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Impacts of Hurricanes on a Rebounding Population of Elkhorn Coral, Acropora palmata, in St. John, US Virgin Islands
Natasha G. Bestrom1 and Renee D. Godard1,*
1Department of Biology, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA 24020, USA.*Corresponding author.
Caribbean Naturalist, No. 66 (2019)
Abstract
Despite protection, populations of Acropora palmata (Elkhorn Coral) in the Caribbean have not recovered since their declines in the 1980s, leaving this species vulnerable to the increase in hurricane intensity predicted to occur with climate change. Our study evaluated the impacts of a pair of Category 5 hurricanes (Irma and Maria, in September 2017) on a rebounding population of A. palmata in St. John, USVI. We found a 44% decline in the number of colonies in the 11 sites surveyed pre- (2017) and post-hurricanes (2018). There was a significant increase in small (<10 cm) and a decrease in large (>51 cm) colonies post-hurricanes. Diseases and evidence of fish predation decreased significantly. While colony loss was less than reported from other Caribbean areas, the decline in large, sexually capable colonies in St. John is of concern. However, several factors suggest this population of A. palmata may be more resilient and thus worthy of further monitoring.
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