Acropora tenuis

Acropora tenuis is a fast-growing branching stony coral belonging to the family Acroporidae, one of the most diverse and widespread groups of reef-building corals. Colonies form horizontal, table-like or corymbose structures with short, tapering branches, typically in shades of brown, blue, cream, or pink, colored by symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living within the coral tissue. These algae provide the coral with energy through photosynthesis, while the coral provides shelter and nutrients in return.

As a reef-building species, Acropora tenuis contributes calcium carbonate skeletal structure that forms the physical foundation of reef ecosystems, supporting fish and invertebrate communities.

The species inhabits shallow marine neritic waters, typically on reef flats and slopes exposed to light and moderate wave action. It is found across the Indo-Pacific, with recorded populations in Australia, China, and Japan.

Population decline stems from a combination of pressures. Rising sea temperatures and storm intensity have caused bleaching and physical damage, while sedimentation and nutrient runoff from agricultural effluents and wastewater discharge degrade water quality. Coastal mining and quarrying activities disturb reef substrates, and fishing and recreational activities cause direct physical damage.

Outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, along with disease, compound these stressors, and shifting habitat conditions further reduce suitable settlement areas for larvae.

Conservation responses include marine protected areas, reef monitoring programs, restrictions on destructive fishing practices, water quality management initiatives, and coral restoration efforts involving larval propagation and outplanting. Research into heat-tolerant coral strains is also underway in parts of its range.

Given the convergence of ongoing climate-related and localized anthropogenic pressures, the species' population trend remains decreasing, and its long-term outlook depends heavily on mitigating both global warming and local water quality stressors.