Marine Science in the Morning: Understanding Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

A devastating coral disease, termed "stony coral tissue loss disease," has impacted Florida’s coral reef since 2014 and has now affected all reefs except the Dry Tortugas. This disease kills over 20 species of reef-building corals. Researchers at the Smithsonian Marine Station have been studying the disease since 2017. Results of our studies on the ecology, search for causative microorganisms and development of treatments in the form of probiotics will be presented.