The future of utilising semiochemical pest control methods to manage the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on coral reefs

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 302, P. 110984 - 110984

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ecological status and resilience of coral reefs in South-Central Vietnam (Khanh Hoa Province) in the third decade of the 21st century

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 104074 - 104074

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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eDNA confirms lower trophic interactions help to modulate population outbreaks of the notorious crown-of-thorns sea star

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(11)

Published: March 10, 2025

Variability in predator–prey interactions can modulate population dynamics with impacts scalable to entire ecosystems. As notorious corallivores, crown-of-thorns sea stars (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.) have caused extensive losses of coral habitat during unexplained outbreaks across the Indo-Pacific. While predation adult CoTS may help suppress their outbreaks, it does not sufficiently explain profound boom-bust and so remains equivocal. Factors influencing early postsettlement mortality are generally more impactful on size, thus lower trophic involving juvenile better contribute outbreak prevention. We evaluated impact key predatory decapods that interact rubble nursery before they emerge as destructive corallivores. Decapod density was influenced by complexity varied regionally, inverse spatial trends Great Barrier Reef. Using eDNA gut content analysis, we confirmed seven species (~12% individuals) wild-caught decapod, collected from two reefs separated >1,000 km, predators. Owing variation predator abundance community structure, estimated potential (previous aquarium experiments) realized (eDNA results here) rates consumption were ~3-fold ~1.6-fold lower, respectively, hotspots. Through combination field molecular techniques, demonstrated appreciable cryptic predators success this nuisance species, which expands our knowledge pest management, reef conservation. Resolving at levels ecosystem be crucial understanding broader ecological outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Distribution Shifts of Acanthaster solaris Under Climate Change and the Impact on Coral Reef Habitats

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(6), P. 858 - 858

Published: March 17, 2025

Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster solaris) outbreaks pose a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems, with climate change potentially exacerbating their distribution and impact. However, there remains only small number of predictive studies on how drives changes in the patterns A. solaris, relevant assessments impact these areas are lacking. To address this issue, study investigated potential solaris under its Acropora habitats. Using novel two-step framework, we integrated both abiotic biological (Acropora distribution) predictors into species modeling project future shifts We created first reliable set current global maps for using comprehensive dataset machine learning approach. The results showed three scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5), expanded ranges all scenarios, greatest expansion occurring near 10° S. Asymmetry latitudinal habitat boundaries suggests that Southern Hemisphere may face more severe solaris. Regions previously unsuitable such as parts New Zealand, might experience new invasions. Additionally, our findings highlight increase predatory pressure reefs SSP2-4.5 SSP5-8.5 particularly Western Coral Triangle Northeast Australian Shelf, where an overlap between habitats is significant. This provides critical insights ecological dynamics context change, have important implications management. These need targeted conservation efforts development mitigation strategies protect from growing posed by

Language: Английский

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Chemosensory behaviour of juvenile crown-of-thorns sea star ( Acanthaster sp.), attraction to algal and coral food and avoidance of adult conspecifics

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2023)

Published: May 1, 2024

Intraspecific and habitat-mediated responses to chemical cues play key roles in structuring populations of marine species. We investigated the behaviour herbivorous-stage juvenile crown-of-thorns sea stars (COTS;

Language: Английский

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Dead foundation species create coral rubble habitat that benefits a resilient pest species

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 202, P. 106740 - 106740

Published: Sept. 5, 2024

Language: Английский

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Feeding biology of crown-of-thorns seastars across sites differing in Acropora availability

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 200, P. 106655 - 106655

Published: July 23, 2024

Crown-of-thorns seastars (COTS, Acanthaster spp.) are a major contributor to coral mortality across the Indo-Pacific and can cause extensive reef degradation. The diet preferences of COTS influence community structure by predation on fast-growing genera such as Acropora avoidance rare genera. In non-outbreaking populations, this preference increase species diversity. feeding biology cf. solaris was compared at two sites (Shark Alley Second Lagoon) One Tree Island reef, located in southern Great Barrier Reef, determine whether availability influences differences movement, rates within same system. were tracked daily for five days both sites, with measurements scars composition recorded over time. While Shark Lagoon have similar live cover (40 44 % respectively), has significantly lower than (2 vs 32 %). rate different between (259.8 733.8 cm

Language: Английский

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The morphological dietary preferences of an outbreaking population of corallivorous crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) in the Gulf of Thailand

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 197(1)

Published: Dec. 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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