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Biol Lett
2008 Dec 23;46:696-9. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2008.0454.
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A threat to coral reefs multiplied? Four species of crown-of-thorns starfish.
Vogler C
,
Benzie J
,
Lessios H
,
Barber P
,
Wörheide G
.
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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.
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