29 Apr 2015)
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APPHOTO LA201: This undated combination photo by the University of Hawaii/Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, provided by the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, shows healthy coral, right, and coral that has black band coral disease, left, in the waters off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Black band coral disease is affecting nearly half of the reef sites state officials have surveyed off Kauai, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The agency said Wednesday, April 29, 2015 that an experimental treatment involving using a putty-like substance over the coral lesions to smother the disease is showing some signs of success.Coral experts identified the outbreak a few years ago and have been studying it since.(University of Hawaii/Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology/Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources via AP). (29 Apr 2015)
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APPHOTO LA203: This undated photo by the University of Hawaii/Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, provided by the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, shows coral afflicted with black band coral disease being treated by a process called lesion putty treatment, in waters off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Black band coral disease is affecting nearly half of the reef sites state officials have surveyed off Kauai, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The agency said Wednesday, April 29, 2015 that an experimental treatment involving using a putty-like substance over the coral lesions to smother the disease is showing some signs of success. Coral experts identified the outbreak a few years ago and have been studying it since.(University of Hawaii/Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology/Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources via AP) (29 Apr 2015)
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APPHOTO LA205: Anne Rosinksi, right, of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources shows a map of Kauai sites where there's black band coral disease, as Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology researcher Christina Runyon looks on, at a news conference in Honolulu on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Black band coral disease is affecting nearly half of the reef sites state officials have surveyed off Kauai, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The agency said Wednesday that an experimental treatment involving using a putty-like substance over the coral lesions to smother the disease is showing some signs of success. Coral experts identified the outbreak a few years ago and have been studying it since.(AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) (29 Apr 2015)
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