Download Elkhorn Coral - Endangered Species Coalition

Endangered Species Coalition 2016 Top 10 Report Nominating Form
General Information
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Organization & Web address
Contact name for species info
Address
Email & phone
Communications staff contact name
Email & phone
Deadline: July 29, 2016
Nominating Organizations: Please use this Column to Provide the Requested Information
Center for Biological Diversity http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/
Dr. Abel Valdivia
1212 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94612
[email protected], 510-844-7103
Steve Jones
[email protected], 510-844-7109
General Species Information
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Common name, genus, and species
Geographic range
Conservation status
Remaining population size
Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata
Caribbean
Threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 2006 in U.S. waters
Unknown
Report Questions
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Can you provide high-resolution photos?
If your species is selected, will you use the
report to advocate for the species?
5 free reports provided; additional copies =
$2.60/each. If you’d like additional copies,
how many (bulk orders may be cheaper)?
Yes
Yes
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Public Engagement Questions (Please explain why the species is interesting, why it matters, why decision-makers + the public should care.)0
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Provide background information, including
interesting facts, for the species profile.
Elkhorn coral is the largest branching coral in the Caribbean. Over the past 10,000
years it was one of the most important species in the region contributing to reef
growth, providing essential fish and invertebrate habitat, and protecting coastal areas
from storms.
Habitat and Distribution: Elkhorn coral was the dominant hard coral species in
shallow waters (3-15 ft) on the Florida Reef Tract and throughout most of the
Caribbean, forming densely packed and extensive aggregations in reef areas of heavy
wave intensity. Large coral colonies inhabit exposed reef crest and fore reef habitats
where water circulation is strong. The species is found on coral reefs in southern
Florida, the Bahamas, and across the Caribbean.
Please cite any substantiating scientific studies
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What is your organization’s most important
lead message for the public about this
species’ decline to be included in the report?
Is your NGO saving the species? If yes, how?
Growth and reproduction: Elkhorn corals are amongst the fastest growing tropical
coral species in the world. Branches can increase in length by 2-4 inches per year and
colonies can reach maximum size in only 10-12 years under optimal conditions. The
species can reproduce asexually when branches break off and reattach to the reef.
Elkhorn corals also reproduce sexually via broadcast spawning. Once a year in August
and September and after the full moon, individual colonies (which are male and
female at the same time or hermaphrodite) release millions of gametes (eggs) to the
water column. The coral larvae live in the plankton for several days until it settles
onto suitable substrate. Only a very small percentage of the larvae or new colonies
survive.
Population Trend and Threats: Population abundance of elkhorn coral in southern
Florida and throughout the Caribbean have decline by 75-95% since 1980 due to
white band diseases and bleaching, exacerbated by global warming. Other threats to
the species that have contributed to population declines throughout the region
include: hurricane damage, predation, elevated temperature, algae overgrowth,
sedimentation, reproductive failure, sunscreens, ocean acidification, and very low
genetic diversity.
Conservation Efforts: The protection of elkhorn coral under the Endangered Species
Act provided a roadmap for the recovery of the species through a comprehensive
“recovery plan” and designation of “critical habitat”. Federal agencies must consult
with scientists on projects that directly threaten the survival of the species within the
critical habitat. Conservation efforts include: restoration activities, culture of coral
larvae, enhancing sexual recruitment, restoring herbivores such as urchins, and
directly controlling predators.
The future recovery of the species heavily depends on our capacity to drastically
reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address global warming and ocean acidification.
Yes, on March 2004, the Center for Biological Diversity (the Center) petitioned the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to list elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)
under the Endangered Species Act. The species was finally protected in 2007. We
have supported the conservation efforts that NMFS has developed for the recovery
and protection of elkhorn corals in U.S. waters including South Florida, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In fact, Dr. Valdivia, marine scientist at the Center, has
Please cite any substantiating scientific studies
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How can individuals help? Please be specific.
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What action should the new administration
take to save the species? How can they
accomplish this action?
personally participated in studies and restoration efforts of elkhorn coral in the
Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Center is actively working to
support policies that reduce carbon emissions and tackle global warming, one of the
main threats to the future of the species
Individuals can help in several ways. First, elect government officials that are
committed to reduce greenhouse gasses that cause global warming and promote
widespread bleaching and emerging diseases in coral reefs. Second, ensure you’re
your snorkeling and diving activities do not jeopardize elkhorn corals in their habitats
(i.e., do not touch corals). Third, use sunscreens that are safe for corals (e.g.,
sunscreen that do not contain oxybenzone, which kills corals). Four, support local
conservation efforts by participating as volunteers or donating to coral restoration
programs. Fifth, support or push for local and regional legislation to improve water
quality for coral reefs. Sixth, oppose coastal development projects that harm corals
through sedimentation and dredging.
The new administration must reduce carbon emissions that lead to global warming
which is threatening elkhorn corals and coral reefs worldwide. The administration
must also follow the species recovery plan, which is a comprehensive document that
lays out a series of regional and local actions to achieve the recovery of the species.
