DOCSLIB.ORG

Center for Biological Diversity-2009-TN1518-Ctr Bio

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Center for Biological Diversity-2009-TN1518-Ctr Bio BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE PETITION TO LIST 83 CORAL SPECIES UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Blue rice coral photo © Keoki Stender Submitted October 20, 2009 NOTICE OF PETITION Gary Locke Secretary of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 5516 Washington, D.C. 20230 E-mail: [email protected] James Balsiger, Acting Director NOAA Fisheries National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration 1315 East-West Highway Silver Springs, MD 20910 E-mail: [email protected] PETITIONER The Center for Biological Diversity 351 California Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104 ph: (415) 436-9682 fax: (415) 436-9683 Date: October 20, 2009 Miyoko Sakashita Shaye Wolf Center for Biological Diversity Pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. §1533(b), Section 553(3) of the Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. § 553(e), and 50 C.F.R. §424.14(a), the Center for Biological Diversity (“Petitioner”) hereby petitions the Secretary of Commerce and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”), through the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS” or “NOAA Fisheries”), to list 83 coral species and to designate critical habitat to ensure their survival and recovery. The Center for Biological Diversity (“Center”) is a non-profit, public interest environmental organization dedicated to the protection of native species and their habitats through science, policy, and environmental law. The Center has over 43,000 members throughout the United States and internationally. The Center and its members are concerned with the conservation of endangered species, including coral species, and the effective implementation of the ESA. ii NMFS has jurisdiction over this petition. This petition sets in motion a specific process, placing definite response requirements on NMFS. Specifically, NMFS must issue an initial finding as to whether the petition “presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.” 16 U.S.C. §1533(b)(3)(A). NMFS must make this initial finding “[t]o the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the petition.” Id. Petitioner needs not demonstrate that the petitioned action is warranted, rather, Petitioner must only present information demonstrating that such action may be warranted. While Petitioner believes that the best available science demonstrates that listing the 83 coral species as endangered is in fact warranted, there can be no reasonable dispute that the available information indicates that listing these species as either threatened or endangered may be warranted. As such, NMFS must promptly make a positive initial finding on the petition and commence a status review as required by 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(3)(B). The 83 coral species covered by this Petition are as follows: Acanthastrea brevis Alveopora fenestrata Montipora caliculata Acanthastrea hemprichii Alveopora verrilliana Montipora dilatata Acanthastrea ishigakiensis Anacropora puertogalerae Montipora flabellata Acanthastrea regularis Anacropora spinosa Montipora lobulata Acropora aculeus Astreopora cucullata Montipora patula Acropora acuminata Barabattoia laddi Mycetophyllia ferox Acropora aspera Caulastrea echinulata Oculina varicosa Acropora dendrum Cyphastrea agassizi Pachyseris rugosa Acropora donei Cyphastrea ocellina Pavona bipartita Acropora globiceps Dendrogyra cylindrus Pavona cactus Acropora horrida Dichocoenia stokesii Pavona decussata Acropora jacquelineae Euphyllia cristata Pavona diffluens Acropora listeri Euphyllia paraancora Pavona venosa Acropora lokani Euphyllia paradivisa Pectinia alcicornis Acropora microclados Galaxea astreata Physogyra lichtensteini Acropora palmerae Heliopora coerulea Pocillopora danae Acropora paniculata Isopora crateriformis Pocillopora elegans Acropora pharaonis Isopora cuneata Porites horizontalata Acropora polystoma Leptoseris incrustans Porites napopora Acropora retusa Leptoseris yabei Porites nigrescens Acropora rudis Millepora foveolata Porites pukoensis Acropora speciosa Millepora tuberosa Psammocora stellata Acropora striata Montastraea annularis Seriatopora aculeata Acropora tenella Montastraea faveolata Turbinaria mesenterina Acropora vaughani Montastraea franksi Turbinaria peltata Acropora verweyi Montipora angulata Turbinaria reniformis Agaricia lamarcki Montipora australiensis Turbinaria stellula Alveopora allingi Montipora calcarea Authors: Emily Brown and Shaye Wolf, Center for Biological Diversity iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 2 PART ONE: NATURAL HISTORY AND STATUS OF PETIONTED CORAL SPECIES 5 I. BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO CORALS ........................................................................... 5 II. NATURAL HISTORY AND STATUS OF PETITONED CORAL SPECIES IN THE CARIBBEAN............................................................................................................................. 7 A. SPECIES ACCOUNTS.................................................................................................... 7 1. FAMILY: AGARICIDAE........................................................................................... 7 Agaricia lamarcki (Lamarck's Sheet Coral) ............................................................... 7 2. FAMILY: FAVIIDAE ................................................................................................. 8 Montastraea annularis (Boulder Star Coral) .............................................................. 9 Montastraea faveolata (Mountainous Star Coral).................................................... 