Endangered Acroporid Corals of the Caribbean

Bruckner, A; Aronson, R; Bruckner, R

In decades past, Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) and Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) formed dense, monospecific, high-relief thickets at shallow and intermediate depths on Caribbean reefs. Both species were key structural components that contributed significantly to reef accretion and framework development. They also played a critical role in the maintenance of healthy, productive reefs by providing critical habitat for a large diversity of fish and other organisms. From the late 1970s to the present, populations of A. cervicornis and A. palmata have undergone a regional decline, with losses of 95% or more in some areas. The loss of these species has led to increased dominance of macroalgae and reduced rates of reef accretion. Although there is some debate as to the exact nature and extent of this crisis, it is clear that virtually all areas of the region have been affected. This is as true for reefs adjacent to major population centers as it is for remote reefs that are far from sources of nutrients, pollution, overfishing, and other anthropogenic stresses.

Endangered Acroporid Corals of the Caribbean

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