Acropora loisetteae
Overview
Acropora loisetteae is a stony coral belonging to the family Acroporidae, one of the most diverse groups of reef-building corals. Like other Acropora species, it forms a hard calcium carbonate skeleton and hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae, which provide the coral with energy through photosynthesis and give it characteristic coloration. Colonies contribute to the physical framework of reef ecosystems, providing structural habitat for fish and countless invertebrate species.
As with most scleractinian corals, it is a sessile, colonial organism that grows through the collective activity of many small polyps.
This species occupies shallow marine neritic waters and has been recorded in the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand, placing it within the Coral Triangle and broader western Pacific region, an area recognized for exceptionally high marine biodiversity.
The species faces a wide array of ongoing pressures. Fishing and harvesting activities, along with recreational use, cause direct physical damage to colonies. Water quality is degraded by domestic and urban wastewater, agricultural runoff, and effluents from non-timber crop production.
Invasive species and disease outbreaks, compounded by pressure from problematic native species such as coral-eating starfish, add further stress. Habitat alteration, storms, flooding, and broader pollution sources continue to degrade reef conditions, while fire and fire suppression practices affect adjacent coastal watersheds that influence reef runoff.
Conservation efforts for this species occur largely within the framework of regional marine protected areas, reef monitoring programs, and international trade regulation under CITES, which lists Acropora species. Enforcement and local management capacity vary across its range.
Population trends are declining, and the species is classified as Endangered. Given the cumulative and ongoing nature of the threats affecting its range, the outlook remains concerning without sustained management intervention.
This coral faces pressure from fishing activities, boating and other recreational use, and pollution from sewage, farm runoff, and other sources washing into its ocean habitat. It's also threatened by disease, competition from invasive species, and damage from storms, flooding, and shifting habitat conditions, with nearby land clearing for crops and fire management adding further strain. All of these threats are currently ongoing and active, suggesting a stable but persistent level of risk rather than one that is clearly increasing or decreasing.
Habitat
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in ACROPORIDAE
Threatened in Australia
Frequently asked questions
Why is Acropora loisetteae classified as Endangered?
Where does Acropora loisetteae live?
What are the main threats to Acropora loisetteae?
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