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Abstract

Crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (COTS), predation is a major cause of coral reef decline, but the factors behind their population outbreaks remain unclear. Increased phytoplankton food resulting from eutrophication is suggested to enhance larval survival. We addressed the hypothesis that larval success is associated with particular chl-a levels in tightly controlled larval:algal conditions. We used chl-a conditions found on coral reefs (0.1–5.0 μg chl-a L− 1), including nominal threshold levels for disproportionate larval success (≥ 1.0 μg chl-a L− 1). High success to the juvenile occurred across an order of magnitude of chl-a concentrations (0.5–5.0 μg chl-a L− 1), suggesting there may not be a narrow value for optimal success. Oligotrophic conditions (0.1 μg chl-a L− 1) appeared to be a critical limit. With a review of the evidence, we suggest that opportunistic COTS larvae may be more resilient to low food levels than previously appreciated. Initiation of outbreak populations need not require eutrophic conditions.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Worfe, K and Graba-Landry, A and Dworjanyn, SA and Byrne, M
Keywords:	crown-of-thorns, nutrient thresholds, boom-and-bust, Great Barrier Reef
Journal or Publication Title:	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Publisher:	Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
ISSN:	0025-326X
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.12.079
Copyright Information:	© 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: Graba-Landry, A
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