Picture by: NOAA Fisheries Service Picture taken on: February 18th, 2005
Elkhorn coral is a large, branching coral with thick and sturdy antler-like branches. Since 1980, populations have collapsed throughout their range from disease outbreaks with losses compounded locally by hurricanes, increased predation, bleaching, elevated temperatures, and other factors. This species is also particularly susceptible to damage from sedimentation. Restoration activities have included efforts to re-attach Acropora fragments generated by ship groundings and hurricane events; these efforts have had mixed success. Similar efforts to re-attach coral fragments have also been made in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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