Limits to Understanding and Managing Outbreaks of Crown- of- Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.)

Pratchett, Morgan S.; Caballes, Ciemon F.; Rivera-Posada, Jairo; Sweatman, Hugh

doi:10.1201/b17143-4

Cited by 201 publications

(408 citation statements)

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“…It is unclear whether outbreaks of COTS are becoming more common or are simply reported with increasing frequency [8]. However, there is evidence that COTS outbreaks on the GBR occurred historically every 50-80 years, while today they occur approximately every 15 years [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR), and Indo-Pacific reefs in general, are in the midst of a multi-decadal decline in coral cover [4,5]. Outbreaks of COTS cause major damage to coral reefs [5][6][7], prompting large-scale removal programs of this seastar, albeit with equivocal effectiveness [8]. Analysis of data from the GBR monitoring program estimates that 30-40 percent of the decline in coral cover can be attributed to COTS predation [5,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there is some evidence for both hypotheses (reviewed by [8]), a consensus seems to be emerging that the terrestrial runoff hypothesis best explains outbreak dynamics on the GBR, possibly combined with local hydrodynamic conditions that govern secondary outbreaks ( [18], but see [19]). In brief, the terrestrial runoff hypothesis attributes outbreak events to increasing agricultural runoff, which in turn increases the abundance of nutrients in the waters surrounding the GBR.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effects of Salinity and pH on Fertilization, Early Development, and Hatching in the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar

et al. 2017

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Understanding the influence of environmental factors on the development and dispersal of crown-of-thorns seastars is critical to predicting when and where outbreaks of these coral-eating seastars will occur. Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns seastars are hypothesized to be driven by terrestrial runoff events that increase nutrients and the phytoplankton food for the larvae. In addition to increasing larval food supply, terrestrial runoff may also reduce salinity in the waters where seastars develop. We investigated the effects of reduced salinity on the fertilization and early development of seastars. We also tested the interactive effects of reduced salinity and reduced pH on the hatching of crown-of-thorns seastars. Overall, we found that reduced salinity has strong negative effects on fertilization and early development, as shown in other echinoderm species. We also found that reduced salinity delays hatching, but that reduced pH, in isolation or in combination with lower salinity, had no detectable effects on this developmental milestone. Models that assess the positive effects of terrestrial runoff on the development of crown-of-thorns seastars should also consider the strong negative effects of lower salinity on early development including lower levels of fertilization, increased frequency of abnormal development, and delayed time to hatching.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effects of Salinity and pH on Fertilization, Early Development, and Hatching in the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar

et al. 2017

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“…This inference is based upon flood events that lead to increased nutrient runoff, with subsequent increases in phytoplankton blooms and then A. planci outbreaks (Brodie et al 2005;Hutchings et al 2005). Irrespective of whether or not a trigger can be categorically linked back to nutrient enrichment pulses, added awareness of the 17-year outbreak cycle (Pratchett et al 2014) should assist surveillance efforts. Intensive monitoring of A. planci at Lizard Island over a period in the 1990s identified a slow build-up of adults, which formed the primary outbreak that occurred in 1996 (Sweatman et al 1998;Pratchett 2005;Pratchett et al 2014).…”

Section: Surveillance and Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Irrespective of whether or not a trigger can be categorically linked back to nutrient enrichment pulses, added awareness of the 17-year outbreak cycle (Pratchett et al 2014) should assist surveillance efforts. Intensive monitoring of A. planci at Lizard Island over a period in the 1990s identified a slow build-up of adults, which formed the primary outbreak that occurred in 1996 (Sweatman et al 1998;Pratchett 2005;Pratchett et al 2014). Hence, ideally surveillance should be increased within this temporal frame (during the non-outbreak period) and potentially intensified after a trigger, such as a flood event or extensive phytoplankton blooms.…”

Section: Surveillance and Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Break-even analysis for a green crab fishery in PEI, Canada

St‐Hilaire¹,

Krause²,

Wight³

et al. 2016

MBI

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Coral reef systems are in global decline. In Australia, much of this decline has been attributable to cyclic outbreaks (every ~17 years) of the coral-feeding crown-of-thorns seastar. While a native species, when in large enough densities the seastar acts like an invasive pest. Since 2012 the Australian government has invested significantly in a targeted control program using lethal injection. While this program is effective for individual reefs, it is not a complete strategy for the entire Great Barrier Reef (~2,500 reefs). In order to find a longer-term solution to the problem, in 2015, the lead author travelled to New Zealand, the United States, and Canada under a Churchill Fellowship to understand successful aquatic integrated pest management strategies and their potential application to the Great Barrier Reef. Meetings and workshops were convened with experts who specialise in risk assessment, categorisation, and management of aquatic invasive species. The experts comprised academics, applied scientists, policy makers, and a not for profit community based invasive species council. Bioinvasion management and prioritisation of management effort using risk-based frameworks were reviewed for application to the crown-of-thorns seastar. This viewpoint is novel in its approach of applying invasive species tools and perspectives to a non-invasive, native marine pest. Early detection and rapid response is key to preventing the transition of the seastar from natural densities to outbreak densities. However given the seastar is a native species already established, when in outbreak mode a multifaceted post-border management approach is essential. Private support funding models, that bridge conservation and tourism/philanthropy have proved successful in New Zealand to supplement government funded marine reserve management -this is an approach which should be explored by Australia to help manage the seastar. Dedicated support and commitment is needed to break the issue-attention cycle. On the Great Barrier Reef, a dedicated biosecurity approach should be used to maintain the seastar at natural densities, increase the time between outbreaks, protect coral cover and increase resilience of the system.

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Populations and Communities

2021

Tropical Marine Ecology

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Limits to Understanding and Managing Outbreaks of Crown- of- Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.)

Cited by 201 publications

References 1 publication

The Effects of Salinity and pH on Fertilization, Early Development, and Hatching in the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar

The Effects of Salinity and pH on Fertilization, Early Development, and Hatching in the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar

Break-even analysis for a green crab fishery in PEI, Canada

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