Will the Major Reef-building Species Acropora palmata (Elkhorn Coral) Recover in the US and British Virgin Islands?
Rogers CS. 2005. Will the Major Reef-building Species Acropora palmata (Elkhorn Coral) Recover in the US and British Virgin Islands?. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. 56:439-451
A pilot study at Haulover Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands studying the growth characteristics of elkhorn coral population. The major reef-building species Acropora palmate (elkhorn coral) is increasing in abundance in the US and British Virgin Islands following its devastation 20 to 25 years ago from white band disease and hurricanes. In many locations, elkhorn corals can now be found growing on dead elkhorn branches lying on the bottom and on upright, dead colonies. These colonies have developed both from fragments and from sexual recruits. Biologists from the US Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the University of the Virgin Islands are using a new protocol to monitor the status of elkhorn coral. A pilot study at Haulover Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands, from January-July 2003 showed the dynamic nature of the elkhorn population there. About 61% of the 66 elkhorn colonies that were monitored exhibited conspicuous new growth based on photographs). White pox appeared to be the cause of tissue mortality in about 35% of the corals (c.23% with new white pox lesions, c. 12% with old). In some cases, lesions from white pox healed completely. Only one coral appeared to have white band disease, two small recruits and one detached fragment died. In several surveys around St. John, Buck Island (St. Croix), Guana Island (Tortola), and Nail Bay (Virgin Gorda), no white band disease was found. Although there are clear signs of new, actively growing elkhorn colonies, further growth of existing colonies and future recruitment may not offset losses from disease, predators (Coralliphila snails, fireworms, and territorial damselfishes), and physical breakage (from storms, boats, and snorkelers). Many colonies are growing in very shallow water close to shore and vulnerable to sedimentation from upland construction. Even without additional hurricanes, bleaching events, or new diseases or disease outbreaks, it would take decades for this species to become as abundant as it was in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Rogers, Caroline
- Units
- VIIS
- Keywords
- Abundance, Acropora palmata, BVI, Elkhorn coral, USVI