SAFE: Atlantic Acropora Corals ​ ​ 2018-2021 Conservation Action Plan ​ ​

Submitted: 18 September 2018 Revised: 7 June 2019 Approved: 20 August 2019

Program Leader: Bart Shepherd

Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences

With program partners and advisors.

Table of Contents:

Background …………………………………………………………………………..……. 3 Program Goal …………………………………………………………………………..……. 3 Program Operational Structure ………………………………………………..…….…….. 5 Conservation Target …………………………………………………………..……....……. 6 Status Of Taxa Within The AZA Community ……………………………...……………… 7 AZA Conservation Activities ……………………………………………...……………… 7 AZA Public Engagement Activities ………………………………………...……………. 11 Conservation Status Of Taxa ……………………………………………………....………. 12 Recovery Plan ………………………………………………………....……………...…….. 12 Threats ………………………………………………………....…………………...………... 13 SAFE Program Work Plan ………………………………………………………....………. 14 Funding Contributions to Date ...……………………………………....…………………… 15 Funding Objectives ………………………………………………………………………….. 17 Action Opportunities for AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums ……………………….... 17 Program Summary Table ……………………………………………………………………. 19 References ………………………………………………………....………………………… 28

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Background

The two species of Atlantic Acropora corals, along with their naturally-occurring hybrid, were ​ ​ once keystone species and primary reef-builders in the tropical western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions. Healthy populations of these corals provide a myriad of ecosystem services and benefits to local people, including protection from storms and wave surge, habitat for important fishery species, ecotourism (diving, snorkeling), and more. During the 1970’s and 1980’s populations of both A. cervicornis and A. palmata underwent precipitous declines in abundance (National Marine ​ ​ ​ Fisheries Service, 2015). This significant decline, documented to be as high as 97% across large sections of the Caribbean and Florida, greatly reduced these species’ ability to successfully reproduce through both of their natural reproductive strategies: sexual (broadcast spawning) and asexual (fragmentation). Based on current scientific understanding, the primary cause of this decline is attributed to disease, especially White Band Disease (WBD). However, synergistic effects from multiple threats (local, regional, and global) are impacting extant populations and impeding natural recovery. AZA member institutions have been directly engaged in field conservation and conservation-related education of these species and their habitat for many years. In March 2018, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Disney’s The Seas, The Florida Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, John G. Shedd Aquarium, and Steinhart Aquarium proposed Atlantic Acropora corals as a SAFE program. This conservation action plan was approved in ​ ​ August 2019.

Program Goal

The long-term vision of the SAFE: Atlantic Acropora corals program is increased abundance ​ ​ and genetic diversity of wild populations of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral ​ ​ (Acropora cervicornis), that these species remain extant throughout their native range, experience ​ ​ successful reproduction and recruitment, and provide valuable ecosystem services and benefits. The 3-year program goal supporting this vision includes a combination of conservation and restoration activities: (1) developing at least four capacity-building restoration centers in the region; (2) accelerating production and outplanting of both asexually and sexually-propagated corals; (3) increasing capacity of in situ and ex situ nurseries; (4) expanding partnerships with non-traditional ​ ​ ​ ​ collaborators to support restoration; (5) increase capacity for scientific research on topics supporting restoration through expanded partnerships and integration of AZA members into existing conservation networks; and (6) engaging our audiences on the threats facing these species and actions that they can take to reduce these threats. While the priority for the SAFE program will be on A. cervicornis and ​ ​ A. palmata, the project also includes research with their naturally-occurring F1 hybrid (A. prolifera). ​ ​ ​

We aim to increase the number of AZA-accredited member institutions directly participating in and contributing to the conservation of Atlantic Acropora corals (see Action Opportunities Summary ​ ​ List), and increase awareness of the global coral reef crisis and impacts to Atlantic Acropora species ​ ​ through our collective education, outreach and public engagement activities. Through these conservation and educational programs, AZA-accredited member institutions and project partners will

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create a measurable positive impact on these populations and public awareness of their status, their importance, and their place in the global coral reef crisis.

The following work plan was developed by a steering committee consisting of leaders from seven AZA member institutions (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Disney’s The Seas, Florida Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Steinhart Aquarium), along with project partners, external advisors and the Aquatic Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group. This plan supports the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Recovery Plan for Elkhorn ​ (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis) Corals, prepared by the Acropora Recovery Team ​ for the National Marine Fisheries Service in March 2015.

The SAFE Atlantic Acropora Corals program invites and welcomes all interested AZA zoos ​ ​ and aquariums to become program partners, funders and collaborators.

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Program Operational Structure

Program Leadership:

Bart Shepherd Senior Director, Steinhart Aquarium [email protected] California Academy of Sciences (415) 379-5445

Program Partners - Steering Committee:

Mitch Carl Curator of Aquatics, [email protected] Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (402) 738-6933

Erinn Muller Science Director, International Center for Coral [email protected] Reef Research and Restoration, (941) 388-4441 x310 Mote Marine Laboratory

Keri O’Neil Coral Nursery Manager, [email protected] The Florida Aquarium (813) 425-1679

Mark Schick Director, Fishes Department, [email protected] Shedd Aquarium (312) 692-3189

M. Andrew Stamper Science Operations Manager/Clinical [email protected] Veterinarian, Disney’s Animals, Science and (407) 560-5576 Environment

Becky Ellsworth Curator, Shores Department [email protected] Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (614) 724-3436

Program Advisors:

Mike Brittsan Director of Aquatic Sciences (retired), [email protected] Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (614) 724-3580

Margaret Miller Research Director, SECORE International. [email protected] Team Lead, NOAA’s Acropora Recovery (614) 973-3559 Implementation Team

Tom Moore Coral Reef Restoration Team Lead, [email protected] NOAA Restoration Center (727) 647-6538

Craig Dahlgren Executive Director, [email protected] Perry Institute for Marine Science (561) 741-0192 x231

Mary Hagedorn Senior Research Scientist, [email protected] Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (808) 520-1368

Linda Penfold Director, South-East Zoo Alliance for [email protected] Reproduction and Conservation (SEZARC) (904) 556-1675

Amelia Moura Science Director, [email protected] Coral Restoration Foundation (786) 780-2658

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Conservation Target

The targets of the AZA SAFE program for Atlantic Acropora Corals are elkhorn coral (A. palmata) and ​ ​ ​ ​ staghorn coral (A. cervicornis). While these species are the priority, some of the program goals also ​ ​ include working with their naturally-occurring F1 hybrid (A. prolifera). ​ ​

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Cnidaria Class Anthozoa Order Scleractinia Family Acroporidae Genus species Acropora cervicornis ​ Acropora palmata Acropora prolifera

Acropora cervicornis, “staghorn coral” Acropora palmata, “elkhorn coral” ​ ​

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Status of Taxa at AZA Member Institutions

AZA Conservation Activities:

Only a very few AZA member organizations manage populations of Atlantic Acropora corals ​ ​ within their facilities (Table 1). This is partly due to the difficulty of obtaining specimens, given the multiple levels of protection (state, federal, international), compounded by the difficulty of successfully managing aquarium populations in the long-term.

