Founders Garden Club Supports Coral Disease Research at Mote

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium coral scientists may get one step closer to better understanding a devastating coral disease with the help of a new grant from the Founders Garden Club of Sarasota.
 
The Founders Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club of America and based in Sarasota, awarded a $20,000 grant to Mote’s Coral Health & Disease Research Program to investigate the potential of microplastics serving as a vector in the spread of coral disease. The leader of this investigation will be Dr. Erinn Muller, Science Director for Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration and Manager of Mote’s Coral Health & Disease and Coral Reef Restoration programs.
 
First identified in 2014 near Virginia Key, Florida, stony coral tissue loss disease has caused devastation throughout the Florida Reef Tract, spreading all the way to Key West. The disease affects at least 20 species of coral, causing more than 80% mortality in some species. The disease pathogen is suspected to be waterborne bacteria, although the exact pathogen is still unknown.
 
“Thanks to support from the Founders Garden Club, I will be able to pursue a very specific aspect of coral resiliency research, namely the impact of microplastics on disease transmission in corals,” said Muller. “Currently, we know very little about how the disease in the Florida Keys is spreading. Findings from this research will help us to better understand the epidemiology of the current disease outbreak and to better prevent future outbreaks from occurring.”
 
“Founders is extremely proud to be funding a portion of Dr. Muller’s coral research at Mote Marine Laboratory,” said Gina Gregoria, President, Founders Garden Club of Sarasota. “We eagerly await the outcomes of her research and what it can tell us about the sustainability of our oceans’ coral reefs.”