CORAL CURRENT l SUMMER 2017

CORAL REEF ALLIANCE CORAL TEAM SAVE CORAL REEFS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Over the last few years, we’ve Tela Bay, Honduras or Honolulu Harbor, Hawai`i, or Dr. John Anner, Board Chair Program (cont.) experienced some the greatest unusually warm waters in lagoons in American Samoa. C. Elizabeth Wagner, Secretary Dr. Antonella Rivera, destruction of coral reefs in These special corals are defying the assumption that Dan Dunn, Treasurer Program Manager human history. THE CULPRIT? corals are fragile and headed for extinction. Michael Bennett Alicia Srinivas, Coral bleaching caused by To save coral reefs, we need to find ways to help these Kristine Billeter Associate Program Manager climate change. special corals survive, grow and spread their genes Jeffrey Chanin Danielle Swenson, Bleaching happens when the to the next generation – this is the process of coral Philippe Hartl Engagement Manager Matt Humphreys John Vonokula, water on coral reefs gets too adaptation. We believe that the best way to help corals Vani Keil Program Coordinator warm. Though corals like warm water, when the water adapt is by creating Adaptive Reefscapes around the Dr. William Kerr gets too warm, they get stressed and bleach. Many world, where diverse corals can thrive in networks of Jim Lussier Development and Marketing corals never recover and once vibrant reefs fade to well-protected reefs. This special edition of CORAL Dr. Robert Richmond Kelsey Drivinski, white and crumble. Current will give you an in depth look at Adaptive James Tolonen Development Operations Coordinator But even in the face of these heartbreaking losses, Reefscapes and how we can use this innovative James Lloyd, I have not lost hope. I can assure you that my hope conservation concept to save coral reefs today and CORAL STAFF Communications Manager is not just wishful thinking, but instead based on for future generations. Natalie Scarlata, Senior Leadership growing scientific evidence that corals can adapt to Sincerely, Grants Manager Dr. Michael Webster, environmental changes. In fact, corals have been Executive Director Administration adapting for hundreds of millions of years. We can see evidence of coral adaptation everywhere on coral reefs. Dr. Madhavi Colton, Anne Shelley, Accountant Program Director For example, scientists are discovering corals that are Dory Gannes, International Council Members thriving in harsh conditions, like the murky waters of Dr. Michael Webster Development Director Tony Birdsey, Linda Cain, Steve Cohen, Christine Reyes, Mark Epstein, Sarah Freiermuth, Cindy Finance and Administration Director Glancy, Alex Kreston, Jillian Kreston, Bradley Mart, Donna Miller, Julian Osinski, Program Tom Schroeder, Steve Weinstock, Chana Ane, Jeff Yonover Program Coordinator Wesley Crile, Program Manager MAIN OFFICE Sarah Eminhizer, Coral Reef Alliance Associate Program Director 1330 Broadway, Suite 1602 Jos Hill, Oakland, CA 94612 Associate Program Director 1.888.CORAL.REEF Jenny Myton, [email protected] Associate Program Director www.coral.org Veronica Niken, Program Coordinator Follow Us Pamela Ortega, Program Manager @CoralReefAlliance Erica Perez, Program Manager @coral_org Alisi Rabukawaqa, Program Coordinator @coral_org I Made Jaya Ratha, Program Coordinator @Coral-Reef-Alliance

Printed in the USA by a Certified Green Business on 55% Recycled / 30% PCW / FSC Certified / Acid Free paper CORAL CURRENT SUMMER 2017 l 3 Why Save Coral Reefs? Survival and Adaptation in

a Changing World by Alicia Srinivas

275M people around the world depend on reefs for food Corals are survivors. They can adapt; we can help. and income “ Dr. Michael” Webster

