Environmental predictor variables assessed in a multivariate multiple regression analysis (DISTLM) at sites within three sediment plume exposure categories determined by MODIS satellite imagery: low (0 to 9 plume exposure days, n = 6 sites), moderate (40 to 68 plume exposure days, n = 3 sites) and

aNumber of days the sediment plume was recorded over a site for the duration of dredging operations (days).
bPrevalence of coral colonies with crown-of-thorns seastar lesions determined by in situ coral health surveys (%).
cPrevalence of coral colonies with Drupella lesions determined by in situ coral health surveys (%).
dTotal hard coral cover on transects determined by line intercept method (%).
eMaximum sea surface temperature recorded during dredging operations (May 2010 to November 2011) (°C).
fMaximum excursion of sea surface temperature from the long-term climatological value during dredging operations (May 2010 to November 2011) (°C).
gAccumulation of thermal anomalies greater than the long-term summer mean temperature plus one standard deviation (°C-weeks).
hAccumulation of winter anomalies (+ and −) from the long-term winter mean temperature (°C-weeks).
iAverage of summer temperature anomalies greater than zero calculated from the monthly mean temperature plus one monthly standard deviation.
jModeled numeric prediction of disease abundance based upon MPSA and total coral cover (disease cases per 1,500 m2).
kPeak SST and Peak SSTA were excluded from the DISTLM due to a strong correlation with Hot Snap (r = 0.87 and 0.79, respectively).