Predation on crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by damselfishes

Cowan, Zara‐Louise; Dworjanyn, Symon A.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Pratchett, Morgan S.

doi:10.1007/s00338-016-1491-3

Cited by 39 publications

(43 citation statements)

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“…Survival rates were calculated as the number of larvae remaining out of the total added to the container at the start of the experiment, while also adjusting for larvae removed from the containers for settlement assays and for larvae that spontaneously settled in the containers, from 17 days onwards. Importantly, estimates of survivorship in this laboratory-based study are likely to be much higher than expected in the field, where sustained predation on gametes and larvae [25] may result in very high rates of mortality [26].…”

Section: Larval Culture and Settlement Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Larval Survivorship and Settlement of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Varying Algal Cell Densities

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The dispersal potential of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) larvae is important in understanding both the initiation and spread of population outbreaks, and is fundamentally dependent upon how long larvae can persist while still retaining the capacity to settle. This study quantified variation in larval survivorship and settlement rates for CoTS maintained at three different densities of a single-celled flagellate phytoplankton, Proteomonas sulcata (1 × 10 3 , 1 × 10 4 , and 1 × 10 5 cells/mL). Based on the larval starvation hypothesis, we expected that low to moderate levels of phytoplankton prey would significantly constrain both survival and settlement. CoTS larvae were successfully maintained for up to 50 days post-fertilization, but larval survival differed significantly between treatments. Survival was greatest at intermediate food levels (1 × 10 4 cells/mL), and lowest at high (1 × 10 5 cells/mL) food levels. Rates of settlement were also highest at intermediate food levels and peaked at 22 days post-fertilization. Peak settlement was delayed at low food levels, probably reflective of delayed development, but there was no evidence of accelerated development at high chlorophyll concentrations. CoTS larvae were recorded to settle 17-43 days post-fertilization, but under optimum conditions with intermediate algal cell densities, peak settlement occurred at 22 days post-fertilization. Natural fluctuations in nutrient concentrations and food availability may affect the number of CoTS that effectively settle, but seem unlikely to influence dispersal dynamics.

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Section: Larval Culture and Settlement Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Larval Survivorship and Settlement of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Varying Algal Cell Densities

et al. 2017

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“…If higher food concentrations also benefit predators of CoTS, this has the potential to suppress larval survival and outbreaks [71]. There are no empirical data on rates of predation for CoTS larvae in the wild, and such information will be very difficult to obtain, though CoTS larvae are certainly vulnerable to predation [72].…”

Section: Question 2 (Larvae Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thirty Years of Research on Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (1986–2016): Scientific Advances and Emerging Opportunities

et al. 2017

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Abstract:Research on the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) has waxed and waned over the last few decades, mostly in response to population outbreaks at specific locations. This review considers advances in our understanding of the biology and ecology of CoTS based on the resurgence of research interest, which culminated in this current special issue on the Biology, Ecology and Management of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. More specifically, this review considers progress in addressing 41 specific research questions posed in a seminal review by P. Moran 30 years ago, as well as exploring new directions for CoTS research. Despite the plethora of research on CoTS (>1200 research articles), there are persistent knowledge gaps that constrain effective management of outbreaks. Although directly addressing some of these questions will be extremely difficult, there have been considerable advances in understanding the biology of CoTS, if not the proximate and ultimate cause(s) of outbreaks. Moving forward, researchers need to embrace new technologies and opportunities to advance our understanding of CoTS biology and behavior, focusing on key questions that will improve effectiveness of management in reducing the frequency and likelihood of outbreaks, if not preventing them altogether.

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“…If higher food concentrations also benefit predators of CoTS, this has the potential to suppress larval survival and the potential for outbreaks (Babcock et al 2016a). There is no empirical data on rates of predation for CoTS larvae in the wild, and such information will be very difficult to obtain, though CoTS larvae are certainly vulnerable to predation (Cowan et al 2016b). …”

Section: Question 4 (Larvae and Juveniles) -How Important Is Diet In mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CoTS larvae contain steroidal saponins which may have specific anti-predatory functions, as demonstrated by experimental assays showing planktivorous fishes discriminating against saponin-impregnated food pellets (Lucas et al 1979). However, more recent experiments have found that planktivorous fishes readily consumed CoTS larvae (Cowan et al 2016b). Predation on larvae by scleractinian corals (Chesher 1969), predaceous zooplankton (Vine 1970), and fishes (Pearson and Endean 1969) may therefore be an important determinant of larval survivorship.…”

