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Endangered Species Coalition 2016 Top 10 Report Nominating Form General Information 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 7 8 9 10 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 11 12 13 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 - Public Engagement Questions (Please explain why the species is interesting, why it matters, why decision-makers + the public should care.)0 14 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 15 16 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 17 How can individuals help? Please be specific. 18 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. 19 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). 20 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 21 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: 22 23 24 25 26 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