10 Montastraea franksi..................................................................................................... 11 3. FAMILY: MEANDRINIDAE................................................................................... 11 Dendrogyra cylindrus (Pillar Coral) .......................................................................... 11 Dichocoenia stokesii (Elliptical Star Coral or Pineapple Coral)............................. 12 4. FAMILY: MUSSIDAE.............................................................................................. 13 Mycetophyllia ferox (Rough Cactus Coral)............................................................... 14 5. FAMILY: OCULINIDAE......................................................................................... 15 Oculina varicosa (Large Ivory Coral, Ivory Bush Coral, Ivory Tree Coral)......... 15 B. STATUS OF CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS OF THE WIDER CARIBBEAN .... 16 1. US Caribbean Territories: Florida, Flower Garden Banks, Puerto Rico, Navassa, USVI................................................................................................................................. 19 2. Northern Caribbean and Western Atlantic: ............................................................ 20 Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos ............................................................................................................ 20 3. Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System: Belize, Mexican Yucatan, Honduras, Guatemala........................................................................................................................ 20 4. Lesser Antilles: The French West Indies, The Netherlands Antilles, Anguilla, Antigua, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago..................................................................... 20 5. Southern Tropical America: Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Venezuela......................................................................................................................... 21 III. NATURAL HISTORY AND STATUS OF PETITIONED CORAL SPECIES OF THE INDO-PACIFIC............................................................................................................. 21 A. SPECIES ACCOUNTS FOR CORALS OCCURING IN HAWAI’I ....................... 21 1. FAMILY: ACROPORIDAE..................................................................................... 21 Acropora paniculata (Fuzzy Table Coral)................................................................. 22 Montipora dilatata (Irregular Rice Coral or Hawaiian Reef Coral)....................... 23 Montipora flabellata (Blue Rice Coral)...................................................................... 24 Montipora patula (Sandpaper Rice Coral/Spreading Coral/Ringed Rice Coral).. 25 2. FAMILY: AGARICIDAE......................................................................................... 26 Leptoseris incrustans ................................................................................................... 26 3. FAMILY: PORITIDAE ............................................................................................ 27 Porites pukoensis.......................................................................................................... 27 iv 4. FAMILY: FAVIIDAE ............................................................................................... 28 Cyphastrea agassizi (Agassiz's Coral)........................................................................ 28 Cyphastrea ocellina (Ocellated Coral) ....................................................................... 29 5. FAMILY: SIDERASTREIDAE ............................................................................... 30 Psammocora stellata (Stellar Coral) .........................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Taxonomic Checklist of CITES Listed Coral Species Part II
    CoP16 Doc. 43.1 (Rev. 1) Annex 5.2 (English only / Únicamente en inglés / Seulement en anglais) Taxonomic Checklist of CITES listed Coral Species Part II CORAL SPECIES AND SYNONYMS CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED IN THE UNEP‐WCMC DATABASE 1. Scleractinia families Family Name Accepted Name Species Author Nomenclature Reference Synonyms ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrolhosensis Veron, 1985 Veron (2000) Madrepora crassa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860; ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrotanoides (Lamarck, 1816) Veron (2000) Madrepora abrotanoides Lamarck, 1816; Acropora mangarevensis Vaughan, 1906 ACROPORIDAE Acropora aculeus (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora aculeus Dana, 1846 Madrepora acuminata Verrill, 1864; Madrepora diffusa ACROPORIDAE Acropora acuminata (Verrill, 1864) Veron (2000) Verrill, 1864; Acropora diffusa (Verrill, 1864); Madrepora nigra Brook, 1892 ACROPORIDAE Acropora akajimensis Veron, 1990 Veron (2000) Madrepora coronata Brook, 1892; Madrepora ACROPORIDAE Acropora anthocercis (Brook, 1893) Veron (2000) anthocercis Brook, 1893 ACROPORIDAE Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora aspera Dana, 1846; Acropora cribripora (Dana, 1846); Madrepora cribripora Dana, 1846; Acropora manni (Quelch, 1886); Madrepora manni ACROPORIDAE Acropora aspera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Quelch, 1886; Acropora hebes (Dana, 1846); Madrepora hebes Dana, 1846; Acropora yaeyamaensis Eguchi & Shirai, 1977 ACROPORIDAE Acropora austera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora austera Dana, 1846 ACROPORIDAE Acropora awi Wallace & Wolstenholme, 1998 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora azurea Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora batunai Wallace, 1997 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bifurcata Nemenzo, 1971 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora branchi Riegl, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora brueggemanni Brook, 1891; Isopora ACROPORIDAE Acropora brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) Veron (2000) brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bushyensis Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) Acropora fasciculare Latypov, 1992 ACROPORIDAE Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985 Veron (2000) CoP16 Doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Exposure to Elevated Sea-Surface Temperatures Below the Bleaching Threshold Impairs Coral Recovery and Regeneration Following Injury
