Black Sea Urchin Epidemic Threatens Eilat's Coral Reef.

A deadly epidemic has caused mass mortality of black sea urchins in the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Eilat, wiping out the entire population of black sea urchins in Eilat over a couple of months. Sea urchins are considered key species essential for the healthy functioning of the coral reef. The researchers assume that the source of the deadly epidemic is a pathogenic ciliate parasite that has spread from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, posing a threat to Eilat's coral reef. Emergency steps for protecting Israel's coral reefs are now under consideration.