Doll, Peter, Pratchett, Morgan, Ling, Scott, Tebbett, Sterling, Hoey, Andrew, and Caballes, Ciemon (2025) Predation on adult Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) relative to fisheries management zones on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Report. James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.

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Abstract

Reef-wide population irruptions of coral-feeding crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster spp.) are one of the foremost contributors to coral mortality and reef degradation throughout their tropical Indo-Pacific range. In contrast to other disturbances contributing to the plight of coral reefs (e.g. climate-induced coral bleaching), COTS are relatively amenable to direct management action. However, effective large-scale and long-term management of COTS populations, and intended protection of corals, requires an improved ecological underpinning of management strategies and understanding of the proximal cause(s) of their population irruptions. While high fecundity and other traits likely underpin much of the success of COTS and naturally predispose them to major population fluctuations, the initiation and spread of population irruptions has also been linked to the downstream effects of anthropogenic activities, particularly terrestrial runoff and overfishing.

Item ID:	89861
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Copyright Information:	Copyright: JCU 2025.
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2026 01:50
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 20% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 80%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180503 Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in marine environments @ 30% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180501 Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems @ 40% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences @ 30%
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