[Coral-List] question about recovery plan

Bruno, John jbruno at unc.edu
Sat Oct 18 10:04:13 EDT 2014


Dear Jennifer / Recovery Team,

I have a question about the wording in the Draft Acropora Recovery plan regarding Criteria 1 of the Population-Based Recovery Objectives and Criteria:

Elkhorn coral: Throughout approximately 10 percent of consolidated reef habitat in 1 to 5 m water depth within the forereef zone, achieve a density of 0.25 colonies ≥ 1 m diameter in size per m2, or achieve approximately 60 percent live elkhorn coral cover. Populations with these characteristics should be present throughout the range and maintained for 20 years;

and

Staghorn coral:

Throughout approximately 5 percent of consolidated reef habitat in 5 to 20 m water depth within the forereef zone, achieve a density of 1 colony ≥ 0.5 m diameter in size per m2, or achieve approximately 25 percent live staghorn coral cover. Populations with these characteristics should be present throughout the range and maintained for 20 years.

Is the criterion for palmata ~ 60 or 6% cover overall (across the reefscape)   And likewise, 25 or 1.25 for cervicornis?

i.e., the wording is unclear in that "achieve approximately 25 percent live staghorn coral cover” could be read to mean overall or "Throughout approximately 5 percent of consolidated reef habitat”.

Thank you,

JB

John Bruno
Professor, Dept of Biology
UNC Chapel Hill
www.johnfbruno.com<http://www.johnfbruno.com>







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