Environmental triggers for primary outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Issue 2 (30th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wooldridge, Scott A.; Brodie, Jon E.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 101:Issue 2(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 805
• Page End: 815
• Publication Date: 2015-12-30
• Subjects: Graph theory -- Connectivity -- Water quality -- Acanthaster planci -- Cluster coefficient; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we postulate a unique environmental triggering sequence for primary outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster planci ) on the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR, Australia). Notably, we extend the previous terrestrial runoff hypothesis, viz. nutrient-enriched terrestrial runoff → elevated phytoplankton 'bloom' concentrations → enhanced COTS larval survival, to include the additional importance of strong larvae retention around reefs or within reef groups (clusters) that share enhanced phytoplankton concentrations. For the central GBR, this scenario is shown to occur when El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) linked hydrodynamic conditions cause the 'regional' larval connectivity network to fragment into smaller 'local' reef clusters due to low ocean current velocities. As inter-annual variations in hydrodynamic circulation patterns are not amenable to direct management intervention, the ability to reduce the future frequency of COTS outbreaks on the central GBR is shown to be contingent on reducing terrestrial bioavailable nutrient loads ~ 20–40%. Highlights: A proposed extension to the terrestrial runoff hypothesis for primary COTS outbreaks Additional importance of strong larvae retention around reefs or within reef clusters Reducing COTS outbreaks on the central GBR requires terrestrial bioavailable nutrient load reductions ~ 20–40%.