P. clavata samples collected in this study.

Collected samples from different coral populations living in different geographic areas, at different depth and showing different health status condition. The level of direct anthropogenic Impact on coral populations at each site was quantified by measuring.*the number of coral colonies affected by fishing lines and nets wrapped around: absent = 0 entangled colonies/dive (P-pristine); occasional = 1–5 entangled colonies/dive and frequent = >5 entangled colonies/dive (I-impacted).**the number of dives per year is also reported: low = 5000 dives/year.***Diseased corals (D) are defined as those showing early symptoms of disease such as colonies displaying necrotic coenenchyme (pale pink to grayish colour) and patchy tissue loss exposing bare areas of the skeletal axis [7]. Healthy corals (H) are defined as those with no apparent symptoms of disease displaying a purple coloration of the coral tissue [7].