Effectiveness of the removal of coral-eating predator Acanthaster planci in Pulau Tioman Marine Park, Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon T. C. Chak ◽  
Clement P. Dumont ◽  
Kee-Alfian Abd. Adzis ◽  
Katie Yewdall
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
Sea Stars ◽  
No Removal ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Large Scale Disturbance

Population outbreaks of the coral-eating predator crown of thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster planci are responsible for large-scale disturbance of coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. In response, attempts are often made to control COTS outbreaks in protected areas. For instance, volunteers remove thousands of sea stars every year in Malaysia. This study reports the status of the COTS population in the Pulau Tioman Marine Park and examines the effectiveness of the seasonal sea star removal programme. After the 2009 removal season, we monitored COTS densities and coral assemblages before and after a 6-month no-removal season at sites with and without COTS removal efforts. We recorded high COTS densities up to 330 ind. ha−1 at a few sites independent of removal effort. In fact, removal only temporarily reduced large individuals from local populations. Moreover, after the no-removal season, sites with COTS removal had increased live coral cover, but sites without COTS removal had a drastic decrease in live coral cover, with Acropora spp. being most affected. Therefore, this study suggests that the current seasonal removals could promote coral health, despite the high density of COTS.

Acanthaster planci impact on coral communities at permanent transect sites on Bruneian reefs, with a regional overview and a critique on outbreak causes

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J.W. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Coral Cover ◽  
Food Limitation ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
The Past ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
High Precipitation

The submerged coral reefs of Brunei, little-impacted by human activity and characterized by high live coral cover, have no recorded history in recent decades of the presence of the crown-of-thorns (COT), Acanthaster planci. This sea star, first recorded on Brunei reefs in 2008, attained outbreak densities in 2010. At Littledale Shoal its impact on corals at permanent transect sites has been quantified; mean live coral cover reduced by half from 2006 to 2010 due predominantly to predation. Line intersect transect data confirm a predisposition for tabular Acropora species, a prominent feature at this site, although other scleractinian taxa were also predated. Other regional outbreaks are reviewed, including episodes, and their timing, within the neighbouring Coral Triangle (CT). Mounting evidence implicates nutrient-enhanced increases in primary production as a primary cause of COT outbreaks. However, this stands in contrast with a report of global oceanic phytoplankton decline in the past century, and there is little evidence of such a link in the CT, even though this region is characterized by high precipitation, erosional plumes and seasonal upwelling-associated phytoplankton blooms. Furthermore, until survivorship and competency for a wider spectrum of mass-spawned invertebrate planktotrophs in relation to elevated phytoplankton densities is better understood, such evidence, suggesting release from food limitation as the principal cause of enhanced COT recruitment, should be interpreted with caution.

scholarly journals Large-scale mapping of live corals to guide reef conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (52) ◽  
pp. 33711-33718
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Asner ◽  
Nicholas R. Vaughn ◽  
Joseph Heckler ◽  
David E. Knapp ◽  
Christopher Balzotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Depth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coastal Protection ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
The Face

Coral is the life-form that underpins the habitat of most tropical reef ecosystems, thereby supporting biological diversity throughout the marine realm. Coral reefs are undergoing rapid change from ocean warming and nearshore human activities, compromising a myriad of services provided to societies including coastal protection, fishing, and cultural practices. In the face of these challenges, large-scale operational mapping of live coral cover within and across reef ecosystems could provide more opportunities to address reef protection, resilience, and restoration at broad management- and policy-relevant scales. We developed an airborne mapping approach combining laser-guided imaging spectroscopy and deep learning models to quantify, at a large archipelago scale, the geographic distribution of live corals to 16-m water depth throughout the main Hawaiian islands. Airborne estimates of live coral cover were highly correlated with field-based estimates of live coral cover (R2 = 0.94). Our maps were used to assess the relative condition of reefs based on live coral, and to identify potential coral refugia in the face of human-driven stressors, including marine heat waves. Geospatial modeling revealed that water depth, wave power, and nearshore development accounted for the majority (>60%) of live coral cover variation, but other human-driven factors were also important. Mapped interisland and intraisland variation in live coral location improves our understanding of reef geography and its human impacts, thereby guiding environmental management for reef resiliency.

scholarly journals KELIMPAHAN Acanthaster planci DAN TUTUPAN KARANG HIDUP DI PERAIRAN PULAU SAPARUA, PROVINSI MALUKU

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Fismatman Ruli ◽  
Robert Alik ◽  
Dominggus Polnaya ◽  
Nurjirana Nurjirana ◽  
Sufardin Sufardin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Cover ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Growth Forms ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Observation Area ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Belt Transect ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Line Intercept

