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Sci Rep
2020 May 18;101:8184. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65136-4.
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DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents.
Kroon FJ
,
Lefèvre CD
,
Doyle JR
,
Patel F
,
Milton G
,
Severati A
,
Kenway M
,
Johansson CL
,
Schnebert S
,
Thomas-Hall P
,
Bonin MC
,
Cameron DS
,
Westcott DA
.
Abstract
The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) has been linked with the widespread loss of scleractinian coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs during periodic population outbreaks. Here, we re-examine CoTS consumption by coral reef fish species by using new DNA technologies to detect Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in fish faecal and gut content samples. CoTS DNA was detected in samples from 18 different coral reef fish species collected on reefs at various stages of CoTS outbreaks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, nine of which had not been previously reported to feed on CoTS. A comprehensive set of negative and positive control samples confirmed that our collection, processing and analysis procedures were robust, although food web transfer of CoTS DNA cannot be ruled out for some fish species. Our results, combined with the (i) presence of CoTS spines in some samples, (ii) reported predation on CoTS gametes, larvae and settled individuals, and (iii) known diet information for fish species examined, strongly indicate that direct fish predation on CoTS may well be more common than is currently appreciated. We provide recommendations for specific management approaches to enhance predation on CoTS by coral reef fishes, and to support the mitigation of CoTS outbreaks and reverse declines in hard coral cover.
Figure 1. Sampling locations. Locations of coral reef fish collections at eight midshelf reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia, conducted from the RV Cape Ferguson in 2018 and 2019. The status of CoTS population outbreaks varied from no outbreak to severe across the eight reefs at the time of fish collection (Table 2). Insert shows location of study area in Australia. The spatial layers to create the map were obtained from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (CC BY) (http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-us/resources-and-publications/spatial-data-information-services).
Figure 2. Detection of CoTS DNA in fish faecal and gut content samples. Examples for positive and negative digital droplet PCR results for four different coral reef fish, namely Banded Humbug (Dascyllus aruanus; positive), Blackvent Damsel (Dischistodus melanotus; negative), Spangled Emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus; positive), and Common Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus; positive). Sample collection number for each individual fish are given. Examples of digital droplet PCR results for positive (one to two 8-day old Acanthaster cf. solaris larvae) and negative (blanks) controls are also provided.
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