When I watched the critically-acclaimed documentary Diverse Responses Coral reefs generate film “Chasing Coral,” I was struck by the powerful and $36B moving underwater time-lapse footage that bears There is much more variation in coral response to in global tourism value per year witness to the devastation of a coral bleaching event. climate change than one might think. Some corals By the end of the film, there was hardly a dry eye in the die during a bleaching event, some get bleached and audience. While messages like these play a critical role later recover, and some show signs of resistance to of all marine bleaching altogether. Sometimes corals surprise us 109 25% in creating global awareness and inciting action, it’s countries have coral reefs life depend on coral reefs equally important to bear in mind that not all is doom by doing well in unexpected places like murky waters and gloom for coral reefs. Corals are excellent survivors or warm-water lagoons. It’s helpful to remember that and adapters, and there are concrete actions we can corals are dynamic living organisms with the capacity take to save them. to adapt in surprising ways. Ancient Survivors Assisting Adaptation Corals are some of the world’s oldest organisms still in The great news is that there are clear-cut actions existence today, with the first coral appearing that we know can help coral reef ecosystems in 500 million years ago. Over their long history, many the face of climate change. The Coral Reef Alliance coral lineages have gone extinct, while others have works at multiple scales to ensure that reefs thrive adapted and survived through millions of years of for generations to come. At a local level, we address geological and environmental changes. Once corals immediate threats—such as pollution and overfishing get something right, they tend to keep doing it for a so that reefs are healthier and more resilient. At a long time. For example, a blue coral called Heliopora regional and global level, our work centers around coerulea has stayed the same for 130 million years. Adaptive Reefscapes, which are diverse, connected and large networks of healthy reefs that will enable 2M marine species are corals to adapt in an era of climate change. With our found in, on and around reefs work and your help, we can ensure that coral reefs survive through one of the greatest challenges they’ve ever faced – human beings. ADAPTIVE REEFSCAPES DIVERSE, CONNECTED and LARGE networks of healthy reefs.

DIVERSE Adaptive Reefscapes include many types of reefs, habitats, Demonstrative Adaptive Reefscape species and genes. We safeguard DIVERSITY to preserve options for an unpredictable future.

CONNECTED Rapid adaptation requires a CONNECTED network of healthy reefs such as Marine Protected Areas or Locally Managed Marine Areas to facilitate the spread of baby corals to different reefs and repopulate degraded reefs.

LARGE Small networks of reefs are vulnerable to a single disturbance such as a storm or a disease outbreak. Connecting LARGE networks of reefs protects reefscapes against losing everything all at once.

Reef-building corals are the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Their skeletons provide homes for the millions of special that live on, in and around reefs. DIVERSE Protected Reefs CONNECTED Healthy Reefs LARGE Network of Reefs

6 l CORAL CURRENT SUMMER 2017 CORAL CURRENT SUMMER 2017 l 7 SPOTLIGHT: REEF-BUILDING CORALS Reef-building corals come primarily from a group of corals called Scleractinians, or “hard” corals. Found in sunlit tropical waters where temperatures stay above 18 degrees Celsius, they provide food, shelter and nurseries to 25 percent of marine life and protect coastal communities from wave action, erosion and tropical storms. These Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) CR Boulder star coral (Montastraea annularis) EN corals share a symbiotic relationship with the algae, called zooxanthellae, that live inside them. Most live in colonies comprised of thousands of individual called coral polyps and build reefs by secreting layers of Shape: Branching (tree-like) Shape: Massive a hard mineral substance called calcium carbonate. Distribution: West Atlantic/ Distribution: West Atlantic/ Caribbean Caribbean Fun Fact: Acropora is Fun fact: Recent studies the most abundant and have revealed that what was species-rich genus of previously thought to be only corals in the world one species actually turns out to be three different species The IUCN Red List, founded in 1964, is the world’s authority on the global Cabbage coral (Montipora foliosa) NT Elephant skin coral (Pachyseris rugosa) VU of species. Scientists assign species with a status Shape: Foliose (leaf-like) Shape: Foliose (leaf-like) as follows: Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea Indian Ocean CR = Critically Endangered Fun fact: A favorite of reef Fun fact: Unique in that its EN = Endangered aquarists, thanks to its beauty coral polyps do not extend to catch food VU = Vulnerable and ease of care NT = Near Threatened LC = Least Concern Mushroom coral (Fungia fungites) NT Maze brain coral ( lamellina) NT DD = Data Deficient Shape: Solitary Shape: Massive Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea Indian Ocean, Red Sea Fun fact: Unique in that Fun fact: The pattern on they are not attached to the brain corals is often referred bottom and can move short to as a series of ridges and distances; they’re also a valleys; the coral polyps’ single (they do not mouths are located in live in colonies) the valleys There are estimated to be 845 species of reef-building coral species. Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) VU Lobe coral (Porites lobata) NT Shape: Digitate (finger-like) Shape: Massive Distribution: West Atlantic/ Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean Red Sea, Hawaiian Islands, Fun fact: Tentacles Pacific coast of the Americas remain extended during Fun fact: Colonies can be One-third of reef-building corals are at the day, giving the colonies up to 1000 years old, making risk of extinction due to climate change and local threats. a furry look them some of the oldest life forms on earth

