Long-term effects of destruction of hermatypic corals by Acanthaster plana infestation on reef fish communities at Iriomote Island, Japan

Abstract

Long-term changes in structure of fish communities on coral reefs infested by the coralfeeding starfish Acanthasterplanci were determined using 20 mZ visual transects. We censused a living coral reef consisting mainly of staghorn Acropora spp. at Saluyama Bay and a dead coral reef with low structural complexlty of coral branches (about 2 yr after A. planci infestation) at Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island (Ryukyu Islands, Japan) in September 1984. Two yr later, we recensused the dead coral reef, which had changed into a flat plain of unstructured coral rubble ('rubble reef'). Mean numbers of species and individuals per transect severely decreased in the following order of reef types: (1) living reef (1984). (2) dead reef (1984), and (3) rubble reef (1986). Correlated with these decreases in numbers were several patterns: (1) coral-polyp feeders completely &sappeared on both dead and rubble reefs, probably due to absence of food; (2) numbers of resident species and individuals decreased on the dead reef, perhaps due to decrease in living space or shelter associated with the reduction in structural complexity of coral branches; and (3) numbers of species and individuals of both resident and visitor fishes declined on the unstructured rubble reef, likely due to shortage of living space and food.

Dynamic fragility of oceanic coral reef ecosystems

“…There was no significant impact on species richness due to loss in live coral cover per se (r 2 ϭ 0.13). Consistent with studies of other forms of disturbance, this finding suggests that loss in physical structure is the main driving force in species richness declines on coral reefs after disturbance (23)(24)(25), and explains why the short-term impacts of bleaching on fish assemblages may appear to be negligible (9)(10)(11). Furthermore, because changes in species richness were correlated linearly with the extent of habitat complexity loss, there is no evidence of a threshold level of structural complexity below which species richness was maintained.…”

Recovery from disturbance of coral and reef fish communities on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

“…Disturbances on coral reefs range from local physical disturbances such as storm waves, which have differential effects on sections of the same reef and usually last a few days (Cheal et al 2002, Halford et al 2004, Adjeroud et al 2005 to larger scale and longer term phenomena such as outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci and coral bleaching, which affect numerous reefs within a sector and persist for weeks to years (Moran 1986, Sano et al 1987, Berkelmans & Oliver 1999, Marshall & Baird 2000, Sano 2000, Wilkinson 2004. The major impact ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are consistently and increasingly subject to acute disturbance events that often lead to a reduction in live coral cover with concomitant effects on the diversity and abundance of coral reef fishes.…”

The scallop Pedum spondyloideum mitigates the effects of Acanthaster planci predation on the host coral Pontes: host defence facilitated by exaptation?

“…Indeed, large feeding aggregations of this otherwise rare species are currently among the most severe forms of disturbance in coral reef ecosystems, causing not only widespread destruction of corals, but also substantial changes in the structure and composition of other reef communities (Chesher 1969, Endean 1973, Williams 1986, Yamaguchi 1986, Sano et al 1987.Within coral communities, individual A. planci prey selectively upon certain elements of the hard coral assemblage, exhibiting specific preferences based on previous feeding experience (Ormond et al 1976), palatability, accessibility and prey defences , Glynn 1980. The interaction of these, and perhaps other, parameters will determine the result of specific While many studies have examined the impact of Acanthaster planci on its hard coral prey, there have been relatively few investigations of the potential secondary effects on the hundreds of species associated with hard corals (Patton 1976, Williams 1986, Sano et al 1987). Yet for many of these species, and particularly for those in obligate associations, their continued survival may be closely linked with survival of the host.…”