Pratchett MS et al. (2017), Body size and substrate type modulate movement ...

ECB-ART-45737

PLoS One 2017 Sep 05;129:e0180805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180805.

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Body size and substrate type modulate movement by the western Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster solaris.

Pratchett MS , Cowan ZL , Nadler LE , Caballes CF , Hoey AS , Messmer V , Fletcher CS , Westcott DA , Ling SD .

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The movement capacity of the crown-of-thorns starfishes (Acanthaster spp.) is a primary determinant of both their distribution and impact on coral assemblages. We quantified individual movement rates for the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster solaris) ranging in size from 75-480 mm total diameter, across three different substrates (sand, flat consolidated pavement, and coral rubble) on the northern Great Barrier Reef. The mean (±SE) rate of movement for smaller (<150 mm total diameter) A. solaris was 23.99 ± 1.02 cm/ min and 33.41 ± 1.49 cm/ min for individuals >350 mm total diameter. Mean (±SE) rates of movement varied with substrate type, being much higher on sand (36.53 ± 1.31 cm/ min) compared to consolidated pavement (28.04 ± 1.15 cm/ min) and slowest across coral rubble (17.25 ± 0.63 cm/ min). If average rates of movement measured here can be sustained, in combination with strong directionality, displacement distances of adult A. solaris could range from 250-520 m/ day, depending on the prevailing substrate. Sustained movement of A. solaris is, however, likely to be highly constrained by habitat heterogeneity, energetic constraints, resource availability, and diurnal patterns of activity, thereby limiting their capacity to move between reefs or habitats.

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Genes referenced: impact LOC100893907

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References [+] :

Beer, Active control of the visual field in the starfish Acanthaster planci. 2016, Pubmed, Echinobase

	Fig 1. Oral (lower) surface of the arm of a crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster solaris) showing variation in the size (length and diameter) of tube feet along the length of the arm.Photo by C.F. Caballes.
	Fig 2. Relationships for (a) average size of tube feet (mm), and (b) average number of tube feet per arm, with the total diameter of crown-of-thorns starfish (n = 42). Solid lines indicate the line of best fit and dashed lines indicate 95% confidence intervals.
	Fig 3. Relationships for a) mean velocity and b) maximum velocity with the total diameter of crown-of-thorns starfish (n = 42). Movement rates were quantified for three different substrate-types: paver (black circles), rubble (grey circles) and sand (white circles). Lines indicate the line of best fit for each different substrate type (paver: black line, rubble: grey line, sand: dashed line).