Section: Question 17 (Larvae and Juveniles) -Is Predation Important Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cowan et al (2016b) showed that planktivorous damselfish may be capable of consuming sufficient numbers of CoTS larvae (up to 158 larvae h -1 ) to effectively suppress larval settlement, especially when starfish are in low abundance and potentially preventing the onset of outbreaks. However, reef-based predators may be overwhelmed by extremely high densities of larvae (Cowan et al 2016b), accounting for the propagation of outbreaks once they become established.Unlike larvae, newly settled CoTS have long been considered to be extremely vulnerable to predation (Glynn 1976;. Indeed the highly cryptic and generally nocturnal habits of newly settled Acanthaster spp.…”

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confidence: 99%

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30 Years of Research on Crown-of-thorns Starfish (1986-2016): Scientific Advances and Emerging Opportunities

Pratchett¹,

Caballes²,

Wilmes³

et al. 2017

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Abstract:Research on the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) has waxed and waned over the last few decades, mostly in accordance with the occurrence of population outbreaks at key locations, such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef. This review considers advances in our understanding of the biology and ecology of CoTS based on the latest resurgence of research interest, which culminated in this current special issue on the Biology, Ecology and Management of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. More specifically, this review considers progress against 41 specific research questions posed in the seminal review by P. Moran 30 years ago, as well as exploring new directions for CoTS research. Despite the plethora of research on CoTS (> 1,200 research articles), there are persistent knowledge gaps that constrain effective management of outbreaks. Although directly addressing some of these questions will be extremely difficult, there have been considerable advances in understanding the biology of CoTS, if not the proximal and ultimate cause(s) of outbreaks. Moving forward, researchers need to embrace new technologies and opportunities to advance understanding of CoTS biology and behaviour, with focus given to key questions that will improve effectiveness of management to reduce the frequency and likelihood of future outbreaks, if not preventing them altogether.Keywords: Acanthaster; coral reefs, disturbance; management; population outbreaks; research priorities Peer-reviewed version available at Diversity 2017, 9, 41; doi:10.3390/d90400412 of 50 BackgroundCrown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS; Acanthaster spp., excluding A. brevispinus) are renowned for their capacity to devastate coral reef ecosystems . This is primarily because local densities of CoTS can increase from normally very low densities (<1 starfish.ha -1 ) to extremely high densities (>1,000 starfish.ha -1 ) during periodic population outbreaks (e.g. Chesher 1969). Moreover, CoTS are one of the largest and most efficient predators on scleractinian corals (Birkeland 1989). Whereas most other individual coral-feeding organisms (e.g., Chaetodon butterflyfishes, and Drupella snails) cause only localised injuries or tissue-loss (Cole et al. 2008;Rotjan and Lewis 2008), adult CoTS can kill entire corals, including relatively large colonies. High densities of CoTS will therefore, cause rapid and extensive coral depletion. In French Polynesia, for example, high densities of CoTS caused systematic coral loss around the entire circumference of the island of Moorea, killing >96% of coral between 2005(Kayal et al. 2012). More broadly, outbreaks of Acanthaster spp. are a major contributor to sustained declines in coral cover and degradation of coral reefs at many locations throughout the Indo west-Pacific (Osborne et al. 2011;Trapon et al. 2011;De'ath et al. 2012).While there has been considerable research, and a larger number of scientific articles (>940) focused on Acanthaster spp., extending back to the 1960s (Goreau 1964;Pearson and Endean 1969), research interest (and fundin...

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Predation on crown-of-thorns starfish larvae by damselfishes

Cited by 39 publications

References 45 publications

Larval Survivorship and Settlement of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Varying Algal Cell Densities

Larval Survivorship and Settlement of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Varying Algal Cell Densities

Thirty Years of Research on Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (1986–2016): Scientific Advances and Emerging Opportunities

30 Years of Research on Crown-of-thorns Starfish (1986-2016): Scientific Advances and Emerging Opportunities

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