Table 1: Number of AZA member organizations currently housing Atlantic Acropora corals. ​ ​ ​

Species Number of Organizations

A. cervicornis 7

A. palmata 5

A. prolifera 0

Although the number of AZA member institutions managing Atlantic Acropora corals in their ​ ​ facilities is quite low, many members have been actively engaged in field conservation and research activities with these species, sometimes for more than a decade. Numerous AZA member institutions and their partners have been conducting restoration of Atlantic Acropora corals by outplanting corals ​ ​ to repopulate reefs in southern Florida and the greater Caribbean region. These generally occur via two modes: (1) asexual propagation, nursery management, and outplanting through partnership with the Coral Restoration Foundation in Florida, and (2) gamete collection, fertilization, settlement and outplanting of sexually-derived coral recruits at several locations in the Caribbean region in partnership with SECORE (SExual COral REproduction) International. The SECORE approach, where gametes are collected from wild corals and cross-fertilized in the lab, results in genetically-unique individuals that can be used to enhance population abundance and genetic diversity through restoration. The partnership between SECORE and the zoo and aquarium community has resulted in numerous scientific breakthroughs, including the first lab-reared A. palmata outplanted on Caribbean ​ ​ reefs, as well as documentation of the first lab-reared A. palmata to spawn concurrently with its wild ​ ​ conspecifics in Curacao (Chamberland et al., 2015, 2016).

These activities have consistently increased in scale and frequency during the last decade, with multiple spawning workshops occurring each year, and thousands of corals being outplanted during this time. From the years 2014-2016, 18 AZA facilities invested at least $1.4 million toward conservation and restoration of Atlantic Acropora corals. A consortium of AZA member institutions, ​ ​ including Georgia Aquarium, The Florida Aquarium, SeaWorld, Akron Zoo, Columbus Zoo and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Aquarium, in collaboration with Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and other partners, have ​ conducted restoration using the asexual approach. Activities include coral nursery management,

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propagating and outplanting corals, along with collecting and fertilizing gametes spawned by broodstock in the nurseries. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, John G. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Shedd Aquarium, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Aquarium of the Pacific, Moody ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Gardens, Texas State Aquarium, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Minnesota Zoo and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Discovery Place are all zoo and aquarium partners of SECORE International. Over the past decade, ​ more than 50 zoos and aquariums have supported SECORE by sending staff to participate in restoration workshops in project locations in The Bahamas, Curacao, Guam, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the US Virgin Islands.

In 2004, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium became the first zoo in the United States to partner with ​ ​ SECORE. CZA has supported SECORE financially and through collaborative education and outreach, including an episode of Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild. At the time, Mike Brittsan was the Chair of the ​ ​ AZA Coral Reef CAP, and many aquariums were fragmenting corals (asexual propagation) to produce and exchange exhibit animals. CZA saw SECORE as a unique, collaborative partnership between coral reef scientists and aquarists that provided an opportunity for zoos and aquariums to utilize sexual reproduction for more sustainable animal acquisition, as well as enhance their involvement in conservation of species and habitats in the wild.

The California Academy of Sciences launched a five-year partnership with SECORE and The ​ ​ Nature Conservancy in 2016 to advance the science and scalability of coral restoration, starting in the Caribbean. This partnership is focused on utilizing principles of industrial design and engineering to further develop SECORE’s coral restoration substrates, called “seeding units”, to enable orders-of-magnitude reduction in time and labor associated with restoration. The Academy brings these stories to our guests through a combination of exhibits, public programming, and a planetarium show, Expedition Reef, highlighting the SECORE partnership and efforts in Curacao, as well as other ​ ​ research and sustainability projects on coral reefs around the globe.

The Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) “Coral Farm” displays techniques used for propagation of coral ​ fragments, and has housed A. cervicornis and/or A. palmata almost continuously for the past 16 ​ ​ ​ ​ years. FLAQ also participates annually in coral spawning and larval rearing work in the Florida Keys, working primarily with A. cervicornis in the Coral Restoration Foundation nursery, but also with A. ​ ​ ​ palmata acquired from other permit holders in recent years. FLAQ is one of the few institutions to ​ successfully rear Atlantic Acroporids from larvae and manage them in aquaria long-term. The FLAQ Center for Conservation coral nursery facility successfully reared 122 A. cervicornis and 230 A. ​ ​ ​ palmata juveniles from 2017, and 3,200 A. cervicornis sexual recruits from 2018, which were ​ ​ ​ successfully released back into in-situ nurseries and reef sites in early 2019.. In addition, newly developed aquarium systems to induce spawning in the laboratory are being installed at FLAQ. These systems will initially be used to focus on spawning corals rescued from the Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease epidemic in Florida, and will be used for Atlantic Acroporids in future years to increase production of juveniles for restoration and conservation research.

Mote Marine Laboratory has been working with Atlantic Acropora corals for over fifteen years. ​ ​ ​ Their first large-scale asexual reproduction effort began in 2007 with A. cervicornis, as part of a ​ ​ multi-partner effort to create a network of in-situ coral nurseries to support restoration efforts throughout Florida and the Caribbean. Currently Mote operates two field-based A. cervicornis ​ 8

nurseries, one off the Lower Keys and another off Key West, and maintains more than 10,000 fragments representing 85 genotypes to support restoration and research. Since 2008, Mote has outplanted more than 25,000 fragments of in-situ nursery-grown A. cervicornis to more than 30 reefs ​ ​ throughout the Lower Florida Keys. In addition, Mote Staff have pioneered methodologies for the consistent mass rearing of sexually produced Acroporid recruits, resulting in the generation of nearly 1,500 genetically distinct colonies of A. palmata and 300 A. cervicornis, one year post-spawning. A ​ ​ ​ ​ subset of these colonies are currently being asexually propagated through a novel process called microfragmentation. This technique has allowed the mass proliferation of tissue from new genotypes using only 6 cm² of live tissue as broodstock. Currently, Mote generates over 10,000 fragments per year from these captive reared genotypes to outplant onto local reefs. Mote’s work has resulted in unprecedented tools for the conservation of these critically endangered species, in a robust manner, addressing the need to preserve both their ecosystem function and their genetic diversity.

