title: Superstars: Assessing nutrient thresholds for enhanced larval success of Acanthaster planci, a review of the evidence.
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 (0.1-5.0μgchl-aL-1), including nominal threshold levels for disproportionate larval success (≥1.0μgchl-aL-1). High success to the juvenile occurred across an order of magnitude of chl-a concentrations (0.5-5.0μgchl-aL-1), suggesting there may not be a narrow value for optimal success. Oligotrophic conditions (0.1μgchl-aL-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.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: kennedywolfe90@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kennedy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graba-Landry
authors.affiliation: National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
authors.forename: Symon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dworjanyn
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D057894:Coral Reefs; D005068:Eutrophication; D020387:Food Chain; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D010839:Phytoplankton; D013215:Starfish / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Crown-of-thorns starfish; Feeding; Outbreaks; Resilience; Settlement; Water quality