Comments Invited on Proposed Rule to Designate Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals as Threatened
This proposed action would place elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) on the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). While elkhorn and staghorn corals are not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range, they are likely to become so within the foreseeable future.
Elkhorn and staghorn corals used to be the most abundant species on Caribbean coral reefs. Both exhibit branching morphologies that provide important habitat for other reef organisms; no other Caribbean reef-building coral species is able to fulfill these ecosystem functions. The major factors affecting these two species are disease, elevated temperature, and hurricanes. Other factors identified as contributing to their decline include: sedimentation, anthropogenic abrasion and breakage, excessive nutrients, sea level rise, contaminants, competition from algae, loss of genetic diversity, and elevated carbon dioxide levels.
NOAA Fisheries Service is soliciting comments on this proposed listing. Public hearings will be held at four locations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida during June (see Events and Announcement section of this week’s FishNews.) Written comments on this proposal must be received by August 8, 2005. You may submit comments via e-mail to: Ac***********@no**.gov. Include “RIN 0648-XB29 “in the subject line of the message.
Click here to find the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding this proposed action.
The comprehensive, peer-reviewed status review report developed by the Biological Review Team is posted online. A general fact sheet on Acropora corals is also available.
Comments Invited on Proposed Rule to Designate Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals as Threatened
This proposed action would place elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) on the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). While elkhorn and staghorn corals are not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range, they are likely to become so within the foreseeable future.
Elkhorn and staghorn corals used to be the most abundant species on Caribbean coral reefs. Both exhibit branching morphologies that provide important habitat for other reef organisms; no other Caribbean reef-building coral species is able to fulfill these ecosystem functions. The major factors affecting these two species are disease, elevated temperature, and hurricanes. Other factors identified as contributing to their decline include: sedimentation, anthropogenic abrasion and breakage, excessive nutrients, sea level rise, contaminants, competition from algae, loss of genetic diversity, and elevated carbon dioxide levels.
NOAA Fisheries Service is soliciting comments on this proposed listing. Public hearings will be held at four locations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida during June (see Events and Announcement section of this week’s FishNews.) Written comments on this proposal must be received by August 8, 2005. You may submit comments via e-mail to:
Click here to find the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding this proposed action.
The comprehensive, peer-reviewed status review report developed by the Biological Review Team is posted online. A general fact sheet on Acropora corals is also available.