Disney’s The Seas: Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided more than $2.6 ​ million to nonprofit organizations working with communities to lead more than 40 coral conservation projects around the world. In 2007, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment (ASE) division led an ecosystem-based adaptive restoration project in southern Great Abaco, The Bahamas by surveying and translocating long-spined sea urchins and transplanting coral fragments onto degraded patch reefs from a low maintenance/storm-resistant line nursery. After five years of work it was determined that reefs were still declining, demonstrating the need to increase the number of stewards to protect the vital coral reef ecosystems. In light of this information, the project’s focus concentrated on expanding the work to a Bahamas-wide effort including community engagement. In 2014, this capacity-building phase was expanded with the lead of Perry Institute of Marine Science with support from the Disney Conservation Fund. To date, the Perry Institute and Disney are working with over 30 groups with the common goal of increasing Acropora spp. numbers in The Bahamas within ten years. ​ ​

John G. Shedd Aquarium has been involved with the conservation and preservation of Atlantic ​ Acropora corals since 2006. Along with AZA and scientific partners, Shedd was one of the first ​ institutions to collect gametes from wild colonies of A. palmata in Puerto Rico, fertilize them in a ​ ​ laboratory and produce coral settlers. Shedd’s involvement with SECORE International led to the development of innovative, horizontal-kreisel aquarium systems for ex situ management of coral ​ ​ larvae, allowing hundreds of thousands of corals to develop to the point of settlement. In addition to this ex situ work, Shedd has been instrumental in the design and production of in situ floating pools ​ ​ ​ ​ that allow the expansion of coral settlement work into more remote field locations, where land-based aquarium facilities are not an option. Shedd educates guests about these practices through a public exhibit at the aquarium that is viewed by over two million visitors each year.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has been involved with Atlantic Acropora corals and SECORE ​ ​ ​ International since 2005. Since that time, four Omaha Zoo employees have participated in or helped lead a total of 20 spawning workshops. In 2006-2008, the Omaha Zoo brought A. palmata larvae back ​ ​ from the yearly spawn in Puerto Rico, in some of the first attempts to raise larvae to the juvenile stage within aquaria. These efforts were very successful, producing over 4,000 juvenile corals over the three year project duration. These corals were transferred to many project partners around the USA and internationally. Since 2009, Omaha zoo has been focused on supporting in situ conservation in ​ ​

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collaboration with SECORE. The zoo has committed to a formal five-year partnership with SECORE.

According to the Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) surveys, AZA accredited facilities most frequently supported or worked on coral conservation with the following organizations during the years 2014-2017:

● SECORE International ● Coral Restoration Foundation ● Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) ● Central Caribbean Marine Institute ● Perry Institute for Marine Science ● SaveNature.Org ● The Nature Conservancy

Over the same time period, AZA member institutions contributed nearly $5.2 million for conservation activities related to corals or coral reefs, and $2.1 million specifically toward conservation activities for the Atlantic Acropora species (Table 2a). In 2017 alone, AZA member institutions, ​ ​ working with external partners, contributed $1.8 million toward coral reef conservation (Table 2b).

Table 2: Zoo and Aquarium contributions toward coral reef conservation, summarized from the ​ Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) surveys conducted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). (a) Contributions specifically for the Atlantic Acropora species, staghorn and ​ ​ elkhorn corals for the years 2014-2017. (b) Contributions related to coral reef conservation of any kind for the same time period.

Atlantic Acropora spp. ​ ​ Statistic 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total: 2014-2017

Total Reporting Institutions 8 10 12 14 16

Total Amount Allocated $547,574 $355,411 $433,977 $785,395 $2,122,358

Coral Reefs

Statistic 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total: 2014-2017

Total Reporting Institutions 22 26 26 25 35

Total Amount Allocated $1,087,740 $964,048 $1,367,526 $1,783,960 $5,203,275

The Aquatic Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group (AITAG) is in full support of the Atlantic Acropora CAP. The AITAG chair (Brian Nelson, National Aquarium), and steering committee ​ members are pleased to be a part of SAFE program. The Atlantic Acropora SAFE program was ​ ​ introduced to the wider Zoo and Aquarium community at the 2018 Regional Aquatics Workshop

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(RAW) in Tampa, Florida by Mike Brittsan and Kayla Ripple. Most of the institutions represented at RAW were AZA members. AZA Public Engagement Activities:

In contrast to the few member institutions currently housing Atlantic Acropora corals, ​ ​ numerous facilities have developed and are delivering education, public engagement, and outreach activities concerning these species and their place in the global coral reef crisis. Recent programs and activities include: ● California Academy of Sciences (CAS): ​ ○ Coral Reefs of the World exhibit, featuring a video and graphic panel highlighting the ​ reef restoration partnership with SECORE. ○ Expedition Reef, a planetarium show developed by CAS, highlighting the partnership ​ with SECORE for restoration of Atlantic Acropora corals. A HD version of this show ​ ​ designed for classroom educators is distributed online for free. ​ ​ ○ SECORE restoration work is an element in the Coral Reef Dive Show public program, ​ ​ reaching > 100,000 visitors annually (and more online through a dedicated webcam). ● Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: SECORE exhibit, graphics and videos. ​ ● Disney’s The Seas: ​ ○ 10-year partnership with Friends of the Environment, based on Great Abaco, to provide funding and expertise to build their program from a small summer camp to multilevel, age-based, environmental summer camps. ○ Disney and Friends have also had joint ventures to upgrade the K-12 science curriculum for The Bahamian national schools. ○ Designed and are testing a series of behavioral change posters centered around corals, mangroves and parrotfish. ○ Working with Perry Institute for Marine Science to build a center for Environmental Education and Action focusing on community engagement and behavior change supporting marine conservation throughout The Bahamas. ● Florida Aquarium: Heart of the Sea exhibit, the aquarium’s second largest exhibit, ​ ​ ​ demonstrating full-size coral “trees” growing A. cervicornis, and out-planting. ​ ​ ● Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium: ​ ○ Atlantic Coral Exhibits in Sarasota, FL, and at the Florida Keys Ecodiscovery Center ○ Sanctuary Reef, an award winning traveling exhibit focused on Florida coral reefs has ​ been developed by Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium's education department. ○ Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium's Protect Our Reef License Plate initiative, which has ​ ​ raised more than $4 million since 2004 to support vital coral reef research, restoration and education programs administered by Mote and other universities and nonprofits throughout Florida. ○ Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium's Ocean Fest (Islamorada and Key West) ​ ​ ○ Research-based Afterschool Program for Students (RAPS): a high school internship program focused on coral reef research and conservation has been established by Mote Marine Laboratory within the Florida Keys and the US Virgin Islands ● Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: SECORE exhibit ​ ● Shedd Aquarium: SECORE exhibit ​

