ReefDiary

1995 was the year REEF RELIEF's Craig Quirolo observed that the majority of purple sea fans were turning brown. The filter feeders appear to be "stuffed" with particulate matter. Some have lesions that create gaping holes while others were infected with a fungus that causes deep purple spots on the sea fan. Quirolo shared his data with Drew Harvell of Cornell University, who is studying the sea fans along with Kio Kim (Un Buffalo), and Garriett Smith (Un-N.C.). They have learned that the fungus attacking the fragile gorgonians is aspergillus, typically found in soil. Sea fans in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Jamaica are also turning brown.

source:http://www.reefrelief.org/Image_archive/diseases/index.shtml