Recovery Plan for Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn Coral (A. cervicornis)
March 03, 2015
A recovery plan to identify a strategy for rebuilding and assuring the long-term viability of elkhorn coral and staghorn coral populations in the wild, allowing ultimately for the species removal from the federal list of endangered species
The purpose of this recovery plan is to identify a strategy for rebuilding and assuring the long-term viability of elkhorn coral and staghorn coral populations in the wild, allowing ultimately for the species’ removal from the federal list of endangered and threatened species. Elkhorn and staghorn coral populations should be large enough so that successfully reproducing individuals comprise numerous populations (including thickets) across the historical ranges of these species and should be large enough to protect their genetic diversity and maintain their ecosystem functions.