Distribution of recent outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) along the Great Barrier Reef: 1985?1986

Moran, Peter; Bradbury, Roger; Reichelt, Russell

doi:10.1007/bf00300972

Cited by 63 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Outbreaks of these starfish have been responsible for the widespread mortality and injury of corals on many reefs in the Indo-Pacific region over the past 40 years (Moran et al 1988). Particularly in Australia, the COTS is one of the dominant causes of coral mortality responsible for major declines in coral cover over large areas of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).…”

Section: Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Cots)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

Shi

Liu

Yan

et al. 2012

AMBIO

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The northern reef of Yongxing Island, the largest reef island of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, was in good condition with significant cover of scleractinian corals until 2002. Surveys in 2008 and 2010, however, found that coral coverage had declined rapidly and severely, implying that catastrophic coral mortality occurred during the past 8 years. A blackish mat was observed covering live and dead corals in both 2008 and 2010 that was identified as an encrusting sponge, Terpios hoshinota, by special surface morphology and spicule structure. In addition, spicule residues were found on the surface of long-dead corals, indicating a previous invasion of T. hosinota. T. hoshinota is referred to as the ''black disease'' because it rapidly overgrows and kills corals. Our evidence indicates that outbreaks of black disease are at least partially responsible for the massive coral mortality at the northern reef of Yongxing Island over the past 8 years, although human activities and heat-related coral bleaching cannot be discounted as minor causes for this coral decline.

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Section: Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Cots)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

Shi

Liu

Yan

et al. 2012

AMBIO

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“…Areas in which coral reef degradation is most pronounced (the Caribbean, SE Asia, and the western Indian Ocean) are characterized by a long history of heavy exploitation of coral reef resources and other chronic disturbances [9], which may have increased vulnerability to recent acute disturbances, such as severe tropical storms [16][17][18][19][20], El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events [21,22], coral bleaching events [23][24][25][26][27][28], high and low temperature extremes, freshwater plumes from heavy rainfall and runoff events [29], coral diseases [30], and outbreaks of coral predators (mainly, the corallivorous sea star Acanthaster planci in the Indo-Pacific, [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39], and 2 Journal of Marine Biology tidal fluctuations [40]). More importantly, coral loss and associated degradation of coral reef habitats is expected to worsen over the next 2-3 decades, due to climate related increases in temperature [41] and ocean acidification [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Effects of Different Disturbances in Coral Reef Habitats in Moorea, French Polynesia

Trapon

Pratchett

Penin

2011

Journal of Marine Biology

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Degradation and loss of critical coastal habitats has significant ramifications for marine fisheries, such that knowledge of changes in habitat quality and quantity are fundamental to effective ecosystem management. This study explores changes in the structure of coral reef habitats, specifically changes in coral cover and composition, in Moorea, French Polynesia, to assess the independent and combined effects of different disturbances since 1979. During this period, reefs on the north coast have been subject to coral bleaching, severe tropical storms, as well as outbreaks of Acanthaster. Coral cover varied significantly among years, showing marked declines during some, but not all, disturbances. The greatest rates of coral loss coincided with outbreaks of A. planci. Moreover, successive disturbances have had differential effects among coral genera, leading to strong directional shifts in coral composition. Acropora is declining in abundance and coral assemblages are becoming increasingly dominated by Pocillopora and Porites. Observed changes in the cover and composition of corals are likely to have further significant impacts on the reef fish assemblages. Given that significant disturbances have been mostly associated with outbreaks of A. planci, rather than climate change, effective ecosystem management may reduce and/or delay impending effects of climate change.

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“…In recent years, researchers have identifi ed and investigated many causes of coral reef degradation, including coral bleaching due to abnormally high (e.g. Lesser et al 1990) and low ocean temperatures (HoeghGuldberg and Fine 2005), crown-of-thorns starfi sh outbreaks (Moran et al 1988), pollution and nutrifi cation (Pastorak and Bilyard 1985), and overexploitation (Glynn 1996;Guard and Masaiganah 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status of the distribution of the coral-encrusting cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota in southern Japan

Reimer¹,

Mizuyama²,

Nakano³

et al. 2011

Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies

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Distribution of recent outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) along the Great Barrier Reef: 1985?1986

Cited by 63 publications

References 12 publications

Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

Comparative Effects of Different Disturbances in Coral Reef Habitats in Moorea, French Polynesia

Current status of the distribution of the coral-encrusting cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota in southern Japan

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