Why is crown of thorn starfish a problem

The underlying causes of outbreaks are multifaceted with no single trigger categorically proven to initiate outbreaks.

Great Barrier Reef information applies statewide, map locations are for reference only. Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish are seriously affecting ecosystem health and function on the Reef. As of , outbreaks were most severe in the central and southern areas of the Reef. Although a native coral predator, when crown-of-thorns starfish reach outbreak status approximately 15 starfish per hectare , the consumption of coral tissue exceeds coral growth.

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OK Learn more. Cookie and Privacy Settings. These findings suggest that the species underwent frequent genetic bottlenecks, where the population was reduced to just a small number of individuals, which then jumpstarted a new lineage.

For their next steps, the Marine Genomics Unit is collaborating with Australian scientists to analyze crown-of-thorns starfish from the Great Barrier Reef. Instead of just using DNA in the mitochondria, the scientists aim to sequence the entire genome of each starfish, including DNA in the nucleus.

Original written by Dani Ellenby. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. ScienceDaily, 8 July Tackling coral reefs' thorny problem: Crown-of-thorns starfish: Scientists decipher the evolutionary history of a coral reef predator.

Retrieved November 12, from www. But new research shows the starfish that devastates reef habitats can remain in its juvenile ScienceDaily shares links with sites in the TrendMD network and earns revenue from third-party advertisers, where indicated.

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