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Since 1980, populations of Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) corals have collapsed throughout the Caribbean from disease outbreaks with losses compounded locally by hurricanes, increased predation, bleaching, elevated temperatures, algae overgrowth, and other factors. Once found in continuous stands that extended along the front side of most coral reefs, today these areas have ...

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Staghorn Corals Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) is a branching, reef-building coral. Their branches are reminiscent of stag antlers, hence the name. This coral species exhibits the fastest growth of all known western Atlantic corals with branches increasing in length by 4-8 in/10-20 cm per year. Staghorn corals occur in both back reef and fore reef ...

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