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Conservation Status Of Taxa

Both A. cervicornis and A. palmata were listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species ​ ​ ​ ​ Act in 2006. Both species are currently listed as “critically endangered” under the IUCN Red List (Aronson, et al. 2008a, 2008b), and considered “species of concern” by the state of Florida. Both species and the hybrid are listed as CITES Appendix II. A lack of historical baseline data on abundance, distribution, population genetics and demographics for these species prevents us from developing reliable models to predict responses of extant populations to further disturbances and threats. However recent experimental work documenting corals’ responses to high temperature and decreasing pH, provides evidence that staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, will be locally extinct in ​ ​ the Florida Keys by 2035 (Langdon, et al., 2018). Studies show a similar pattern of decline for A. ​ palmata (Fogarty et al. 2012, Williams et al. 2014, Miller et al. 2016). ​

Recovery Plan

In 2015, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released a Recovery Plan for Elkhorn ​ Coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) describing information and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ activities they deemed necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of wild populations of these two species. This recovery plan establishes goals, objectives and criteria that, should they be attained, are prerequisite to delisting these two threatened species from the ESA.

The NMFS Acropora recovery plan delineates objectives based on two major groupings: (1) ​ ​ population-based objectives, and (2) threat-based objectives. Population-based objectives focus on ​ ​ ​ simultaneously increasing abundance of large colonies and recruitment rates, while maintaining genetic diversity. Threat-based objectives focus on simultaneously reducing the individual and synergistic effects of disease, rising seawater temperature and ocean acidification, loss of recruitment habitat, land-based pollutants (e.g. nutrients, sediments and contaminants), regulatory mechanisms, abrasion and breakage, and predation across the corals’ geographic range.

Primary areas of focus for Atlantic Acropora coral recovery centers around the following ​ ​ approaches: (1) Improve understanding of population abundance, trends and structure, (2) Increase wild populations and likelihood of successful sexual reproduction through restocking and active management, (3) Implement ecosystem-level actions, especially enhancing herbivory, to improve habitat, sustain adult colonies, and promote natural recruitment, (4) Curb impacts from ocean warming and acidification by reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, (5) Reduce locally-manageable stress and mortality threats, (6) Implement mitigation or control strategies to address coral disease and predators.

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The SAFE: Atlantic Acropora Coral Conservation Action Plan for 2018-2021 supports both the ​ ​ population-based and threat-based recovery objectives in NMFS recovery plan through six areas of focus: (1) developing restoration training and capacity-building centers; (2) accelerating production and outplanting of corals; (3) increasing land-based nursery capacity; (4) expanding partnerships with industry to support restoration; (5) leveraging ex situ populations for scientific research; and (6) ​ ​ engaging communities and zoo/aquarium visitors to promote conservation behaviors. We aim to increase funding and AZA member participation to support coral reef recovery in the tropical Atlantic region. Members of the SAFE: Atlantic Acropora corals steering committee, as well as program ​ ​ partners and advisors are leading research, recovery and restoration efforts throughout the tropical Western Atlantic.

Threats

The primary reasons for population decline of Atlantic Acropora corals across their natural ​ ​ range are a culmination of threats at local, regional and global scales.

Population-based Threats: (1) Reduced abundance of large, sexually-mature colonies across the natural range (2) Reduced genotypic diversity (3) Reduced recruitment rates from both asexual and sexual reproduction

Environmental Threats: ​ (1) Disease (2) Ocean warming and acidification from greenhouse gas accumulation (3) Loss of recruitment habitat (4) Nutrients, sediments and contaminants (land-based sources of pollution) (5) Natural and anthropogenic abrasion and breakage (6) Predation (7) Lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms

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SAFE Program Work Plan

Please see the Program Summary Table for an outline of specific metrics, including actions, partners, timelines and budgets for each of these objectives.

Conservation Objectives

Objective Recovery Plan Relevance

(1) Develop at least four restoration centers in the Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for ​ tropical Atlantic region to increase capacity for Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. ​ ​ ​ Acropora restoration. cervicornis) Corals (2015) ​ ​ (2) Investigate and implement techniques for Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for ​ accelerating production and outplanting of corals at Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. ​ ​ ​ restoration sites across the region. cervicornis) Corals (2015) ​ (3) Increase in situ and ex situ nursery capacity for Objective 1 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for Elkhorn ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ banking of valuable genetic material. (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis) ​ ​ ​ ​ Corals (2015)

Public/Stakeholder Engagement Objectives

Objective Recovery Plan Relevance

(4) Expand partnerships with non-traditional Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for ​ collaborators, leveraging expertise from industrial Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. ​ ​ ​ design and engineering firms to support restoration. cervicornis) Corals (2015) ​ (5) Increase capacity for scientific research on topics Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for ​ supporting restoration, including cryopreservation Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. ​ ​ ​ and interventions that increase resilience, through cervicornis) Corals (2015) ​ expanded partnerships with universities and other research institutions, and integration of AZA members into existing conservation networks.

Communications/Public Awareness Objectives

Objective Recovery Plan Relevance

(6) Engage Caribbean communities and zoo and Objective 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for Elkhorn ​ aquarium visitors to promote conservation behaviors (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis) ​ ​ ​ ​ that support Atlantic Acropora corals. Corals (2015) ​ ​

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Funding Objectives

Objective Recovery Plan Relevance

(7) Increase the amount of funds directed to Atlantic Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for ​ Acropora coral restoration and science by AZA Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. ​ ​ ​ ​ member institutions and partners to exceed USD cervicornis) Corals (2015) ​ $1MM by 2021.

