Abnormal density of Culcita schmideliana delays recovery of a reef system in the Maldives following a catastrophic bleaching event
Andrew W. Bruckner A B and Georgia Coward A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Coral Reef CPR, 1318 Excaliber Lane, Sandy Spring, MD 20860, USA.
B Corresponding author. Email: andywbruckner@gmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 70(2) 292-301 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18184
Submitted: 9 May 2018 Accepted: 13 June 2018 Published: 13 September 2018
Abstract
Culcita spp. are facultative corallivores that can have a selective effect on coral composition due to their feeding preference for Acropora spp. and Pocillopora spp. Although Culcita are normally rare (<0.5 per 100 m2), mean densities of up to 9.2 sea stars per 100 m2 were observed on a Maldivian reef system, with the highest numbers on the reef flat and reef crest. Culcita fed on 12 genera of corals, but showed a distinct preference for Pocillopora (51%) and Acropora (21%). Formerly the dominant corals on Maldivian reefs, these genera sustained 80–95% mortality from coral bleaching in 2016. Low numbers of juvenile acroporids and pocilloporids were slowly recolonising the reef, but 24% had recently been eaten by Culcita schmideliana. The abnormal abundance of C. schmideliana and high number of recently dead juvenile corals suggest that chronic predation by C. schmideliana could delay the recovery of reefs damaged by the 2016 mass bleaching event.
Additional keywords: Acropora, coral bleaching, coral reefs, corallivory, echinoderms, Pocillopora, predation, sea star.
References
Adey, W. H. (1998). Coral reefs: algal structured and mediated ecosystems in shallow, turbulent, alkaline waters. Journal of Phycology 34, 393–406.| Coral reefs: algal structured and mediated ecosystems in shallow, turbulent, alkaline waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anthony, K. R. N. (2016). Coral reefs under climate change and ocean acidification: challenges and opportunities for management and policy. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 41, 59–81.
| Coral reefs under climate change and ocean acidification: challenges and opportunities for management and policy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ateweberhan, M., Feary, D. A., Keshavmurthy, S., Chen, A., Schleyer, M. H., and Sheppard, C. R. (2013). Climate change impacts on coral reefs: Synergies with local effects, possibilities for acclimation, and management implications. Marine Pollution Bulletin 74, 526–539.
| Climate change impacts on coral reefs: Synergies with local effects, possibilities for acclimation, and management implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell, J. (2008). Feeding preferences of the cushion star Culcita novaeguineae in the presence of the crown of thorns starfish Acanthaster planci. UCB Moorea Class Thesis, Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands. Available at https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97r5p1r3 [Verified 6 July 2018].
Birkeland, C. (1989). The influence of echinoderms on coral reef communities. In ‘Echinoderm Studies 3’. (Eds M. Jangoux and J.M.Lawrence.) pp. 1–79. (Balkema Press: Rotterdam, Netherlands.)
Birkeland, C., and Lucas, J. S. (1990). ‘Acanthaster planci: Major Management Problem of Coral Reefs.’ (CRC Press: Boston, MA, USA.)
Bruckner, A. W., Coward, G., Bimson, K., and Rattanawangwan, T. (2017). Predation by feeding aggregations of Drupella spp. inhibits the recovery of reefs damaged by a mass bleaching event. Coral Reefs 36, 1181–1187.
| Predation by feeding aggregations of Drupella spp. inhibits the recovery of reefs damaged by a mass bleaching event.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bruno, J. F., Selig, E. R., Casey, K. S., Page, C. A., Willis, B. L., Harvell, C. D., Sweatman, H., and Melendy, A. M. (2007). Thermal stress and coral cover as drivers of coral disease outbreaks. PLoS Biology 5, e124.
| Thermal stress and coral cover as drivers of coral disease outbreaks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carpenter, R. C. 1997. Invertebrate predators and grazers. In ‘Life and Death of Coral Reefs’. (Ed. C. Birkeland.) pp. 198-229. (Chapman and Hall: New York, NY, USA.)
De’ath, G., and Moran, P. J. (1998). Factors affecting the behavior of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci L.) on the Great Barrier Reef: 2: feeding preferences. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 220, 107–126.
| Factors affecting the behavior of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci L.) on the Great Barrier Reef: 2: feeding preferences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Diaz-Pulido, G., Harii, S., McCook, L. J., and Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2010). The impact of benthic algae on the settlement of a reef-building coral. Coral Reefs 29, 203–208.
| The impact of benthic algae on the settlement of a reef-building coral.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fujioka, Y., and Yamazato, K. (1983). Host selection of some Okinawan coral associated gastropods belonging to the genera Drupella, Coralliophila and Quoyula. Galaxea 2, 59–73.
Gittenberger, A., Bastian, T., Reijnen, B. T., and Hoeksema, B. W. (2011). A molecularly based phylogeny reconstruction of mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) with taxonomic consequences and evolutionary implications for life history traits. Contributions to Zoology 80, 107–132.
