Environmental

Purpose: To demonstrate an understanding of the ecological characteristics of the S. Florida reef systems and of the native species that they support. To demonstrate an understanding of the environmental threat posed by the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Goal: To stimulate reflection on the aspects of the S. Florida reef systems and of the species they support that one is most intrigued by and to generate thought about the need to control the disease threats to these environments Objectives: To explain the ecological threat that the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease poses to the Florida Reef Tract. Instructions: Use all the required readings for week 6 and all the content in week 6 of module 2 to complete all of the following tasks with one paragraph for each task. Keep your response to no less than 350 words.

1. Summarize what is known about the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and what makes this disease so unique among all other types of infectious diseases affecting our coral reefs.

2. Does this disease concern you? Why or why not? Guidelines: Provide a full response to all components of assignment. Show understanding of course content by correctly defining and using key terms, key persons, and concepts. Provide specific support for response using multiple course concepts and perhaps outside resources. Use proper grammar, including appropriate capitalization, punctuation, and a lack of “texting” language. CITE YOUR SOURCES: For information gathered from published sources, cite the authors and year of publication for the sources from where you obtained specific information included in your answers. Include the page numbers in the text in parentheses next to this information AND provide a full reference citation at the bottom of the page. For content obtained from videos, include the name of the video and the time stamp for the time in the video from where you obtained specific information included in your answers. Include citation in the text in parentheses next to this information.