(8) Increase funding beyond traditional conservation Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for ​ organizations and conservation-oriented Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. ​ ​ ​ philanthropists by recruiting at least two new industry cervicornis) Corals (2015) ​ or corporate partners to support this project.

Funding Commitments to Date

The California Academy of Sciences’ Hope For Reefs initiative provides seed funding to ​ ​ ​ ​ SECORE International ($1.2 million over 5-years, 2017-2021) to develop a new “seeding” approach to coral restoration. Additional funds were allocated for direct costs associated with staff participation in the partnership with SECORE, as well as indirect support through staff time. Direct ($50,000) and in-kind support from Autodesk Foundation facilitated collaboration with non-traditional partners in the industrial design and manufacturing industries, specifically focused around seeding unit designs. Through a partnership with coral reef scientist, Rebecca Albright, PhD, and the Horniman Museum and Gardens (London, UK), we constructed a coral spawning laboratory to achieve off-cycle spawning in scleractinian corals. Although this three-year pilot-project is working with Pacific Acropora spp., the ​ ​ research supports and informs our collaborative partnerships on reef restoration and fundamental aspects of corals’ early life-history. A three-year, $150,000 grant from Kingfisher Foundation supports this project through 2020.

The Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) Center for Conservation funds multiple Acropora coral related ​ ​ ​ projects: (1) Through partnership with Acuario Nacional Cuba, FLAQ has funded and executed the design, installation, and maintenance of two in-water Acropora coral nurseries in Guanahacabibes ​ ​ Peninsula National Park; (2) FLAQ has funded the construction and operation of a restoration focused coral land based nursery in Apollo Beach Florida called the Center for Conservation; (3) FLAQ funds and facilitates a multi-institutional Acropora coral spawning project each summer in the Florida Keys, ​ ​ focusing on advancement of techniques to scale restoration through sexual reproduction; (4) Through a partnership with the Horniman Museum and Gardens, FLAQ has funded the construction of multiple land based coral spawning systems to achieve off-cycle spawning in Acroporid corals.

Since 1995, Disney’s The Seas has provided more than $2.6 million to nonprofit organizations ​ ​ working with communities to lead more than 40 coral conservation projects around the world. In 2014, this effort was expanded in The Bahamas with the lead of the Perry Institute of Marine Science with support from the Disney Conservation Fund. To date, the Perry Institute and Disney are working with

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over 30 groups with the common goal of increasing Acropora spp. numbers in The Bahamas within 10 ​ ​ years.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo formalized a partnership with SECORE in 2017, supporting these ​ efforts with $12,500 of support. In 2018, HDZ increased this to $30,000 and entered into a five year agreement to provide SECORE with at least $30,000 per year.

In May 2017, Mote Marine Laboratory completed a state-of-the-art marine science laboratory, ​ ​ Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3), on its ​ Summerland Key campus in the Florida Keys to serve as the base of operation for its restoration initiative. Philanthropic funds supported the entire implementation and creation of this new facility, focused on coral research and restoration. In the past decade, Mote scientists have planted more than 43,000 corals onto Florida’s reefs, working with multiple partners to achieve effective restoration. In addition, the State of Florida recently awarded a total of $1 million for Mote, in coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), to significantly expand its science-based coral restoration initiative to plant an additional 50,000 reef-building and branching corals in the Florida Keys. A strategic Florida Keys ​ Restoration Initiative, led by Mote Marine Laboratory, will be implemented through a consortium of ​ coral research and restoration institutions, which will (1) demonstrate experience and expertise in developing innovative technologies for coral restoration; (2) provide existing coral research and restoration infrastructure and ongoing activities in the Florida Keys; (3) coordinate closely with appropriate federal and state agencies, as well as consortium partners; and (4) include significant components of local community engagement and outreach. The U.S. Senate has now approved an FY 2019 appropriation of $5 million to advance this vital initiative.

Additional funding is required to support the program goals. A collaborative approach to fundraising will be employed, and the program goal leadership will engage in our broader zoo and aquarium network to leverage opportunities to engage donors, attract funding, and pursue grants.

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Funding Objectives

The Atlantic Acropora SAFE program goals is to increase the annual conservation-related ​ ​ spending for these two species to exceed $1MM USD per year. Current funding (summarized above) has been secured for several high-impact projects, but additional funding is needed to fully implement the SAFE: Atlantic Acropora program plan. ​ ​

Funding Objectives

Objective Annual Funding Required

Objective 1: Restoration centers $25,000 per location, per year to support research and restoration

Objective 2: Accelerating production $25,000 for field trials of seeding unit designs $50,000 for microfragmentation studies $25,000 to support nursery grow-out $10,000 to support writing and distributing a restoration manual

Objective 3: Nursery capacity $500,000 to expand land-based nursery capacity $25,000 for collaboration with the Coral Restoration Consortium $10,000 to support database of genets held in nursery facilities $300,000 to support outplanting of nursery corals back on reefs

Objective 4: Expand non-traditional $25,000 to organize and run a design hackathon (one-time cost) partnerships

Objective 5: Increase research $25,000 to sponsor a USF graduate student (per year for 2 years) $20,000 to activate research partnerships in the Bahamas $15,000 to provide corals for scientific research

Objective 6: Public engagement TBD

Action Opportunities for AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums:

Individual Level Support: ❏ Participate as a Project Collaborator. ❏ Consult with AZA Conservation and Education and other AZA committees to incorporate expertise where appropriate ❏ Identify feasibility and objectives for increasing awareness of corals and call to action. ❏ Participate in communication and education / outreach group organized to create educational messages and conservation action opportunities for guests and audiences in range countries. Evaluate of messages/actions to determine reach and effectiveness. ❏ Share your latest coral-focused conservation education resources/materials (e.g., photos of graphics/signage, interpretation plans, exhibit talking points, docent/volunteer training materials, fact sheets, conservation related messages, etc.) with the AZA Conservation Education Committee and the Project Coordinator. The goal of this would be to look at best

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practices and have a centralized clearing house so we can incorporate, deliver and test updated educational messages and materials into appropriate exhibits and programs. ❏ Promote coral awareness and conservation action opportunities to visitors. ❏ Participate in the development of messages and materials based on assessment of existing materials / programs. ❏ Participate in evaluation of usage and effectiveness of communications packages. ❏ Participate in efforts to identify projects/collaborations for Coral Partners Program. ❏ Send appropriately trained staff to participate in Coral Partners Program between AZA institutions and field programs led by agencies/NGOs. ❏ Incorporate / deliver updated educational messages and materials into appropriate exhibits and programs. ❏ Promote new / updated conservation action opportunities in your institution. Promote project to visitors (whether you have corals in your care or not).

