Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) is a species of coral that is found in the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. It is named for its branches, which resemble the antlers of an elk.
Elkhorn coral is an important species because it provides habitat and protection for a variety of marine animals. It is also an important source of food for herbivorous fish and other marine animals.
Unfortunately, elkhorn coral has suffered significant declines in recent decades due to a variety of factors, including disease, coral bleaching, and the impacts of climate change. It is currently listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in the United States.
Efforts are being made to protect and restore elkhorn coral, including the use of coral propagation techniques to grow new coral in a nursery and then transplant it to the reef. Protecting the habitat of elkhorn coral, such as by reducing pollution and overfishing, can also help to improve its chances of survival.
Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) is a species of coral that is found in the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. It is named for its branches, which resemble the antlers of a stag.
Like elkhorn coral, staghorn coral is an important species because it provides habitat and protection for a variety of marine animals. It is also an important source of food for herbivorous fish and other marine animals.
Like elkhorn coral, staghorn coral has suffered significant declines in recent decades due to a variety of factors, including disease, coral bleaching, and the impacts of climate change. It is currently listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in the United States.
Efforts are being made to protect and restore staghorn coral, including the use of coral propagation techniques to grow new coral in a nursery and then transplant it to the reef. Protecting the habitat of staghorn coral, such as by reducing pollution and overfishing, can also help to improve its chances of survival.