Renewed research interest in crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.) reflecting the increasing imperative to manage ongoing coral reef degradation

Abstract

Crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS: Acanthaster spp.) remain one of the foremost causes of coral mortality on coral reefs throughout the Indo West-Pacific, and recurrent population irruptions compound upon other major disturbances, especially climate-induced coral bleaching. Renewed scientific and management interest in CoTS stems from both the initiation of new and renewed population irruptions and sustained degradation of coral reef ecosystems. This perspective reflects on recent research advances and innovations in prediction, detection and responses to changing abundance and ecological impacts of CoTS, which were partly facilitated by a co-ordinated large-scale research program conducted on Australia’s GBR. The collection of papers in the subsequent Special Issue, together with other recent publications, highlight substantial advances in CoTS research, but also critical knowledge gaps and highly tractable and urgent research priorities.

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