There are four laminated cards available to help researchers identify the most common diseases affecting corals in the western Atlantic, and differentiate signs of disease from predation. Staghorn Coral and Elkhorn Coral.
Tissue peels off the skeleton, forming an uneven margin.
No disease community is visible on the surface. C. White-band disease starts at the base of a branch, or where the colony branches fork, and progresses to the tips. E. Fully pigmented colony of A. palmata with no exposed patches, injuries or disease. WBD exposes skeleton in a band advancing from the base towards the branch tips. 5- 10 cm before stopping.