Achantaster planci atau Crown-of-thorns starfish merupakan hewan pemangsa karang yang secara langsung dapat menyebabkan degradasi pada ekosistem terumbu karang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kelimpahan dari A. planci dan kondisi karang di Pulau Saparua. Jumlah lokasi pengamatan sebanyak lima stasiun. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada November 2018 di Pulau Saparua, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah, Provinsi Maluku. Pengamatan tutupan karang hidup dan kelimpahan Achantaster planci dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode Line Intercept Transect (LIT), pengamatan Acanthaster planci menggunakan metode sabuk (Belt Transect) yang mengikuti garis LIT dengan panjang 70 meter dan lebar 2 meter sehingga luasan area pengamatan sebesar 140 m2. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kondisi tutupan karang hidup tergolong kedalam kriteria sedang hingga sangat baik (26,5%-89,54%) dan terdapat sepuluh bentuk pertumbuhan yang ditemukan pada lokasi ini. Indeks mortalitas karang tertinggi pada Stasiun (Stn) 2, daerah dimana tidak ditemukan A. planci. Keberadaan A. planci hanya ditemukan pada Stn 1, Stn 4 dan Stn 5, dengan kelimpahan A. planci tertinggi ditemukan pada Stn 1 sebanyak 0,036 ind/m2. Bentuk pertumbuhan karang Acropora mendominasi hampir pada seluruh stasiun dan A. planci ditemukan pada stasiun yang memiliki tutupan karang hidup yang didominasi oleh bentuk pertumbuhan Acropora branching dan coral branching. Korelasi baik tutupan karang dan kelimpahan A. planci maupun karang mati dan A. planci tergolong cukup dan tidak signifikan. Achantaster planci or Crown-of-thorns starfish are coral predators that can directly cause degradation of coral reef ecosystems. This study aims to determine the abundance of A. planci, live coral cover on Saparua Island. The number of observation stations was five locations. This research was conducted in November 2018 on Saparua Island, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. Observations of live coral cover and Achantaster planci abundance were carried out using the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method, Acanthaster planci observations using the Belt Transect method which followed the LIT with a length of 70 meters and a width of 2 meters so that the area of   the observation area was 140 m2. The results showed the condition of live coral cover was classified as moderate to very good criteria (26.5% -89.54%) and there were ten of coral lifeforms found at this location. The highest coral mortality index was determined in St 2 areas where A. planci was not found. The presence of A. planci was only found in St 1, St 4 and St 5, where the highest abundance of A. planci was found in St 1 by 0.036 ind / m2. Acropora coral growth forms dominate almost all stations and A. planci is found in stations that have live coral cover dominated by Acropora branching and coral branching growth forms. Correlation of both coral cover and abundance of A. planci and dead coral and A. planci is classified as sufficient and not significant.

Coral reef condition in several dive points around Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi

2014 ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Robert Towoliu
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Core Zone ◽  
Integrated Management System ◽  
North Sulawesi ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Condition

In order to know the coral reef conditions at several diving points around Bunaken Island, three dive locations (Ron’s point, Lekuan, and Tawara) were chosen as representative locations receiving pressures from snorkeling and SCUBA diving activities, while  core zone was representative of location for  no diving and fishing activities.  Results showed that location with diving activities had live coral cover  ranging from 16.89% to 45.78% at 3 and 10m depths, with condition range of bad to moderate, while the location for no diving and fishing activities (core zone) had live coral cover of 55.03% at 3m and 58.15% at 10m, respectively,  with good condition category.  The present study indicated that the diving activities have affected the coral reef condition, so that a sustainable integrated management system is needed to use the marine ecotourism potency without degrading the coral reef condition in Bunaken Island. Untuk mengetahui kondisi terumbu karang di beberapa lokasi penyelaman di Pulau Bunaken, tiga lokasi penyelaman(Ron’s point, Lekuan, dan Tawara) dipilih mewakili lokasi dengan tekanan aktivitas penyelaman snorkeling maupun SCUBA, sedangkan satu lokasi lainnya yaitu zona inti dipilih mewakili lokasi tanpa aktivitas penyelaman maupun aktivitas penangkapan ikan.  Hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa lokasi dengan tekanan aktivitas penyelaman memiliki prosentase tutupan karang batu/hidup berkisar antara 16,89% - 45,78% pada kedalaman 3 dan 10m, dengan kategori kondisi terumbu karang buruk sampai cukup, sedangkan pada lokasi yang tidak memiliki aktivitas penyelaman memiliki prosentase tutupan karang batu/hidup sebesar 53,03% pada 3m dan 58,15% pada 10m dengan kategori kondisi terumbu karang adalah baik.  Hasil penelitian ini mengindikasikan bahwa aktivitas penyelaman snorkeling maupun SCUBA berdampak pada kondisi terumbu karang di Pulau Bunaken, sehingga sangat diperlukan system pengelolaan yang terpadu dan berkesinambungan dalam memanfaatkan secara maksimal potensi ekowisata bahari tanpa merusak ekosistem terumbu karang di Pulau Bunaken.

