Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Coral reefs represent one of the most biologically rich environments on the planet, providing habitat, protection, and resources for numerous marine species. Soft corals, particularly gorgonians, are essential to reef health by providing environmental services such as habitat, food, and nutrient cycling. However, these organisms are increasingly threatened by environmental stress and disease, including the fungal pathogen Aspergillus sydowii (Bainier & Sartory Thom & Church 1926), which commonly infects Gorgonia ventalina and G. flabellum (sea fans). They are eukaryotic organisms belonging to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, order Alcyonacea, family Gorgoniidae, and genus Gorgonia. In this study, I replicate a 2022 survey conducted at Cayos Cochinos, Honduras, to assess changes in sea fan abundance and health over a three-year period. The focus of this thesis is to present new research findings while also compiling and discussing existing literature on octocorals and gorgonian disease, with a particular emphasis on aspergillosis and its effects on coral reef ecosystems. Results show a slight increase in disease prevalence at Cayos Cochinos since 2022. Environmental data revealed stable salinity but variable temperature and dissolved oxygen, factors that may contribute to coral stress. Depth also influenced disease occurrence, with deeper sites showing higher infection rates. These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and long-term conservation efforts to protect reef health in a changing climate.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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