Photo-monitoring of Acropora palmata Acropora cervicornis on Florida reefs: importance of disease & predation to growth & survivorship
Williams DE and Miller MW. 2005. Photo-monitoring of Acropora palmata Acropora cervicornis on Florida reefs: importance of disease & predation to growth & survivorship. Miami, Florida
Caribbean acroporid species have faced extreme declines in abundance since the 1970s, which has led to their identification as candidates for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Population level recovery will depend on re-colonization by juveniles (fragments or sexual recruits), which are particularly vulnerable to threats such as predation and disease. Photo-monitoring of juvenile Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata colonies was undertaken in the Florida Keys (USA) to determine the progression and fate of various conditions on the growth and survivorship of recruits. Both healthy colonies and those displaying signs of recent predation were selected haphazardly at several sites, tagged, photographed and measured for size and condition. Colonies were reassessed periodically over the next 18 months. Results suggest that partial mortality decreases growth for both species and among A. cervicornis, it leads to increased 2 fragmentation. Disease resulted in complete mortality more often for A. cervicornis than A.palmata.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Williams, Dana; Miller, Margaret
- Date of Issue
- 2005
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Coralliophila abbreviata, Disease, Elkhorn, Florida Keys, Fragmentation, Hermodicr carunculata, staghorn, white-band disease