Importantly, the new administration should increase funding, personal and resources
to ensure that those actions in the recovery plan are achieved in a timely manner.
Finally, consultation of all federal projects (directed, funded, or permitted) that
threatens the survival and recovery of elkhorn coral populations must be carried out,
including consultation in projects that substantially increase greenhouse gas
emissions.
Criteria-specific Questions – Please feel free to answer N/A or “see above/below” as appropriate. Please cite scientific studies.
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Detail the ecological importance of the
species. Does it play a critical function in its
ecosystem, e.g., as a foundational species or
keystone species? How does the ecosystem
depend on this species (e.g., keystone
predator, keystone pollinator, ecological
engineer, refugia provider, etc.)?
Elkhorn coral is one of the most important reef-building species in the Caribbean,
providing essential habitat for a plethora of reef organisms and is considered a
foundation species1. Foundation species such as corals provide the tridimensional
structure needed to support a highly diverse and productive ecosystem2. The
dominance of elkhorn coral on shallow reefs provide habitat, shelter and food for
thousands of species from small crabs and sea stars to large Goliath groupers and reef
sharks2. The ecosystem without elkhorn coral does not support as much diversity or
productivity. For example, after the decline of elkhorn coral and other branching
Please cite any substantiating scientific studies
species throughout the Caribbean the reefs have substantially loss architectural
complexity and have flattened out3. Old and dead elkhorn colonies are eroding away,
and are being replaced by weedy corals such as mustard coral (Porites astreoides) and
fire-coral (Millepora complanata) that support an entire different ecosystem4. This
new ecosystem is less rich, provide less fish productivity and refuge for fish and
invertebrates and it is functionally different 4,5. In addition, the reef crest habitat
dominated by elkhorn corals provides coastal protection from heavy surf and storms,
which protect adjacent ecosystems such as seagrass and mangrove forest2.
References
1. Lirman, D. Reef fish communities associated with Acropora palmata: relationships to benthic
attributes. Bull. Mar. Sci. 65, 235–252 (1999).
2. Bertness, M. D., Bruno, J. F., Silliman, B. R. & Stachowicz, J. J. Marine Community Ecology and
Conservation. (Sinauer Associates, Inc., 2013).
3. Alvarez-Filip, L., Dulvy, N. K., Gill, J. A., Côté, I. M. & Watkinson, A. R. Flattening of Caribbean coral
reefs: region-wide declines in architectural complexity. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 276, 3019–3025
(2009).
4. Alvarez-Filip, L., Carricart-Ganivet, J. P., Horta-Puga, G. & Iglesias-Prieto, R. Shifts in coral-assemblage
composition do not ensure persistence of reef functionality. Sci. Rep. 3, (2013).
5. Micheli, F. et al. High vulnerability of ecosystem function and services to diversity loss in Caribbean
coral reefs. Biol. Conserv. 171, 186–194 (2014).
6. Moberg, F. & Folke, C. Ecological goods and services of coral reef ecosystems. Ecol. Econ. 29, 215–
233 (1999).
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Detail information on any social or economic
benefits the species provides—e.g., its value
for clean water, recreation, medicine,
scientific research, etc.—if any. (Optional)
Elkhorn coral as a foundation species provide several social and economic benefits to
coastal communities. First, shallow reefs dominated by elkhorn corals increase
fisheries production in coral reefs and adjacent ecosystems such as seagrass, which
provide food for coastal communities 6. Second, elkhorn corals provide coastal
protection from heavy swells and storms including hurricanes 6. Third, reef
dominated by elkhorn corals are among the most beautiful and breathtaking shallow
coral reef ecosystems which can drive the economies of entire coastal communities
through diving, snorkeling and sustainable fisheries. Finally, since the species was
listed under the Endangered Species Act, scientific research on the species has
increased dramatically as well as public awareness of the threats that coral reefs face
under climate change.
Please cite any substantiating scientific studies
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Can the species be an ambassador for its
habitat or taxonomic group? If yes, detail.
Yes, elkhorn corals can be used as an ambassador species for its habitat and all hard
corals. All the threats that elkhorn corals faced are also impacting all corals species in
coral reefs through the Caribbean. Protecting and restoring elkhorn coral populations
not only conserve the species, but also protect the entire coral reef ecosystems and
the myriads of species that it supports including humans.
Judge’s Score for Importance of Species:
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Describe the specific threat(s) to the species.
What are the greatest impacts?
Detail the current and projected decline of
the species.
If not described above, detail the status of
the species’ habitat(s). What are the threats,
if any? Is there adequate connectivity?
Describe the timing of the species’ threat(s).
Is it a current, eminent, or future threat?
Indicate if there is an associated political
threat, e.g., does an industry group or
member of Congress threaten this species?
Judge’s Score for Severity and Extent of Threat:
Judge’s Final Score
Please submit to [email protected] by July 29, 2016, and thank you for participating in the 2016 Top 10 Report.
Please cite any substantiating scientific studies