What characteristic is used to distinguish White Plague from White Band Disease (WBD) progression?
Answer
White Plague frequently moves much faster, potentially killing an entire colony in a matter of weeks.
Both White Band Disease (WBD) and White Plague result in the loss of coral tissue, exposing the white calcium carbonate skeleton beneath, which causes concern for marine biologists. However, the speed of tissue loss is a primary differentiator. White Band Disease causes rapid tissue loss often initiating at the colony's base and progressing upward. In contrast, White Plague is often noted for its significantly accelerated pace of destruction; tissue sloughing off due to White Plague can be so rapid that it results in the complete demise of a susceptible coral colony within just a few weeks, highlighting its immediate threat level.
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