8 l CORAL CURRENT SUMMER 2017 CORAL CURRENT SUMMER 2017 l 9 OUR BLUEPRINT Coral Reefs Making Adaptive Reefscapes a reality requires a blueprint that can be replicated around the world. This blueprint includes several steps that we follow whenever we begin work in a new region. Need People Develop a Regional Establish Networks Refine, Exit, Share Conservation Plan of Healthy Reefs and Repeat Like You • Assess the work already • Work directly with local • Assess our progress and The for happening within a region communities to reduce threats refine our work based on world needs coral reefs • Draw on cutting-edge science to to key reefs in ways that provide new information food, jobs and recreation. Corals are extraordinary strategically identify where and tangible benefits to people • Ensure local leaders have the animals, and the reefs they build are one of the most how to invest our resources • Create partnerships and alliances capacity, tools, autonomy and biodiverse and valuable ecosystems on the planet. • 1Collaborate with and unite to2 enhance conservation work that financial3 support they need for communities, government leaders, is already underway long-term success organizations and philanthropists • Engage policymakers and • Share findings with a global Today, corals are in crisis. A startling around a regional plan to save government officials to create network of partners to apply 75 percent of our coral reefs coral reefs legal support for reef protections our blueprint around the world are threatened or gone. Rising sea Our Science temperatures and increased ocean acidity caused In collaboration with research partners at the University of Washington and Rutgers University, we are building by climate change leave corals vulnerable. a powerful mathematical model to simulate different future scenarios for coral reefs and help us answer questions like: But there is hope. Corals can adapt • Does focusing on “pristine” reefs help corals deal with climate change? to changing conditions. Coral reefs need people like • What happens to corals in the future if we protect a network of diverse reefs? you to help protect the two million marine species • How large does a reefscape have to be to ensure that it can adapt to change in the coming decades? and two hundred seventy-five million people that depend on them.

The Coral Reef Alliance has a solution that promotes Our Blueprint in Action coral adaptation with diverse, connected and large With our many partners, we are creating an Adaptive Reefscape along the Mesoamerican reef region, networks of healthy reefs called Adaptive which spans the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Reefscapes. Together with you, we can Guatemala and Honduras. Already, we have been able to save corals. identify key reefs where we are reducing coastal pollution and improving fisheries management. We are also Join us and learn more at coral.org/adapt. developing a mathematical model to pinpoint additional reefs that we should protect to help corals adapt. Our goal is to launch similar Adaptive Reefscapes in three other key coral reef regions around the world. Creating successful reefscapes in these regions will provide a proven blueprint for global coral reef conservation.

Photo by Craig Holmes

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CORAL is pleased to announce that we have received a 100 percent score from Charity Navigator for our Accountability and Transparency procedures. With an overall score of 97 percent and a 4 out of 4-star rating for the fourth consecutive year, you can be confident in our capacity as a financially healthy, accountable and transparent organization. Learn more at coral.org/4-star.