Staghorn Comeback?

[ricki]

Staghorn and Elkhorn corals, at times a major component of reef mass died off in large measure in many areas in the 1980's and early 1990's in the Caribbean and other parts of the world I understand. Staghorn seems to be slow to recover, may be more sensitive in general to environmental pressures. Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) may be on the comeback in some areas. I thought some sparse patches off Ft. Lauderdale, that have always been sparse as I recall going back almost 40 years were looking better. Went off Pompano a few weeks ago and found to my amazement "acres" of fairly new, healthy staghorn growth. Learning from others that it has been seen to date as far north as West Palm Beach and as far south as Hallandale. I understand from Connor that he has seen a reappearance off Chub Cay to the WNW of Nassau. What else can you tell us about this Connor? Could be far more widespread, if you are seeing more of this coral where you dive, please tell us about it.

There are some videos with more to come at:
[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=8606]Staghorn Comeback ... off Ft. Lauderdale??? - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

 

[ricki]

Ricki,

I just got a chance to look at the vids of staghorn off Lauderdale. That's amazing and heartening, both. What depth? Did you get any sense of growth rate, how long its been there, expansion rate, any other info? Has anybody been out looking to see if there is more of this stuff?

FYI, Mama Rhoda rocks near Chub Key, Bahamas once had very large stands of staghorn and elkhorn (30-40 years back) Over time these pretty much died, but as of about 5 years ago the staghorn was coming back in a big way. Not like it once was, but I could see the possibility. We dove it 2 or 3 times over about a 4 year period and it seemed to be getting better each time.

Think there is any connection?

Connor

Hey Connor,

I thought it was an important enough to have its own thread on here. There are some videos and other related information for Florida at:

[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=8606]Staghorn Comeback ... off Ft. Lauderdale??? - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

Staghorn growth has been estimated to range between a very rapid 10 to 20 cm per year. There is poor agreement about what caused the die off in the first place unfortunately. Global warming is an easy catch all but how accurate is it? It would make sense that northern, less prolific waters for Acropora might start to better support growth. That is ignoring more typical turbid, light inhibiting water but perhaps the temperature may be more supportive.

I even saw a bunch of stands of young elkhorn coral a bit north of Key Largo inside the fore reef a few weeks back. They had regenerated over a previously killed off A. palamata area. They were doing pretty well too, except for apparent recent "white pox" or some ill understood disease that seems to be in play on this young corals. We used to have very prolific staghorn stands off Ft. Lauderdale, they formed part of the second and third reef platforms, about 15,000 BP and before. Are folks seeing much staghorn, anywhere? I saw the largest, most healthy stand I can recall in years off Port Lucaya a few months back.

 

[ricki]

Was that Ft Lauderdale or Town of Palm Beach? I heard...I guess about a week or so ago that Florida and the Town of PB are arguing because of the Staghorn found there. Florida wants to turn it into a vessel exclusion zone, because of the Staghorn. The Town want things only for their pleasure and purpose.

I had heard about that. Unlike massive corals, M. annularis, M. cavernosa, which present a fairly finite target, fragile, monolayered staghorn could be easily devastated by dragging boat anchors or lobster traps for that matter. Noticed these submerged interlinking taught lines between traps, likely to reduce poaching and loss of buoys to boats. Could take out a major chunk of new coral with that sort of activity. Let the various interest groups bash at each other behind the scenes. Bottom line is, a very valuable coral that largely vanished in numbers may be on the come back. It would be nice if it could make it all the way. When I was a kid, won't say I took hundreds of miles of coverage in the Keys for granted but it was a common sight. No longer, deserves a close look in my opinion.

 

[cdavis]

Can't add much. Mama Rhoda appeared to be coming back but I haven't seen it in about 5 years. I had the impression that the, once fantastic Elkhorn stands in the Central Berries were a little better than they had been, but still mostly covered with algae. That was also about 5 years back and I did not return often enough to be sure of the observation. In recent years I've dove the Bimini chain extensively, from Bimini down to Orange Cay, and haven't seen any recovery of either of the acroporas, but I don't think there was ever very much there.

If I can get the bugs worked out of my "new to me" boat, I'll do a Berries/Abaco trip next summer and inspect a bunch of areas I've known for years.

Does anybody know if the enormous elkhorn reef at Carysfort off Key Largo is returning? it died off in the mid to late 70s. Last time I saw it was about 10 years ago and the skeletons were still there, but it was all stone dead.



Connor