Native spider crab causes high incidence of sub-lethal injury to the introduced seastar Asterias amurensis

Ling, SD; Johnson, Craig R.

doi:10.1201/b13769-28

Cited by 2 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Discussions to this point have focused on instances of whole animal or lethal predation, but sublethal (or partial) predation is often very apparent and well documented among echinoderms [88,89]. For CoTS, very high proportions of adults (up to 60%) have evidence of recent injuries (most apparent as missing arms), which is attributed to partial predation [15].…”

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Schoener [97] suggested that there is no reason to expect any relationship between rates of injuries versus rates of predation-driven mortality, because the efficiency of predation (the proportion of attacks that cause death) is independent of the attack rate or incidence of predation. For the asteroid Asterias amurensis, high density populations have been observed to be completely annihilated by an incursion of thousands of spider crabs (Leptomithrax gaimardii) that moved to shallow reefs in large numbers [89]. Additionally, where crab incursions involved fewer individuals, high rates of sub-lethal injury (~70% of starfish population injured) occurred independently of mass predator-driven mortality [89].…”

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the asteroid Asterias amurensis, high density populations have been observed to be completely annihilated by an incursion of thousands of spider crabs (Leptomithrax gaimardii) that moved to shallow reefs in large numbers [89]. Additionally, where crab incursions involved fewer individuals, high rates of sub-lethal injury (~70% of starfish population injured) occurred independently of mass predator-driven mortality [89]. In this example, the high mobility of spider crabs can lead to overwhelming local impacts on starfish populations but this impact is highly variable across space and time [89].…”

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, where crab incursions involved fewer individuals, high rates of sub-lethal injury (~70% of starfish population injured) occurred independently of mass predator-driven mortality [89]. In this example, the high mobility of spider crabs can lead to overwhelming local impacts on starfish populations but this impact is highly variable across space and time [89]. Ultimately, a dedicated research project is needed to test the relationship between rates of partial versus complete predation mortality.…”

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A common trend among echinoderm species is for the incidence of sub-lethal injuries to decline with increasing body size [14,78,88,89,93,98] reflecting general declines in the vulnerability to predation. Accordingly, Messmer et al [14] observed a clear linear decline in both rate and severity of predation with increasing starfish size.…”

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Known Predators of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.) and Their Role in Mitigating, If Not Preventing, Population Outbreaks

et al. 2017

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Predatory release has long been considered a potential contributor to population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.). This has initiated extensive searches for potentially important predators that can consume large numbers of CoTS at high rates, which are also vulnerable to over-fishing or reef degradation. Herein, we review reported predators of CoTS and assess the potential for these organisms to exert significant mortality, and thereby prevent and/or moderate CoTS outbreaks. In all, 80 species of coral reef organisms (including fishes, and motile and sessile invertebrates) are reported to predate on CoTS gametes (three species), larvae (17 species), juveniles (15 species), adults (18 species) and/or opportunistically feed on injured (10 species) or moribund (42 species) individuals within reef habitats. It is clear however, that predation on early life-history stages has been understudied, and there are likely to be many more species of reef fishes and/or sessile invertebrates that readily consume CoTS gametes and/or larvae. Given the number and diversity of coral reef species that consume Acanthaster spp., most of which (e.g., Arothron pufferfishes) are not explicitly targeted by reef-based fisheries, links between overfishing and CoTS outbreaks remain equivocal. There is also no single species that appears to have a disproportionate role in regulating CoTS populations. Rather, the collective consumption of CoTS by multiple different species and at different life-history stages is likely to suppress the local abundance of CoTS, and thereby mediate the severity of outbreaks. It is possible therefore, that general degradation of reef ecosystems and corresponding declines in biodiversity and productivity, may contribute to increasing incidence or severity of outbreaks of Acanthaster spp. However, it seems unlikely that predatory release in and of itself could account for initial onset of CoTS outbreaks. In conclusion, reducing anthropogenic stressors that reduce the abundance and/or diversity of potential predatory species represents a "no regrets" management strategy, but will need to be used in conjunction with other management strategies to prevent, or reduce the occurrence, of CoTS outbreaks.

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Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sub-lethal Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Known Predators of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.) and Their Role in Mitigating, If Not Preventing, Population Outbreaks

et al. 2017

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Hotspots of exotic free‐spawning sex: man‐made environment facilitates success of an invasive seastar

Ling

Johnson

Mundy

et al. 2012

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. The introduction of exotic species to new areas poses a major threat to the environment. For those introduced species that establish and survive beyond the short term, the opportunities to manage the risk of continuing spread often rest with limiting reproductive output. The introduced northern Pacific seastar Asterias amurensis is an ecologically important pest that has established in the Derwent Estuary (Australia). Driven by oversupply of bivalve prey, it is persistent, abundant and fecund when associated with man-made structures such as docks, marinas, jetties and piers, that is, 'wharves'. 2. As a free-spawning invertebrate, fertilization by A. amurensis is a critical life-history stage constrained by strong Allee effects. Eggs must be released in close proximity to sperm sources because the chances of achieving fertilization drastically reduce with increasing distances of spawner separation. 3. Investigation of zygote production in the Derwent Estuary using a spatially explicit model of free-spawning fertilization shows that A. amurensis at wharves, while representing <10% of the total population in the estuary and concentrated in <0AE1% of the total area, may contribute >90% of total zygote production. Given the seastars' long-lived and highly dispersive larvae, we show that wharves not only represent important sites of invasion but also facilitate propagule pressure promoting secondary invasions. 4. Synthesis and applications. In the absence of effective pest control solutions, focusing on reproductive hotspots has the potential to reduce further spread of established marine pests and to alleviate ongoing ecological impacts. In the case of the northern Pacific seastar, elimination of highly localized wharf populations annually prior to spawning can reduce overall zygote production by up to estimated $90%. The long-term protection of key sources of larval production is a common goal for marine reserve design and fisheries management. However, the same concept but in reverse, whereby larval production is minimized at key sources, could be effective in the management of introduced pests in subtidal marine environments.

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Native spider crab causes high incidence of sub-lethal injury to the introduced seastar Asterias amurensis

Cited by 2 publications

References 1 publication

Known Predators of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.) and Their Role in Mitigating, If Not Preventing, Population Outbreaks

Known Predators of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.) and Their Role in Mitigating, If Not Preventing, Population Outbreaks

Hotspots of exotic free‐spawning sex: man‐made environment facilitates success of an invasive seastar

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