Institution Level Support: ❏ Provide support for one of your staff members to serve as a Project Coordinator for one of the projects included in this Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan. ❏ Participate as a Project Collaborator on one or more of the projects included in this SAFE Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan. ❏ Provide expertise and personnel resources to help fulfill specific project actions (e.g. graphic design, audience evaluation, animal care, research). ❏ Provide financial support for one or more of the projects included in this SAFE Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan.

Potential Tier-Leveled Funding Opportunities to Support: ❏ Fund distribution of educational messages and materials to appropriate audiences and locations. ❏ Fund evaluation of messages/actions to determine reach/effectiveness. ❏ Fund evaluation of usage and effectiveness of communications packages.

AZA Partner Funder Support: ❏ To financially support a significant portion of one or more of the projects included in this SAFE Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan, please contact Bart Shepherd. ​

18 2018-2021 SAFE Atlantic Acropora Program Summary Table ​ ​

Strategic Objective 1: Develop at least four restoration centers in the tropical Atlantic to increase capacity for Acropora restoration. ​ ​ ​

Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual Budget

1a: AZA member institutions are 2018 Columbus Zoo SECORE International Curacao $50,000 Identify stakeholders and identified as leads for each of the Initiate project at 3 Disney’s The Seas The Nature Conservancy Florida per project partners for at least four project locations; external locations (Florida, Florida Aquarium CARMABI Mexico location four capacity-building coral field partners are also identified Curacao, and Mexico) Henry Doorly Zoo UNAM Bahamas restoration centers, located for each project location. Key Mote Marine Lab Perry Institute of Marine Science Dominican ​ ​ ​ throughout the region. staff identified and/or hired in Shedd Aquarium Cape Eleuthera Institute Republic Targeted locations include each of the four project locations. 2019 Steinhart Aquarium Bahamas National Trust US Virgin Islands Florida, Curacao, Mexico, the Add project location Coral Restoration Foundation Virgin Islands, the Dominican Coral Restoration Consortium Republic, and the Bahamas. Acropora Recovery Implement. ​ 2020 Team Add project location Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Nova Southeastern University FUNDEMAR 2021 Continue expansion to additional project sites, TBD.

1b: At least one collaborative 2018 Columbus Zoo SECORE International Curacao $25,000 Conduct annual workshops research, restoration, or Curacao Disney’s The Seas The Nature Conservancy Florida per ​ ​ ​ with project partners at these conservation training workshop is Mexico Florida Aquarium CARMABI Mexico location capacity-building centers. conducted each year at each Florida Henry Doorly Zoo UNAM Bahamas location during spawning season. Mote Marine Lab Perry Institute of Marine Science Dominican Shedd Aquarium Cape Eleuthera Institute Republic 2019 Steinhart Aquarium Bahamas National Trust US Virgin Islands Curacao Coral Restoration Foundation Bahamas Coral Restoration Consortium Florida Acropora Recovery Implement. ​ Dominican Republic Team Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Nova Southeastern University 2020-2021 FUNDEMAR Curacao Bahamas Florida Dominican Republic US Virgin Islands

Strategic Objective 2: Investigate and implement techniques for accelerating production and outplanting of corals to restoration sites throughout the region. ​

Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual Budget

2a: Identify > 5 new design and 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $125,000 SECORE seeding units: material combinations to improve New substrates designed Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy Bahamas Coral larvae are settled on the self-stabilizing nature of in partnership with Henry Doorly Zoo CARMABI Mexico specially-designed, seeding units. Incorporate new Autodesk Autodesk Foundation self-stabilizing, artificial seeding unit designs into coral substrates, which are dropped restoration workshops. onto the reef en masse, to reduce labor associated with Conduct controlled studies of 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $25,000 restoration. seeding unit performance across Prototypes tested in 4 Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy Bahamas a gradient of environmental locations across region Henry Doorly Zoo CARMABI Mexico conditions (degraded to healthy UNAM reefs). Monitor survival of corals 2019-2021 Perry Institute of Marine Science and movement of seeding units Testing continues after deployment. Apply learnings to design and 2018-2021 production of next generation Annual monitoring coral seeding units. 2019-2021 New designs informed by prior experiments

Work with SECORE scientists 2021 Henry Doorly Zoo SECORE International Curacao $10,000 and aquarium personnel to Manual written Steinhart Aquarium Bahamas develop a husbandry manual Disney’s The Seas Mexico describing sexual approach to Columbus Zoo Dominican coral reef restoration. Shedd Aquarium Republic US Virgin Islands

2b: Conduct necessary field and 2018 Mote Marine Lab The Nature Conservancy Florida $50,000 Microfragmentation: laboratory studies that optimize Quantify accelerated Florida Fish and Wildlife Optimize and employ microfragmentation methods to growth rates of Conservation micro-fragmentation maximize growth and survival of microfragmentation Jacksonville University techniques to accelerate corals. compared with large sized University of Miami production of corals for fragments Smithsonian Institute restoration. 2019 Determine most efficient array configuration for large colony fusion

2020 Identify methods to

increase survival rates and reduce mortality of microfragments after outplanting

2021 Determine sexual viability of fused microfragment arrays

Develop methods to utilize both 2018 Mote Marine Lab Florida $25,000 land-based and in situ nurseries Develop methods for ​ ​ for grow-out of microfragmented optimizing growth within corals prior to outplanting. land-based nurseries after microfragmentation

2019 Pilot methods for transitioning land-reared microfragments into field nursery for grow-out to further upscale production

2020 Identify best structures and methods for microfragmentation and grow-out within in-situ nurseries

2021 Couple land-based and field-based nursery to maximize potential

Generate thousands of 2018 > 1,000 outplants Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium Florida $50,000 ​ microfragmented corals to 2019 > 1,500 outplants Acropora Recovery Implement. ​ ​ increase restoration efforts of 2020 > 2,000 outplants Team ​ Acropora species 2021 > 2,500 outplants Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission ​ ​

2c: Successfully induce Acropora to 2018 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $100,000 ​ ​ Develop and improve complete a full gametogenic Spawning aquariums Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium California technology to facilitate ex-situ cycle and spawn in closed constructed at Steinhart Steinhart Aquarium Acropora Recovery Implement. London ​ ​ lab-induced spawning systems using artificial seasonal Aquarium and FLAQ Team events cues. Center for Conservation. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Aquarists trained in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine

techniques by Horniman Sanctuary Museum and Gardens. University of Florida Horniman Museum and Gardens 2019 Nova Southeastern University Successful induced spawning of other species at Cal Academy and FLAQ. Expand land based spawning facilities at FLAQ and Mote Marine Lab. Formation of Land-based Spawning working group in CRC.

