ADVENTURES IN DEVELOPING EX SITU CULTURE OF THREATENED STAGHORN CORAL ACROPORA CERVICORNIS AS A CONSERVATION TOOL

Staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis and its congener elkhorn coral A. palmata were listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2006. These once spatially dominant corals of Caribbean fore reef habitats have lost most of their ecological function as populations have been greatly reduced over the last 40 years by a number of factors. Environmental improvements necessary for coral recovery are underway, and aquaculture will have a major role to play in active population enhancement once conditions are right. Already, a network of in-situ coral nurseries is growing vast quantities of staghorn coral throughout the Florida Keys and wider Caribbean.  In their 2015 Recovery Plan for Caribbean Acropora, NOAA/NMFS lists development of ex situ conservation of corals and related organisms as a Recovery Action:

"Captive populations should be optimized to supply research stocks for experimental needs as they will provide standardized material for genetic and physiological research and relieve collection stress on wild populations. Best husbandry practices should be documented. Successful ex situ strategies for these corals will be more complicated than for standard vertebrates in that zooxanthellae and other microbial symbionts are specialized and crucial for holobiont fitness."

The Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) and other public aquaria have historically maintained corals ex situ for display. In partnership with the University of Florida, FLAQ has initiated a program to research and archive living staghorn coral in recirculating systems. Challenges include permitting, disease management, and environmental manipulation. Initial work has focused on system design, water chemistry, larval rearing, and flow regime impacts on coral growth. Data and anecdotal observations will be included on the poster to illustrate the opportunities and challenges inherent in developing ex situ staghorn coral culture as a conservation tool.