Pratchett, Morgan, Doll, Peter, Chandler, Josie, Doyle, Jason, Uthicke, Sven, Dubuc, Alexia, and Caballes, Ciemon (2025) Early detection of renewed population irruptions of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Report. James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.

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Abstract

Recurrent population irruptions of the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) remain one of the foremost causes of coral mortality on Australia’s Great Barrer Reef (GBR), contributing to substantial declines in coral cover and reef health. Preventing or minimising coral loss due to current and future population irruptions of COTS is critical for improving the status and outlook of coral reef ecosystems across the GBR. Establishing when, where, and why these population irruptions start is fundamental to effective largescale and long-term management. Previous population irruptions of COTS on the GBR are purported to have started on reefs between Lizard Island (14.6oS) and Cairns (17oS), an area commonly referred to as the initiation area. However, in previous outbreaks there were detectable increases in the abundance of adult COTS in the far northern GBR well ahead of similar reports for reefs within the putative initiation area (e.g. Lizard Island). This study used new and effective sampling methods to assess inter-annual variation in the abundance and size of COTS across the northern GBR from 2021–2024, testing for increasing densities of COTS that might represent the precursor of impending population irruptions.

Item ID:	89862
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Copyright Information:	Copyright: James Cook University 2025.
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2026 01:58
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 40% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310307 Population ecology @ 20% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 40%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180501 Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems @ 50% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180503 Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in marine environments @ 20% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences @ 30%
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