2020-2021 Incorporate Atlantic Acropora into land-based ​ spawning and expand use in new locations.

2d. Outplant Acropora corals from in 2018 Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Foundation $300,000 ​ ​ ​ Outplant thousands of situ and ex-situ coral nurseries Outplant >10,000 corals Florida Aquarium The Nature Conservancy ​ ​ ​ corals from in-situ and ex-situ onto degraded reefs for Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission ​ ​ nurseries each year, restoration. 2019 University of Miami ​ ​ optimizing outplant Outplant >10,000 corals Nova Southeastern University techniques and increasing University of the Virgin Islands genetic diversity of in-situ 2020 nursery stock Outplant >12,000 corals

2021 Outplant >12,000 corals

2e. Consistently obtain > 30% 2018 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $50,000 Improve techniques to settlement and > 30% >30% settlement, >30% Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium maximize settlement, post-settlement survival for survival Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission survival and growth of Atlantic Acropora larvae reared Nova Southeastern University ​ ​ sexual recruits reared ex-situ. 2019-2021 University of Florida ex-situ to provide new >30% settlement, >30% ​ ​ genotypes for existing survival restoration programs.

Generate thousands of 2018 > 1000 genetically Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $50,000 ​ genetically diverse recruits and distinct recruits Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium provide new genotypes to Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission existing restoration programs for 2019-2021 > 3000 Nova Southeastern University ​ further culture, fragmentation and genetically distinct corals University of Florida outplanting. per year.

Strategic Objective 3: Increase in situ and ex situ nursery capacity for banking valuable genetic material. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual Budget

3a: Increase capacity of land-based 2018 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $500,000 Create a network of “arks” of live corals by 50%; Florida Aquarium, Mote Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium land-based living gene Increase locations to include Marine Lab Others TBD Acropora Recovery Implement. ​ ​ banks to aid in the sites outside of Florida. Two to Team ​ preservation of genets from three “Hub” facilities will focus on 2019 Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission areas of high risk for local production of corals for Increase capacity in University of Miami extinction outplanting; “spoke” facilities will Florida, including Nova Southeastern University serve as gene-banks and additional Florida AZA NOAA National Marine Fisheries locations for research institutions Service partnerships. Begin work outside Florida

2020-2021 Continue to increase capacity in Florida. Establish 2-4 large scale facilities outside of Florida.

3b: Identify 5 potential new 2018 Mote Marine Lab The Nature Conservancy Florida $50,000 ​ Using the list of existing coral locations for nurseries geared Assist partners in planning Boy Scouts of America US Virgin Islands ​ nurseries, work with field towards coral restoration. nursery site development Coral Restoration Foundation partners to increase in-situ and infrastructure Coral Restoration Consortium ​ ​ nursery capacity that can Acropora Recovery Implement. ​ ​ hold large numbers of 2019 Team genetically diverse coral Add 1 nursery to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission populations. network Reef Relief

2020 Add 2 nurseries to the network

2021 Add 2 nurseries to the network

3c: Updated protocols and 2019 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $5,000 Partner with regulatory processes formalized and Florida policies and Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium agencies (e.g. NOAA, FWC) accepted by Florida Fish and protocols are being Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to review and update Wildlife Conservation reviewed as part of Florida protocols and processes Commission. Reef Tract Rescue Project for corals to be released from land based facilities into reefs for restoration purposes.

Strategic Objective 4: Expand partnerships with non-traditional collaborators, leveraging expertise from industrial design and engineering firms to support restoration. ​

Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual Budget

4a: Partnerships developed, funding 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $50,000 Leverage partnerships with secured; working groups Design development of > 5 Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy Mexico industrial design and convened to discuss designs of new seeding unit Henry Doorly Zoo Autodesk Foundation Bahamas manufacturing firms to coral restoration “seeding units” proptypes. Design Shedd Aquarium CARMABI explore new approaches to and floating pools for processing development of new in situ Minnesota Zoo UNAM ​ ​ ​ gamete collection, large-scale gametes and larvae in situ. floating pools to handle Moody Gardens NOAA ​ ​ larval culture and settlement, large quantities of gametes Virginia Aquarium Cape Eleuthera Institute and handling, processing and and larvae Perry Institute for Marine Science outplanting corals used in restoration. 2019-2021 Seeding units and floating pools deployed and tested, designs reviewed and iterated.

4b: Partnerships developed, funding 2020 Florida $25,000 Conduct a “hackathon” to secured, hackathon conducted. Planning year (one-time ​ ​ explore possible paths cost) beyond current bottlenecks in 2021 restoration, using principles of Hackathon conducted industrial engineering and design.

Strategic Objective 5: Increase capacity for scientific research on topics supporting restoration (including cryopreservation and interventions that increase resilience) through expanded ​ partnerships with universities and other research institutions, and integration of AZA members into existing conservation networks.

Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual Budget

5a: Leverage the land-based coral 2018 Steinhart Aquarium Stanford University California $50,000 Form > 5 research spawning laboratory at the Build coral spawning lab, Hopkins Marine Lab Curacao ​ partnerships between AZA California Academy of Sciences develop research University of San Francisco ​ member institutions and to support research partnerships partnerships. SECORE International scientists studying projects with leading coral scientists in directly supporting restoration the SF Bay Area academic 2019 or fundamental aspects of community. Scientific studies: corals’ early life history. settlement preferences, post-settlement survival, symbiosis dynamics.

2020-2021 MS student, USF

Additional research TBD

Activate research partnerships in 2019 Shedd Aquarium University of Miami Bahamas $20,000 the Bahamas. Large scale reciprocal SECORE International transplant/assisted Cape Eleuthera Institute migration study. Perry Institute for Marine Science The Nature Conservancy 2019-2021 Boost thermal tolerance of coral larvae that are settled and outplanted to reefs by manipulating the biotic/abiotic environment during settlement.