    A peer-reviewed version of this preprint was published in PeerJ on 18 August 2017. View the peer-reviewed version (peerj.com/articles/3719), which is the preferred citable publication unless you specifically need to cite this preprint. Bonesso JL, Leggat W, Ainsworth TD. 2017. Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury. PeerJ 5:e3719 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3719 Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury Joshua Louis Bonesso Corresp., 1 , William Leggat 1, 2 , Tracy Danielle Ainsworth 2 1 College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia 2 Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia Corresponding Author: Joshua Louis Bonesso Email address: [email protected] Elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of bleaching events due to temperatures exceeding corals’ upper thermal limits. The temperatures at which a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis (coral bleaching) occurs are referred to as the upper thermal limits for the coral species. This breakdown of the endosymbiosis results in a reduction of corals’ nutritional uptake, growth, and tissue integrity. Periods of elevated sea surface temperature, thermal stress and coral bleaching are also linked to increased disease susceptibility and an increased frequency of storms which cause injury and physical damage to corals. Herein we aimed to determine the capacity of corals to regenerate and recover from injuries (removal of apical tips) sustained during periods of elevated sea surface temperatures which result in coral stress responses, but which do not result in coral bleaching (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Live Coral Habitat for Reef Fishes and Its Role in Key Ecological Processes
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Coker, Darren J. (2012) The importance of live coral habitat for reef fishes and its role in key ecological processes. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/23714/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/23714/ THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVE CORAL HABITAT FOR REEF FISHES AND ITS ROLE IN KEY ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES Thesis submitted by Darren J. Coker (B.Sc, GDipResMeth) May 2012 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville, Queensland, Australia Statement of access I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University will make it available for use within the University Library and via the Australian Digital Thesis Network for use elsewhere. I understand that as an unpublished work this thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and I do not wish to put any further restrictions upon access to this thesis. Signature Date ii Statement of sources Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at my university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given.
    [Show full text]
  • Composition and Ecology of Deep-Water Coral Associations D
    HELGOLK---~DER MEERESUNTERSUCHUNGEN Helgoltinder Meeresunters. 36, 183-204 (1983) Composition and ecology of deep-water coral associations D. H. H. Kfihlmann Museum ffir Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universit~t Berlin; Invalidenstr. 43, DDR- 1040 Berlin, German Democratic Republic ABSTRACT: Between 1966 and 1978 SCUBA investigations were carried out in French Polynesia, the Red Sea, and the Caribbean, at depths down to 70 m. Although there are fewer coral species in the Caribbean, the abundance of Scleractinia in deep-water associations below 20 m almost equals that in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The assemblages of corals living there are described and defined as deep-water coral associations. They are characterized by large, flattened growth forms. Only 6 to 7 % of the species occur exclusively below 20 m. More than 90 % of the corals recorded in deep waters also live in shallow regions. Depth-related illumination is not responsible for depth differentiations of coral associations, but very likely, a complex of mechanical factors, such as hydrodynamic conditions, substrate conditions, sedimentation etc. However, light intensity deter- mines the general distribution of hermatypic Scleractinia in their bathymetric range as well as the platelike shape of coral colonies characteristic for deep water associations. Depending on mechani- cal factors, Leptoseris, Montipora, Porites and Pachyseris dominate as characteristic genera in the Central Pacific Ocean, Podabacia, Leptoseris, Pachyseris and Coscinarea in the Red Sea, Agaricia and Leptoseris in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. INTRODUCTION Considerable attention has been paid to shallow-water coral associations since the first half of this century (Duerden, 1902; Mayer, 1918; Umbgrove, 1939). Detailed investigations at depths down to 20 m became possible only through the use of autono- mous diving apparatus.
