Dataset: Fate data for corals sampled at Flower Garden Banks from March 2023 to July 2024

Sample Collection:
The 2023 cruise took place on R/V Pelican (cruise ID PE23-18) from March 5 to 10, 2023. The 2024 cruise was a private charter on M/V Fling (https://texascaribbean.com) from June 30 to July 4, 2024

2023 cruise (R/V Pelican PE23-18):
Boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) long-term monitoring plots were outlined using transect tapes. Both apparently healthy and actively diseased colonies of Orbicella franksi (6 colonies of each health state), Porites astreoides (5 colonies of each health state), and Pseudodiploria strigosa (5 colonies of each health state) were sampled within these boundaries (but avoiding FGBNMS photomosaic areas) for various analyses. Each sampled colony was marked for relocation by hammering a numbered cattle tag into the adjacent dead substrate and then photographed from above. Then, using either a hammer and chisel or an underwater Nemo drill with a diamond-tipped hole saw (no anvil), coral fragments approximately 4 x 4 centimeters (cm) were collected from each colony. Two fragments were collected from apparently healthy corals (HH), and four fragments from diseased corals, including two fragments immediately adjacent to the lesion boundary (DD) and two fragments from apparently healthy tissue (HD). All fragments were placed into individually labeled whirlpacks and transported to the surface. Sample scar edges on the sampled colonies were sealed with underwater epoxy (J-B Weld WaterWeld). If cores were removed with drills, a cement plug was placed into the hole in the skeleton and sealed with epoxy. Corals were rephotographed before and after sealing with the epoxy. Marked colonies were mapped to known landmarks using headings and distances. Once at the surface, one fragment from each sample type (HH, HD, DD) was processed for microbial analyses, gene expression, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and histopathology (separate datasets).

2024 cruise (private charter aboard M/V Fling):
The corals sampled and tagged in 2023 were added to the FGBNMS Long Term Monitoring Program Map for their 100 x 100 meter (m) plot using previously recorded headings and distances to known landmarks and were confirmed with orthomosaics. Using these maps, divers on SCUBA took photos, recorded size estimates (length, width, and height), percent of the colony showing old mortality (defined as calyx degradation and algal recruitment), percent of the colony showing recent mortality (defined as bright white exposed skeleton with no algal recruitment), percent of living tissue that was bleached or paled, and disease identification (if applicable). Colony ID was confirmed by comparing the monitoring photos to photos of the colony at sampling. 25 of the 32 sampled colonies were found, photographed, and monitored for health status.

Instrument Details:
Corals were tagged with 2½ inch masonry nails and plastic cattle tags with unique IDs. Coral and sample-specific images were recorded with Olympus Tough TG-6 cameras in Olympus underwater housings. Either Milwaukee 3lb sledges and ¾ inch mason chisels or Nemo underwater drills with 1½ inch diamond hole saws (anvil removed) were used to collect fragments.