Establish techniques for 2018 Florida Aquarium Smithsonian Institution Florida successful cryopreservation and First successful rearing of Mote Marine Lab CARMABI Curacao future utilization of gametes for cryo-fertilized A. palmata SECORE International Puerto Rico ​ conservation efforts and assisted coral recruits from three SEZARC gene flow. regions demonstrating Penn State University assisted gene flow (Curacao, Florida, Puerto Rico)

2019 Genetics research, resilience testing, and further rearing of cryo-fertilized AGF corals. Expand cryo-bank in Curacao and Florida.

2020 Additional cross-regional cryo-fertilization projects (Curacao-Florida) if outplanting permits are obtained

Provide sustainably-produced 2018-2021 Florida Aquarium University of Florida Florida $15,000 corals for scientific research, Provide > 500 corals for Mote Marine Lab University of Miami reducing impacts on the limited research, annually Nova Southeastern University local wild populations remaining. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

5b: AZA members represent our 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $5,000 Integrate AZA member efforts at appropriate Reef Futures Bahamas institution work into existing conferences, through active CRC USVI conservation networks and leadership in project coordination ARIT ​ resources, including the Coral and communication, and in SECORE Columbus Zoo SECORE International Curacao $5,000 Restoration Consortium and providing “people power” for Acropora Recovery restoration field activities, such 2019 ​ Implementation Team. as coral-nursery maintenance, AZA Coral Summit Henry Doorly Zoo SECORE International Bahamas $5,000 site identification, reef CRC and Aquarium Curacao restoration, and monitoring. ARIT SECORE

Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium Florida $10,000 2020 Acropora Recovery Implement. ICRS ​ Team CRC International Coral Reef Society ARIT SECORE Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Consortium Florida $10,000 Acropora Recovery Implement. 2021 ​ Reef Futures Team CRC ARIT Disney’s The Seas Perry Institute of Marine Science Bahamas $5,000 SECORE Cape Eleuthera Institute Bahamas National Trust

Shedd Aquarium Perry Institute of Marine Science Bahamas $5,000 Cape Eleuthera Institute Curacao

Strategic Objective 6: Engage Caribbean communities and zoo and aquarium visitors to promote conservation behaviors that support Atlantic Acropora corals. ​ ​ ​

Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual Budget

6a: Increase by 25% the number of 2018 Akron Zoo NOAA USA TBD Increase community AZA member institutions that Define scope and identify Birch Aquarium SECORE International engagement among AZA incorporate messaging regarding partnerships; draft plan Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy institutions. specific threats to Atlantic coral completed; list of Disney Coral Restoration Foundation reefs (e.g. disease, rising ocean participating institutions Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Consortium temperature, loss of habitat) and Henry Doorly Zoo Acropora Recovery Implement. ​ conservation messaging in their 2019 Mote Marine Lab Team facilities and online by 2021. Identify consistent coral National Aquarium Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission conservation messages SeaWorld and actions to be used by Shedd Aquarium participating institutions, Steinhart Aquarium compiled and sorted by Virginia Aquarium audience types. Others, TBD

2020 Create an online resource

center to be used by all participating institutions, including lesson plans, graphics, activities, etc.

2021 Raise awareness of coral conservation threats and positive actions among AZA audiences. Increase the number of coral conservation education programs at AZA institutions by at least 2 per year.

6b: Develop partnerships in at least 2018-2019 Disney’s The Seas Friends of Environment Bahamas TBD Promote coral conservation in 2 locations outside of the USA Identify local organizations Steinhart Aquarium Perry Institute for Marine Science Curacao Caribbean communities where Acropora conservation to partner with AZA SAFE Others, TBD CARMABI TBD ​ ​ where Acropora conservation work is being led by AZA SAFE institutions on coral SECORE International ​ ​ work is occuring. institutions. conservation programs. Identify target audiences and draft partnership agreements.

2020 Develop audience-specific content, conservation actions, and materials for new program(s). Create and distribute informational posters and other materials for use on fishing piers, dive shops, social media, etc.

2021 Implement and evaluate new coral conservation program(s). Measure impact on knowledge, attitude, and behavior using pre/post evaluation. Quantify number of participants for each program.

References

Aronson, R, Bruckner, A, Moore, J, Precht, B & E Weil (2008a). Acropora cervicornis. The IUCN Red ​ ​ List of Threatened Species. e.T133381A3716457. ​

Aronson, R, Bruckner, A, Moore, J, Precht, B & E Weil (2008b). Acropora palmata. The IUCN Red List ​ ​ of Threatened Species. e.T133006A3536699. ​

Chamberland VF, Vermeij MJA, Brittsan M, Carl M, Schick M, Snowden S, Schrier A, & D Petersen (2015). Restoration of critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations using larvae ​ ​ ​ reared from wild-caught gametes. Glob Ecol Cons. 4:526–553. ​ ​ ​

Chamberland VF, Petersen D, Latijnhouwers KRW, Snowden S, Mueller B, & MJA Vermeij (2016). Four-year-old Caribbean Acropora colonies reared from field-collected gametes are sexually mature. ​ ​ ​ Bulletin of Marine Science 92(2) 263-264. ​

Fogarty ND, Vollmer SV, Levitan DR (2012). Weak prezygotic isolating mechanisms in threatened Caribbean Acropora corals. PLoS One 7:e30486 ​ ​ ​ ​

Kreger, M, & M Brittsan (2018). Conservation Spotlight: SECORE. AZA Connect. January, pp.7-8. ​ ​

Langdon, C, Albright, R, Baker, AC, & P Jones (2018). Two threatened Caribbean coral species have ​ contrasting responses to combined temperature and acidification stress. Limnol. Oceanogr. ​ ​ ​

Miller MW, Williams DE, Fisch J (2016). Genet-specific spawning patterns in Acropora palmata. Coral ​ ​ ​ Reefs: 1-6. ​

National Marine Fisheries Service (2015). Recovery Plan for Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and ​ ​ ​ Staghorn (A. cervicornis) Corals. Prepared by the Acropora Recovery Team for the National Marine ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Williams DE, Miller M, Baums I (2014). Cryptic changes in the genetic structure of a highly clonal coral population and the relationship with ecological performance. Coral Reefs 33: 595–606. ​ ​

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