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinian Reef Corals: Identification Notes
    SCLERACTINIAN REEF CORALS: IDENTIFICATION NOTES By JACKIE WOLSTENHOLME James Cook University AUGUST 2004 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24656.51205 http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24656.51205 Scleractinian Reef Corals: Identification Notes by Jackie Wolstenholme is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ i INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................. 2 FAMILY ACROPORIDAE.................................................................................................................................... 3 Montipora ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Massive/thick plates/encrusting & tuberculae/papillae ................................................................................... 3 Montipora monasteriata .............................................................................................................................. 3 Massive/thick plates/encrusting & papillae ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 2. Animals
    AC20 Doc. 8.5 Annex (English only/Seulement en anglais/Únicamente en inglés) REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE ANALYSIS OF TRADE TRENDS WITH NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SELECTED SPECIES Volume 2. Animals Prepared for the CITES Animals Committee, CITES Secretariat by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre JANUARY 2004 AC20 Doc. 8.5 – p. 3 Prepared and produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (UNEP-WCMC) www.unep-wcmc.org The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognise the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorous products and services that include ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of future scenarios for the living world. Prepared for: The CITES Secretariat, Geneva A contribution to UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme Printed by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK © Copyright: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/CITES Secretariat The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Acanthastrea Lordhowensis
    RÉCIF FRANCE Les LETTRES RÉCIFALES L’AQUARIOPHILIE MARINE ET RÉCIFALE À LA PORTÉE DE TOUS Pomacanthus navarchus Acanthastrea lordhowensis Maintenir les Turbos Réduction des nitrates Le genre Acanthastrea 9HRLCQF*jjfjhe+ Numéro 97 Mars / Avril 2014 6,50 € BELGIQUE & SUISSE : 7,98 € ISSN 1265 - 9959 Page 2 Les Lettres Récifales Les Lettres Récifales, c’est votre magazine ! Vous souhaitez communiquer votre expé- rience sur les conditions de maintenance de votre éco - système, faire part de vos réus- sites et déboires avec un animal, nous pré- senter votre installation ou partager avec nous vos réflexions sur votre future installa- tion, écrivez nous ! Vous avez eu l’occasion de visiter une installation privée ou publique qui vous a retenu votre attention, vous souhaitez faire part de votre coup de cœur à nos lecteurs, écrivez nous ! Vous avez testé un nouveau matériel, vous avez amélioré son fonctionnement, vous êtes bricoleur et avez fabriqué avec succès un équipement, vous voulez partager votre conception et en faire profiter le plus grand nombre, écrivez nous ! Faire paraître vos articles c’est encourager la passion de l’aquariophilie marine pour tous et communiquer la passion ! 2014, n° 97 Page 3 Copyright © 2014 Récif France. All rights reserved. Sommaire MARS - AVRIL 2014 ►Délégués Régionaux : ALSACE - BOURGOGNE - FRANCHE COMTÉ - Francis SCHULTZ 89 rue Principale - 67870 BISCHHOFFSHEIM 4 POMACANTHUS NAR- Courriel : [email protected] BRETAGNE - PAYS DE LOIRE - Serge BLIVET VACHUS 66 rue Hortense Tanvet - 44150 ANCENIS Jens GSCHWENDER
    [Show full text]
  • May 24, 2021 Mr. Michael D. Tosatto Pacific Islands Regional Office
    May 24, 2021 Mr. Michael D. Tosatto Pacific Islands Regional Office NOAA Inouye Regional Center 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 RE: Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for Seven Threatened Corals in U.S. Waters in the Indo-Pacific (NOAA-NMFS-2016-0131) Dear Mike: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the seven threatened corals in U.S. waters in the Indo-Pacific pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA)1. The Council appreciates NMFS for responding to the requests for holding public hearings and extending the public comment period. The Council believes that the proposed critical habitat designations in U.S. waters published by NMFS are overly broad, and not based upon the best available scientific or economic information. Furthermore, the Council concludes that existing federal and local mechanisms also provide adequate protections for corals and their habitat, and designation of critical habitat is not likely to provide additional conservation benefits. By way of background, in 2018, the Supreme Court held that critical-habitat designations are limited to areas that are “also habitat for the species.” See Weyerhauser Co. v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serv., 139 S. Ct. 361,368(2018) (emphasis in original). However, the Court left open the question of whether a currently-uninhabitable area would qualify as critical habitat. In 2019, NMFS promulgated revisions to the ESA implementing regulations. The new regulations included revisions to critical habitat designation.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Diversity, Phylogeny, and Biogeographic Patterns of Crustacean Copepods Associated with Scleractinian Corals of the Indo-Pacific
