Vulnerable Red List Criteria
Aronson, R., Bruckner, A., Moore, J., Precht, B. & E. Weil Reviewer/s
Livingstone, S., Polidoro, B. & Smith, J. (Global Marine Species Assessment) Contributor/s Justification
This species is widespread and common in the Caribbean. However, this species is particularly susceptible to disease and the population has declined over the last ten years due to this. Extensive reduction of coral reef habitat due to a combination of threats has also occurred. Population reduction can be inferred from declines in habitat quality based on the combined estimates of both destroyed reefs and reefs at the critical stage of degradation within its range (Wilkinson 2004). Its threat susceptibility increases the likelihood of being lost within one generation in the future from reefs at a critical stage. Therefore, the estimated habitat degradation and loss of 38% over three generation lengths (30 years) is the best inference of population reduction and meets the threshold for Vulnerable under Criterion A4ce. It will be important to reassess this species in 10 years time because of predicted threats from climate change and ocean acidification.