Web Dive 1 Sand Key - Page 3

In the past decade the majority of Sea Fans growing around the face of Sand Key Reef have died because of an Aspergillus fungal infection. (see Dr. Drew Harvell's in the science section of this web site). One of our monitoring subjects is a hardy Sea Fan that has resisted the fungus, possibly because of it's location. It grows on the inside wall of the Grand Canyon about ten feet off of the sea floor. Today's monitoring reveals that this sea fan is now afflicted with the disease Aspergillosis . Torn holes, deep purple veins and purple spots are indicators of the ailment.

A close view of the sea fan reveals the deep purple blotches typical of Aspergillosis . The torn hole in the fan looks like it is mending because it is not surrounded by deep purple. Variations of color in this sea fan suggests that water quality is a problem on this reef. Corals are stationary animals and can only be as healthy as the water that passes over them. With clean, clear, nutrient free water, sea fans build up antigens to the disease and can survive

Corals are very much like people because they often display slightly different symptoms to the same disease. The sea fan on the right has deep purple tumors as a reaction to Aspergillosis, compared to the sea fan that has the deep purple but, no tumors. One unusual phenomena that many sea fans in the Key West area share is the browning of their normal purple color.

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