All articles tagged with #crown of thorns starfish
Originally Published 5 months ago — by Phys.org
The Cook Islands is actively combating a severe outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish, which threaten coral reefs weakened by climate change, through volunteer efforts to manually remove the starfish and prevent widespread reef destruction.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Phys.org
Juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish have been found to withstand high heat levels that kill coral, making them resilient to warming waters caused by climate change. These starfish can wait patiently for the opportune moment to grow into carnivorous predators and devour reefs just as they begin to regrow. The increase in their numbers and the availability of rubble habitat generated by coral bleaching and mortality contribute to the initiation of adult crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, exacerbating the ravages of climate change on coral reefs.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo News Australia
A rare sighting of a crown-of-thorns starfish, a predator that poses a threat to coral reefs, has been made by a diver off the coast of Magnetic Island in Australia. Marine scientist Paul Groves, who discovered the starfish, said it was the first time he had seen one in 18 years. The presence of the starfish closer to shore is unusual, and locals are monitoring the situation for any potential outbreak. The starfish can decimate coral tissue faster than it can grow, and efforts to control outbreaks have limitations due to climate change and favorable conditions for their expansion.