Staghorn Coral : Endangered
A genome-wide survey of highly endangered staghorn coral in the Caribbean has identified 10 genomic regions associated with resilience against white band disease.
- Staghorn coral is one of the most important corals in the Caribbean.
- It, along with elkhorn coral and star corals built Caribbean coral reefs over the last 5,000 years.
- Staghorn coral can form dense groups called “thickets” in very shallow water.
- These provide important habitat for other reef animals, especially fish.
- Staghorn coral colonies are golden tan or pale brown with white tips and they get their color from the algae that live within their tissue.
- These corals have antler-like branches and typically stem out from a central trunk and angle upward.
- Each staghorn coral colony is made up of many individual polyps that grow together.
- These coral get food from photosynthetic algae that live inside the coral’s cells. They also feed by capturing plankton with their polyps’ tentacles.
