The crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) , a large multiple-armed starfish that prays on hard coral polyps, can be found in and throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Some predators of these species are Giant Triton snail, the stars and stripes pufferfish, titan triggerfish and the humphead maori wrasse.
2.2 What causes COTS outbreaks: The cause of Cots outbreaks are not 100% certain but one of the most widely accepted hypothesis is that the outbreaks of COTS are caused and controlled mostly by the availability of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are a necessary food source for COTS larvae to thrive so when nutrient enrichment from agricultural land runs-off it causes phytoplankton blooms and the immortality rate of COTS larvae …show more content…
But the most used and recommended on the great barrier reef is injecting the starfish with a solution that does not hurt the reef but does kill the starfish like sodium bisulphate.
Source 1: Mitigation of COTS http://theocean.com.au/ Source 2: Info Http://www.reefresilience.org/coral-reefs/stressors/predator-outbreaks/crown-of-thorns-starfish/ Source 3: COTS effects http://www.edgeofexistence.org/edgeblog/?p=6847 Page 6
3.0 Overfishing
3.1 Introduction to over-fishing:
Overfishing happens when a species of fish can't naturally reproduce as fast and as much as people are taking in one go. Research shows that overfishing is beginning to take a rather large toll on certain species of fish which in turn effects whole reefs as it causes significant changes to the make-up of the reef's fish
2.2 What causes COTS outbreaks: The cause of Cots outbreaks are not 100% certain but one of the most widely accepted hypothesis is that the outbreaks of COTS are caused and controlled mostly by the availability of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are a necessary food source for COTS larvae to thrive so when nutrient enrichment from agricultural land runs-off it causes phytoplankton blooms and the immortality rate of COTS larvae …show more content…
But the most used and recommended on the great barrier reef is injecting the starfish with a solution that does not hurt the reef but does kill the starfish like sodium bisulphate.
Source 1: Mitigation of COTS http://theocean.com.au/ Source 2: Info Http://www.reefresilience.org/coral-reefs/stressors/predator-outbreaks/crown-of-thorns-starfish/ Source 3: COTS effects http://www.edgeofexistence.org/edgeblog/?p=6847 Page 6
3.0 Overfishing
3.1 Introduction to over-fishing:
Overfishing happens when a species of fish can't naturally reproduce as fast and as much as people are taking in one go. Research shows that overfishing is beginning to take a rather large toll on certain species of fish which in turn effects whole reefs as it causes significant changes to the make-up of the reef's fish