Acropora

Acropora is a genus of small-polyp stony corals in the family Acroporidae, commonly known as staghorn corals. It contains more than 100 described species and is among the largest reef-building genera in tropical oceans, contributing markedly to Indo-Pacific reef structure. Growth forms include branching, tabular, digitate, and corymbose morphologies, with branching types forming rapid three-dimensional frameworks.

Acropora corals are colonial and secrete calcium carbonate skeletons. Corallites are small and regularly arranged, and living tissue extends over the skeleton via the coenosarc. Growth is rapid under favorable light and temperature, particularly in branching forms, allowing quick reef accretion in suitable habitats.

Geographically, Acropora is most diverse in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to central Oceania; in the western Atlantic only a few species occur. They inhabit shallow reef crests, slopes, and lagoons where light is strong and water movement is brisk.

Biologically, Acropora species host symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) and rely on photosynthesis for most energy, supplemented by nocturnal zooplankton feeding. Reproduction is predominantly sexual, with mass broadcast spawning following lunar cues, though asexual fragmentation also contributes to colony spread and recovery after damage.

Threats include elevated sea temperatures causing bleaching, diseases such as white-band disease, and ocean acidification. Conservation approaches include protected areas, restoration through fragmentation and coral farming, and careful management of the aquarium trade.

Taxonomically, Acropora remains a central genus in Acroporidae, with extensive species diversity and ongoing molecular-driven revisions, making it a key focus of coral reef research.