Cause of sea fan death in the West Indies

摘要: A fungus from the genus Aspergillus is probable agent of epizootic infections that have caused mass mortality sea fan corals (Gorgonia ventalina) over past 15 years1,2. Here we show four strains involved in these are members species sydowii, a common saprobe (an organism lives on decaying matter) found both terrestrial and marine environments. Isolates A. sydowii taken diseased fans new inoculation experiments, whereas isolates elsewhere did not.