Future directions for marine disease research

Abstract

Marine Disease Ecology synthesizes current work on disease in marine systems. Although we have learned a great deal about marine diseases, basic surveillance is difficult, disease mechanisms are complex, and general ecological principles are illusive. Fortunately, technology is no longer what thwarts our capabilities to sample and analyze individual samples for potential parasites, pathogens, or opportunists. Increasingly sophisticated advancements in remote sensing, molecular biology, computer technology, and data analytics open new avenues to study marine diseases. With such tools in place, we now need better surveillance, a quantitatively savvy workforce, and new visions that will produce clarity in how to understand, prevent, or mitigate marine diseases. Although we are making great strides, more holistic approaches can increase our reach in disease monitoring and disentangle the contextual interactions among hosts, their disease-causing agents, and the environment. Such new approaches will also allow us to look into the past, rediscover what we missed, and use this information to predict, and ideally prevent, the next outbreak in the ocean.