A threat to coral reefs multiplied? Four species of crown-of-thorns starfish.
In the face of ever-increasing threats to coral reef ecosystems, it is essential to understand the impact of natural predators in order to devise appropriate management strategies. Destructive population explosions of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci have devastated coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific for decades. But despite extensive research, the causes of outbreaks are still unclear. An important consideration in this research is that A. planci has been regarded as a single taxonomic entity. Using molecular data from its entire distribution, we find that A. planci is in fact a species complex. This discovery has important consequences for future coral reef research, and might prove critical for successful reef conservation management.
Vogler
Catherine
C
Courant Research Center Geobiology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Benzie
John
J
Lessios
Harilaos
H
Barber
Paul
P
Wörheide
Gert
G
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010802:Phylogeny; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013215:Starfish / Q000235:genetics*
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV