An integrative approach to identify and experimentally validate environmental variables which affect SCTLD outcomes

This project used statistical modelling of field observations to identify specific environmental conditions that influenced disease susceptibility and disease severity in Montastraea cavernosa. The relationship between the identified environmental predictors and disease susceptibility was then assessed in a controlled, lab setting to understand whether they influenced M. cavernosa immunity and general pathogen susceptibility. Disease probability was predictively modelled under current environmental conditions to identify locations suspected to be more or less disease susceptible.