A Threat To Coral Reefs Multiplied? Four Species Of Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 02 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) Acanthaster planci, the most destructive coral predator, has devastated Indo-Pacific reefs for decades through mass outbreaks. Contrary to previous beliefs, Vogler et al. found that COTS consists of four species instead of a single widespread one.

This discovery has important consequences for both research and conservation, as previous failure to recognise their existence could have led to a lack of understanding of the processes that contribute to outbreaks in the different COTS species.

The design of species-specific management strategies might be necessary to minimise the impact of future catastrophic outbreaks in different regions of the world.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.

Biology Letters