Caribbean Acropora Restoration Guide - The Florida Reef ...

Chapter 2 | How Acropora Corals Work
How Acropora Corals Work
Taxonomy
The genus Acropora is in the family Acroporidae and the order Scleractinia (true stony corals). Although
there are several hundred species of Acropora throughout the Indo-Pacific, A. palmata (elkhorn coral)
and A. cervicornis (staghorn coral) are the only two species described within the Caribbean. They are
fast-growing, branching species that tend to be particularity vulnerable to threats such as temperature
extremes, storms and disease. Acropora prolifera is a hybrid of these two species, and its reproductive
capabilities are unknown.
Photo: Meaghan Johnson
Photo: Kermit Amon-Lewis
Photo: Meaghan Johnson
Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) Acropora prolifera
Box 1: What do Acropora need?
Corals require hard substrates with optimal conditions for growth and survival (low sedimentation
and decreased competition from other species).
Corals require relatively clear, well-circulated water.
Acropora spp. thrive in a fairly narrow temperature range of ~20–30° C. Outside that range, they
are more prone to bleaching and disease impacts.
A. palmata is generally restricted to shallow waters < 5 m, whereas A. cervcornis has a larger
depth range and can flourish to at least 20m in depth.
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