ECB-ART-40852
Biol Lett
2008 Dec 23;46:696-9. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2008.0454.
Show Gene links
Show Anatomy links
A threat to coral reefs multiplied? Four species of crown-of-thorns starfish.
???displayArticle.abstract???
In the face of ever-increasing threats to coral reef ecosystems, it is essential to understand the impact of natural predators in order to devise appropriate management strategies. Destructive population explosions of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci have devastated coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific for decades. But despite extensive research, the causes of outbreaks are still unclear. An important consideration in this research is that A. planci has been regarded as a single taxonomic entity. Using molecular data from its entire distribution, we find that A. planci is in fact a species complex. This discovery has important consequences for future coral reef research, and might prove critical for successful reef conservation management.
???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 18832058
???displayArticle.pmcLink??? PMC2614177
???displayArticle.link??? Biol Lett
Genes referenced: impact
References [+] :
Bellwood,
Confronting the coral reef crisis.
2004, Pubmed