Crown-of-thorns starfish can promote reef diversity
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Researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia, discovered that crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) can benefit coral reefs when their populations remain low.
The team studied COTS predation on the Great Barrier Reef at One Tree Island Research Station, observing how the starfish interact with coral. They found that COTS often consume a limited amount from each coral colony, leaving living tissue behind.
This selective feeding creates space for slower-growing coral species, like Montipora and Porites, to thrive alongside the more common, fast-growing Acroporidae corals. The researchers determined that low COTS densities help maintain coral diversity by preventing dominant species from taking over reef space. This supports the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which suggests moderate disturbances can boost biodiversity in ecosystems. The study does not suggest COTS are beneficial during outbreaks, which cause widespread coral destruction.
However, it indicates that eliminating COTS entirely may not be the best approach to reef management. Instead, the team suggests culling efforts should aim to control outbreaks and be combined with strategies to protect the starfish’s natural predators, such as tritons and reef fishes, to maintain a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
