Elkhorn and staghorn coral have dominated the Caribbean’s coral reef systems for more than 250,000 years. But after a scalding marine heat wave struck the region in 2023, these historically critical species are now functionally extinct in Florida, scientists say.
New research has found that these iconic branching species — members of the Acropora genus — have all but vanished from much of the Florida reef tract. The few remaining survivors are clustered mainly in the northernmost reaches of the reef — and they probably can’t repopulate the rest of the ecosystem on their own.
That means aggressive human interventions might be the only hope for preserving the Florida reef’s most famous species, including restoration projects and efforts to introduce genetic diversity using corals from other parts of the world. Even then, the researchers warn, successful restoration projects will “likely be limited to localized areas” — and they’ll still be at the mercy of future marine heat waves.
They may also find themselves facing the whims of the U.S. government. President Donald Trump’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year would slash funding for NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. Whether those proposed cuts will be upheld by lawmakers remains to be seen. Congress is still sparring over the 2026 budget as a weekslong government shutdown continues with no end in sight.