Glynn, P. (1990). Feeding ecology of selected coral-reef macroconsumers: patterns and effects on coral community structure. In: ‘Ecosystems of the World, 25’. (Ed. Z. Dubinsky.) pp. 365–400. (Elsevier Science: Amsterdam, Netherlands.)
Glynn, P. W., and Krupp, D. A. (1986). Feeding biology of a Hawaiian sea-star corallivore Culcita novaeguineae. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 96, 75–96.
| Feeding biology of a Hawaiian sea-star corallivore Culcita novaeguineae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goreau, T. F. (1964). On the predation of coral by the spiny starfish Acanthaster planci (L.) in the southern Red Sea. Israel South Red Sea Expedition, 1962, Reports. Bulletin of Sea Fisheries Research Station Israel 35, 23–26.
Goreau, T. F., Lang, J. C., Graham, E. A., and Goreau, P. D. (1972). Structure and ecology of the Saipan reefs in relation to predation by Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus). Bulletin of Marine Science 22, 113–152.
Hawkins, S. V. (2006). Feeding preferences of the cushion star, Culcita novaeguinea in Mo’orea. UC Berkeley Student Research Papers, Fall 2006. Available at https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7b94s417 [Verified 24 July 2018].
Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Poloczanska, E. S., Skirving, W., and Dove, S. (2017). Coral reef ecosystems under climate change and ocean acidification. Frontiers of Materials Science 4, 158.
| Coral reef ecosystems under climate change and ocean acidification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hoeksema, B. W., Scott, C., and True, J. D. (2013). Dietary shift in corallivorous Drupella snails following a major bleaching event at Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand. Coral Reefs 32, 423–428.
| Dietary shift in corallivorous Drupella snails following a major bleaching event at Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hughes, T. P., Baird, A. H., Bellwood, D. R., Card, M., Connolly, S. R., Folke, C., Grosberg, R., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Jackson, J. B. C., Kleypas, J., Lough, J. M., Marshall, P., Nystro¨m, M., Palumbi, S. R., Pandolfi, J. M., Rosen, B., and Roughgarden, J. (2003). Climate change, human impacts, and the resilience of coral reefs. Science 301, 929–933.
| Climate change, human impacts, and the resilience of coral reefs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ibrahim, N., Mohamed, M., Basheer, A., Ismail, H., Nistharan, F., Schmidt, A., Naeem, R., Abdulla, A., and Grimsditch, G. (2017). ‘Status of Coral Bleaching in the Maldives in 2016.’(Marine Research Centre:, Malé, Maldives.)
Ivlev, V. S. (1961). ‘Experimental Ecology of the Feeding Fishes.’ (Yale University Press: New Haven, CT, USA.)
Kayal, M., Lenihan, H. S., Pau, C., Penin, L., and Adjeroud, M. (2011). Associational refuges among corals mediate impacts of a crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci outbreak. Coral Reefs 30, 827–837.
| Associational refuges among corals mediate impacts of a crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci outbreak.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kayal, M., Vercelloni, J., Lison de Loma, T., Bosserelle, P., Chancerelle, Y., Geoffroy, S., Stievenart, C., Michonneau, F., Penin, L., Planes, S., and Adjeroud, M. (2012). Predator crown of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) outbreak, mass mortality of corals, and cascading effects on reef fish and benthic communities. PLoS One 7, e47363.
| Predator crown of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) outbreak, mass mortality of corals, and cascading effects on reef fish and benthic communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kettle, B. T. (1990). Variations in biometric and physiological parameters of Acanthaster planci (L.) (Echinodermata; Asteroidea) during the course of a high density outbreak. Ph.D. Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.
Knowlton, N., Lang, J. C., and Keller, B. D. (1990). Case study of natural population collapse: post hurricane predation of Jamaican staghorn corals. Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences 31, 1–25.
| Case study of natural population collapse: post hurricane predation of Jamaican staghorn corals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maynard, J., van Hooidonk, R., Eakin, C. M., Puotinen, M., Garren, M., Williams, G., Heron, S. F., Lamb, J., Weil, E., Willis, B., and Harvell, C. D. (2015). Projections of climate conditions that increase coral disease susceptibility and pathogen abundance and virulence. Nature Climate Change 5, 688–694.
| Projections of climate conditions that increase coral disease susceptibility and pathogen abundance and virulence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Menge, B. A. (1972). Foraging strategy of a starfish in relation to actual prey availability and environmental predictability. Ecological Monographs 42, 25–50.
| Foraging strategy of a starfish in relation to actual prey availability and environmental predictability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moerland, M. S., Scott, C. M., and Hoeksem, B. W. (2016). Prey selection of corallivorous muricids at Koh Tao (Gulf of Thailand) four years after a major coral bleaching event. Contributions to Zoology 85, 291–309.
