Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Marine disturbance events are often influenced by the environment, making it difficult to parse abiotic and biotic drivers. This is particularly true of disease infection and spread in coral reef environments, where pathogens are challenging to isolate and transmission may occur through several vectors. This dissertation aims to understand coral disease transmission and infection across scales - from regional seascape transmission and reefscape dynamics to individual colony susceptibility. We leverage advanced methods including biophysical models, large-area imaging datasets, agent-based models, and laboratory experiments across these scales. Focusing on a coral disease outbreak at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, we uncover unique and rapid connections to distant reefs that have the potential to initiate disease outbreaks and facilitate reef-wide outbreaks following periods of connectivity. Overall, our results utilize a novel approach to explore disease transmission and have practical applications for management of these and other isolated coral reefs.
Date
3-26-2026
Recommended Citation
Carpenter, Gaby E., "Disease ’Scapes: A Multi-Scale Approach to Understanding Marine Disease Outbreaks in Stony Corals" (2026). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 7048.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/7048
Committee Chair
Dance, Michael
LSU Acknowledgement
1
LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment
1