Black band disease

Black band disease was first observed on reefs in Belize in 1973 by A. Antonius, who described the pathogen he found infecting corals as Oscillatoria membranacea, one of the cyanobacteria.

The black band microbial consortium consists of an assortment of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacteria that co-exist synergistically.

When present on the band surface Beggiatoa appears white due to intracellular inclusions of stored elemental sulfur.

Also present are gliding Beggiatoa filaments (1–4 mm wide) that are non-pigmented but contain highly refractive intracellular granules of elemental sulfur.

The only known reservoir is within cyanobacterial biofilms that are present on sediments in depressions of healthy black band disease susceptible corals.

Example of black band disease progression on a colony of Diploria strigosa .
Black band disease on a brain coral in Caribbean Sea near Bahia de la Chiva on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico
Buck Island Reef National Monument , 2010