We've also sued to protect these delicate corals from the overfishing of fish that eat marine algae — fish whose activities sustain entire reef ecosystems — as well as to obtain a proposed recovery plan in Protection under the Endangered Species Act opens the door to greater opportunities for coral reef conservation.
It also requires greenhouse-gas-emitting industries to grapple with their impacts on vulnerable coral species. If we can keep the polluters at bay, these colorful critters can and will make a comeback. Two nasty sunscreen chemicals are damaging our coral reefs. Log in to continue. Forgot password?
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To The Trade. Interior Design. Arrival: Nov 26 - Dec Free Standard Shipping. Elkhorn coral Acropora palmata is considered to be one of the most important reef-building corals in the Caribbean and is named after the resemblance to elk antlers.
These branches create habitats for many other reef species, such as lobsters, parrot-fish, snapper shrimps and other reef fish. Elkhorn coral mainly exist in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Florida Keys. One arm broken on each side at bottom of base. This item is no longer available. In the Florida Keys, for example, the elkhorn population contains many colonies that are clones, meaning that there are fewer genetic individuals in the population than we would guess from the number of colonies.
Also, we have not observed any new genetic individuals sexual offspring in the population in over 12 years, though there are new clonal colonies derived from naturally occurring fragments. This broad scale monitoring program can give useful information about status and trends for coral species that are abundant enough to be detected in this survey. Researchers monitoring coral reef to assess ecosystem changes.
Credit: NOAA. Two major back-to-back bleaching events severely affected elkhorn coral in the Florida Keys in and NOAA Fisheries scientists observed bleached elkhorn corals at various sites in the Upper Florida Keys during a period of unusually warm water temperatures warmer than During summer , we observed bleaching among the upper Florida Keys elkhorn population for a second consecutive year.
Bleaching response varied between sites, but was consistent with the response observed at these sites during the bleaching event. Overall, we estimate that 50 percent of the monitored elkhorn coral population died due to the and bleaching events.
In , the Upper Florida Keys population suffered similar losses due to the hurricane season. Recovery was only minimal over the decade prior to the recent bleaching events. NOAA Fisheries and partners have ramped up population enhancement of elkhorn corals. Some of our key questions are:. How do genetically unique individuals of elkhorn coral outplants survive and grow differently in different habitats or sites?
Does disease affect restored versus wild corals differently? Are some nursery coral individuals resistant to disease? NOAA Fisheries conducts controlled experiments at offshore coral nurseries and restored reefs to help answer these questions and improve the design of future coral restoration activities.
NOAA Fisheries coordinates spawning observations and larval culture with a network of researchers working throughout the Caribbean, including academic researchers and professional aquarists from public zoos and aquaria. Broadcast-spawning corals, like elkhorn, release eggs and sperm into the water column for fertilization only over a few nights per year. NOAA Fisheries collects sperm and eggs, fertilizes them and cultures and observes the larvae in the lab to better understand factors that may enhance the likelihood of larvae successfully settling and surviving to adults.
We also conduct experiments to understand the impacts of current and future ocean warming and ocean acidification on these vulnerable early life stages of corals. An ongoing goal is also to develop reliable methods to culture the baby corals to adulthood in order to enhance coral recovery on the reef by adding new genetic individuals. The purpose of this recovery plan is to identify a strategy for rebuilding and assuring the long…. Elkhorn Coral Acropora palmata. Throughout Its Range.
Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region. Quick Facts Lifespan. Up to 12 feet in diameter, 6 feet in height. Climate change including global warming and ocean acidification , Diseases, Land-based sources of pollution, Unsustainable fishing, Small population size, Habitat degradation.
See Regulatory Actions. Life cycle of Acropora spp. Climate Change Climate change is the greatest global threat to corals. Diseases Diseases can cause adult mortality, reducing sexual and asexual reproductive success, and impairing colony growth. Land-Based Sources of Pollution Impacts from land-based sources of pollution—including coastal development, deforestation clearing a wide area of trees , agricultural runoff, and oil and chemical spills—can impede coral growth and reproduction, disrupt overall ecological function, and cause disease and mortality in sensitive species.
Our work includes: Protecting habitat and designating critical habitat. Breeding elkhorn corals in nurseries and planting them into the wild. Increasing elkhorn coral resilience to climate change.
Rescuing injured elkhorn corals after ship groundings or major storm events. Science We conduct various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of elkhorn coral. Our work includes: Tracking individuals over time to understand population trends and causes of death. Conducting experiments to enhance the success of elkhorn coral propagation efforts. How You Can Help. Conserve Energy. Conserve Water. Practice Safe Boating. Featured News. View More News. Related Species. In the Spotlight.
The major actions recommended in the plan are: Improve understanding of population abundance, trends, and structure through monitoring and experimental research. Working to Enhance Populations Severely reduced successful reproduction recruitment into the population is one of the major things impeding recovery of elkhorn corals. Responding to Physical Impacts Ship grounding and other physical impacts can break the branching elkhorn corals. Information Gathering. January 7, Science Overview NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, ecology, and threats to elkhorn coral.
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