STAGHORN
CORALS - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Genomic markers of
disease resistance in staghorn corals
What's
in the news?
●
A genome-wide survey of highly endangered
staghorn coral in the Caribbean has identified 10 genomic regions associated
with resilience against white band
disease - an emerging infectious disease responsible for killing up to 95% of
Caribbean Acropora species, including staghorn corals (A. cervicornis).
Key
takeaways:
●
The findings could be used as a
conservation tool to improve disease resistance in the wild and nursery stocks
of staghorn corals used to repopulate damaged coral reefs throughout Caribbean
waters.
Staghorn Corals:
●
Staghorn coral is one of the most
important corals in the Caribbean.
●
It, along with elkhorn coral and star corals (boulder, lobed, and mountainous) built
Caribbean coral reefs over the last 5,000 years.
●
Staghorn coral received its common name
due to its resemblance to male deer antlers.
Habitat:
●
Staghorn coral is found typically in
clear, shallow water (15–60 feet) on coral reefs throughout the Bahamas,
Florida, and the Caribbean.
●
These species are also located in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Features:
●
Staghorn coral colonies are golden tan or pale brown with white
tips and they get their colour from the algae that live within their tissue.
●
Staghorn corals have antler-like branches
and typically stem out from a central trunk and angle upward. Branches are
typically 1–3 inches thick.
●
Staghorn coral get food from photosynthetic algae that live inside the coral's cells.
They also feed by capturing plankton with their polyps’ tentacles.
Importance:
●
Staghorn coral can form dense groups
called “thickets” in very shallow water.
●
These provide important habitat for other
reef animals, especially fish.
Threats:
●
Climate change (including ocean warming
and ocean acidification)
●
Diseases
●
Habitat degradation
●
Land-based sources of pollution
●
Small population size
●
Unsustainable fishing
IUCN
Status - Critically
Endangered