COTS thrive in dead coral
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Research shows crown-of-thorns starfish thrive in the coral devastation they create.
The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) wreaks havoc on coral reefs, particularly the Great Barrier Reef, causing coral loss and severe degradation of the ecosystems.
A new study published in Marine Environmental Research introduces the “degraded reef hypothesis”, explaining how COTS populations benefit from coral loss.
“This research reinforces our understanding that resilient species have the upper hand when adjusting to altered habitats,” says Professor Maria Byrne at the University of Sydney.
“Unfortunately, in the case of the Great Barrier Reef, one of these resilient species is one of its most persistent coral predators.”
The study reveals that as coral declines, juvenile COTS survive in rubble habitats, which act as nurseries.
These starfish remain in waiting, sometimes for years, before emerging in large numbers when coral begins to recover, creating a feedback loop that exacerbates reef degradation.
“COTS populations may thrive as coral reefs degrade, leading to further coral loss. This cycle not only threatens corals but also the range of species that depend on healthy reefs for survival,” said marine science researcher Dr Kennedy Wolfe.
The research notes that conditions like heatwaves and pollution, which harm coral, favour COTS.
The findings call for a multifaceted approach to reef conservation, addressing both coral restoration and the root causes of degradation.