Moran, P. J. (1986). The Acanthaster phenomena. Oceanography and Marine Biology – an Annual Review 24, 379–480.
Moran, P. J., and De’ath, G. (1992). Estimates of the abundance of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci in outbreaking and non-outbreaking populations on reefs within the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology 113, 509–515.
| Estimates of the abundance of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci in outbreaking and non-outbreaking populations on reefs within the Great Barrier Reef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morri, C., Montefalcone, M., Lasagna, R., Gatti, G., Rovere, A., Parravicini, V., Baldelli, G., Colantoni, P., and Bianchi, C. N. (2015). Through bleaching and tsunami: coral reef recovery in the Maldives. Marine Pollution Bulletin 98, 188–200.
| Through bleaching and tsunami: coral reef recovery in the Maldives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pearson, R. G. (1981). Recovery and recolonisation of coral reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series 4, 105–122.
| Recovery and recolonisation of coral reefs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Potts, D. C. (1982). Crown-of-thorns starfish - man-induced pest or natural phenomenon? In ‘The Ecology of Pests, Some Australian Case Histories’. (Eds R. L. Kitching and R. E. Jones.) pp. 55–86. (CSIRO: Canberra, ACT, Australia).
Pratchett, M. S. (2005). Dynamics of an outbreak population of Acanthaster planci at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (1995–1999). Coral Reefs 24, 453–462.
| Dynamics of an outbreak population of Acanthaster planci at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (1995–1999).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pratchett, M. S. (2007). Feeding preferences of Acanthaster planci (L.) under controlled conditions of food availability. Pacific Science 61, 113–120.
| Feeding preferences of Acanthaster planci (L.) under controlled conditions of food availability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pratchett, M. S., Trapon, M., Berumen, M. L., and Chong-Seng, K. (2011). Recent disturbances augment community shifts in coral assemblages in Moorea, French Polynesia. Coral Reefs 30, 183–193.
| Recent disturbances augment community shifts in coral assemblages in Moorea, French Polynesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pratchett, M. S., Caballes, C. F., Wilmes, J. C., Matthews, S., Mellin, C., Sweatman, H. P. A., Nadler, L. E., Brodie, J., Thompson, C. A., Hoey, J., Bos, A. R., Byrne, M., Messmer, V., Fortunato, S. A. V., Chen, C. C. M., Buck, A. C. E., Babcock, R. C., and Uthicke, S. (2017). Thirty years of research on crown-of-thorns starfish (1986–2016): scientific advances and emerging opportunities. Diversity 9, 41.
| Thirty years of research on crown-of-thorns starfish (1986–2016): scientific advances and emerging opportunities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Quinn, N. J., and Kojis, B. L. (2003). The dynamics of coral reef community structure and recruitment patterns around Rota, Saipan, and Tinian, Western Pacific. Bulletin of Marine Science 72, 979–996.
Saponari, L., Montano, S., Seveso, D., and Galli, P. (2015). The occurrence of an Acanthaster planci outbreak in Ari Atoll, Maldives. Marine Biodiversity 45, 599–600.
| The occurrence of an Acanthaster planci outbreak in Ari Atoll, Maldives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saponari, L., Montalbetti, E., Galli, P., Strona, G., Seveso, D., Dehnert, I., and Montano, S. (2018). Monitoring and assessing a 2-year outbreak of the corallivorous seastar Acanthaster planci in Ari Atoll, Republic of Maldives. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 190, 344–356.
| Monitoring and assessing a 2-year outbreak of the corallivorous seastar Acanthaster planci in Ari Atoll, Republic of Maldives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomassin, B. A. (1976). Feeding behaviour of the felt-, sponge-, and coral-feeder sea stars, mainly Culcita schmideliana. Helgoland Marine Research 28, 51–65.
Turner, S. J. (1994). Spatial variability in the abundance of the corallivorous gastropod Drupella cornus. Coral Reefs 13, 41–48.
| Spatial variability in the abundance of the corallivorous gastropod Drupella cornus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Uthicke, S., Schaffelke, B., and Byrne, M. (2009). A boom–bust phylum? Ecological and evolutionary consequences of density variations in echinoderms. Ecological Monographs 79, 3–24.
| A boom–bust phylum? Ecological and evolutionary consequences of density variations in echinoderms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yamaguchi, M. (1973). Early life histories of coral reef asteroids, with special reference to Acanthaster planci (L). In ‘Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Vol. II, Biology I’. (Eds O. A. Jones and R. Endean.) pp. 369–387. (Academic Press: New York, NY, USA.)
Yamaguchi, M. (1975). Coral reef asteroids of Guam. Biotropica 7, 12–23.
| Coral reef asteroids of Guam.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zahir, H., Quinn, N., and Cargilia, N. (2009). Assessment of Maldivian coral reefs in 2009 after natural disasters. Marine Research Centre, Ministry of Fisheries Agriculture and Marine Resources, Malé, Republic of Maldives.