    Molecular Diversity, Phylogeny, and Biogeographic Patterns of Crustacean Copepods Associated with Scleractinian Corals of the Indo-Pacific Dissertation by Sofya Mudrova In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Science King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia November, 2018 2 EXAMINATION COMMITTEE PAGE The dissertation of Sofya Mudrova is approved by the examination committee. Committee Chairperson: Dr. Michael Lee Berumen Committee Co-Chair: Dr. Viatcheslav Ivanenko Committee Members: Dr. James Davis Reimer, Dr. Takashi Gojobori, Dr. Manuel Aranda Lastra 3 COPYRIGHT PAGE © November, 2018 Sofya Mudrova All rights reserved 4 ABSTRACT Molecular diversity, phylogeny and biogeographic patterns of crustacean copepods associated with scleractinian corals of the Indo-Pacific Sofya Mudrova Biodiversity of coral reefs is higher than in any other marine ecosystem, and significant research has focused on studying coral taxonomy, physiology, ecology, and coral-associated fauna. Yet little is known about symbiotic copepods, abundant and numerous microscopic crustaceans inhabiting almost every living coral colony. In this thesis, I investigate the genetic diversity of different groups of copepods associated with reef-building corals in distinct parts of the Indo-Pacific; determine species boundaries; and reveal patterns of biogeography, endemism, and host-specificity in these symbiotic systems. A non-destructive method of DNA extraction allowed me to use an integrated approach to conduct a diversity assessment of different groups of copepods and to determine species boundaries using molecular and taxonomical methods. Overall, for this thesis, I processed and analyzed 1850 copepod specimens, representing 269 MOTUs collected from 125 colonies of 43 species of scleractinian corals from 11 locations in the Indo-Pacific.
    [Show full text]
  • Proposed Listing Determinations for 82 Reef-Building Coral Species
    Billing Code 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 223 and 224 [Docket No. 0911231415-2625-02] 0648-XT12 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Proposed Listing Determinations for 82 Reef- building Coral Species; Proposed Reclassification of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis from Threatened to Endangered. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, have completed comprehensive status reviews under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 82 reef-building coral species in response to a petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to list the species as either threatened or endangered. We have determined, based on the best scientific and commercial data available and efforts being made to protect the species, that 12 of the petitioned coral species warrant listing as endangered (five Caribbean and seven Indo-Pacific), 54 coral species warrant listing as threatened (two Caribbean and 52 Indo-Pacific), and 16 coral species (all Indo-Pacific) do not warrant listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA. Additionally, we have determined, based on the best scientific and commercial information available and efforts undertaken to protect the species, two Caribbean coral species currently listed warrant reclassification from threatened to 1 endangered. We are announcing that 18 public hearings will be held during the public comment period to provide additional opportunities and formats to receive public input. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for public hearing dates, times, and locations. DATES: Comments on this proposal must be received by [INSERT DATE 90 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
    [Show full text]
  • Final Corals Supplemental Information Report
    Supplemental Information Report on Status Review Report And Draft Management Report For 82 Coral Candidate Species November 2012 Southeast and Pacific Islands Regional Offices National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS RECEIVED ...................................................................................................... 3 SRR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2. General Background on Corals and Coral Reefs .................................................................................... 4 2.1 Taxonomy & Distribution .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Wallace Et Al MTQ Catalogue Embedded Pics.Vp
    Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature 57 Revision and catalogue of worldwide staghorn corals Acropora and Isopora (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in the Museum of Tropical Queensland Carden C. Wallace, Barbara J. Done & Paul R. Muir © Queensland Museum PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia Phone 06 7 3840 7555 Fax 06 7 3846 1226 Email [email protected] Website www.qm.qld.gov.au National Library of Australia card number ISSN 0079-8835 NOTE Papers published in this volume and in all previous volumes of the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum may be reproduced for scientific research, individual study or other educational purposes. Properly acknowledged quotations may be made but queries regarding the republication of any papers should be addressed to the Director. Copies of the journal can be purchased from the Queensland Museum Shop. A Guide to Authors is displayed at the Queensland Museum web site www.qm.qld.gov.au A Queensland Government Project Typeset at the Queensland Museum Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature Volume 57 Minister: The Honourable Ros Bates, MP, Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts CEO: I.D. Galloway, PhD Editor in Chief: J.N.A. Hooper, PhD Managing Editor: S.M. Verschoore Issue Editor: P.J.F. Davie PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD 30 JUNE 2012 © The State of Queensland (Queensland Museum), 2012 PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Qld Australia Phone 61 7 3840 7555 Fax 61 7 3846 1226 www.qm.qld.gov.au National Library of Australia card number ISSN 0079-8835 COVER: Acropora muricata (Linnaeus, 1758), type species of Acropora, Maldives, 2006 (MTQ-G60372), photo: Paul Muir.
    [Show full text]