scholarly journals Status of Coral Reefs in the Water of Spermonde, Makassar, South Sulawesi

2021 ◽  
Vol 324 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Ni Wayan Purnama Sari ◽  
Rikoh Manogar Siringoringo ◽  
Muhammad Abrar ◽  
Risandi Dwirama Putra ◽  
Raden Sutiadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Index Value

Observations of the condition of coral reefs have been carried out in Spermonde waters from 2015 to 2018. The method used in this observation uses Underwater Photo Transect (UPT), and the data obtained is analyzed using CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions) software. The results show that the percentage of coral cover has increased from year to year. The percentage of live coral cover in 2015 was 19.64%, 23.60 in 2016, 23.72% in 2017, and 27.83% in 2018. The increase in live coral cover from year to year is thought to occur due to the availability of nutrients. or increasing public awareness, considering this location is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Makassar. Coral reef health index values can be used to classify coral reef health. Through the analysis of the coral reef health index, an index value of 4 was obtained, which means that the condition of the coral reefs is in the “moderate” category.

Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak at Taiping Island (Itu Aba), Spratlys, South China Sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Khang Heng ◽  
Ming-Jay Ho ◽  
Chao-Yang Kuo ◽  
Ya-Yi Huang ◽  
Chia-Ying Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
South China ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Sea Stars ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Regional Collaboration ◽  
First Time

Outbreak of crown-of-thorns sea stars, Acanthaster cf. solaris, were documented in coral reefs around Taiping Island, Spratlys for the first time. The outbreak might be thereason for the significant decline in live coral cover in 2021. Comprehensive monitoring through regional collaboration is needed.

scholarly journals Keanekaragaman dan Biomassa Ikan Karang serta Keterkaitannya dengan Tutupan Karang Hidup di Perairan Manggis, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
I Made Raditya Putra ◽  
I Gusti Ngurah Putra Dirgayusa ◽  
Elok Faiqoh
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Living Coral ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Live Coral Cover

The existence of coral reef fish is closely related to the availability of coral reef resource as a habitat. Coral reef fish is a biota that has a fascination with a variety of color patterns and fascinating. Differences in coral cover conditions will affect the abundance of coral reef fish, especially those with strong linkages to living corals. This research was conducted in June - August 2017 by using line intercept transect (LIT) method for coral cover percentage and visual census method for biodiversity and biomass of coral reef fish with 3 research stations in Manggis waters, Karangasem. From the research results, it shows that the diversity index ranged between 2.54 - 2.70 which means the diversity of coral reef fish in the medium category and the stability of the community is in the medium. Furthermore, total biomass of coral reef fish ranged between 186,17 - 1692,08 kg / ha. The results stated that the percentage of live coral cover in Manggis waters ranged from 3.83% to 12.44% which means that live coral cover is categorized as bad. A very strong positive correlation between living coral conditions and coral reef fish biomass was 92.42%. Meanwhile, the relationship between living coral conditions and the diversity of coral reef fish had a strong positive correlation of 65.4%. The diversity of coral reef fish in waters is not only caused by live coral cover; however, it is caused by coral reef ecosystems that are associated in the bottom of the waters.

scholarly journals Competitors as accomplices: seaweed competitors hide corals from predatory sea stars

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1814) ◽  
pp. 20150714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cody S. Clements ◽  
Mark E. Hay
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Sea Stars ◽  
Macroalgal Blooms ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
High Preference ◽  
And Function

Indirect biotic effects arising from multispecies interactions can alter the structure and function of ecological communities—often in surprising ways that can vary in direction and magnitude. On Pacific coral reefs, predation by the crown-of-thorns sea star, Acanthaster planci , is associated with broad-scale losses of coral cover and increases of macroalgal cover. Macroalgal blooms increase coral–macroalgal competition and can generate further coral decline. However, using a combination of manipulative field experiments and observations, we demonstrate that macroalgae, such as Sargassum polycystum , produce associational refuges for corals and dramatically reduce their consumption by Acanthaster . Thus, as Acanthaster densities increase, macroalgae can become coral mutualists, despite being competitors that significantly suppress coral growth. Field feeding experiments revealed that the protective effects of macroalgae were strong enough to cause Acanthaster to consume low-preference corals instead of high-preference corals surrounded by macroalgae. This highlights the context-dependent nature of coral–algal interactions when consumers are common. Macroalgal creation of associational refuges from Acanthaster predation may have important implications for the structure, function and resilience of reef communities subject to an increasing number of biotic disturbances.

scholarly journals Live Coral Cover Index Testing and Application with Hyperspectral Airborne Image Data

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 6116-6137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Joyce ◽  
Stuart Phinn ◽  
Chris Roelfsema
Keyword(s):  
Coral Cover ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Live Coral Cover
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