Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals
Previous studies have suggested that Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS) larvae may be able to survive in the absence of abundant phytoplankton resources suggesting that they may be able to utilize alternative food sources. Here, we tested the hypothesis that COTS larvae are able to feed on coral-derive...
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MDPI AG
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/8/4/18 |
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| author | Ryota Nakajima Nobuyuki Nakatomi Haruko Kurihara Michael D. Fox Jennifer E. Smith Ken Okaji |
| author_facet | Ryota Nakajima Nobuyuki Nakatomi Haruko Kurihara Michael D. Fox Jennifer E. Smith Ken Okaji |
| author_sort | Ryota Nakajima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous studies have suggested that Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS) larvae may be able to survive in the absence of abundant phytoplankton resources suggesting that they may be able to utilize alternative food sources. Here, we tested the hypothesis that COTS larvae are able to feed on coral-derived organic matter using labeled stable isotope tracers (13C and 15N). Our results show that coral-derived organic matter (coral mucus and associated microorganisms) can be assimilated by COTS larvae and may be an important alternative or additional food resource for COTS larvae through periods of low phytoplankton biomass. This additional food resource could potentially facilitate COTS outbreaks by reducing resource limitation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:38:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-014d9ac7c00d4f9583cc43d5d6f21b27 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:38:07Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-014d9ac7c00d4f9583cc43d5d6f21b272022-12-22T04:01:41ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182016-10-01841810.3390/d8040018d8040018Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from CoralsRyota Nakajima0Nobuyuki Nakatomi1Haruko Kurihara2Michael D. Fox3Jennifer E. Smith4Ken Okaji5Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92083-0202, USAFaculty of Science and Engineering, Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-8577, JapanFaculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JapanScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92083-0202, USAScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92083-0202, USACoralquest Inc., Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0014, JapanPrevious studies have suggested that Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS) larvae may be able to survive in the absence of abundant phytoplankton resources suggesting that they may be able to utilize alternative food sources. Here, we tested the hypothesis that COTS larvae are able to feed on coral-derived organic matter using labeled stable isotope tracers (13C and 15N). Our results show that coral-derived organic matter (coral mucus and associated microorganisms) can be assimilated by COTS larvae and may be an important alternative or additional food resource for COTS larvae through periods of low phytoplankton biomass. This additional food resource could potentially facilitate COTS outbreaks by reducing resource limitation.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/8/4/18AcanthasterCOTScoral reefscoral mucusfood limitationisotope analysisJapan |
| spellingShingle | Ryota Nakajima Nobuyuki Nakatomi Haruko Kurihara Michael D. Fox Jennifer E. Smith Ken Okaji Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals Diversity Acanthaster COTS coral reefs coral mucus food limitation isotope analysis Japan |
| title | Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals |
| title_full | Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals |
| title_fullStr | Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals |
| title_short | Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Larvae Can Feed on Organic Matter Released from Corals |
| title_sort | crown of thorns starfish larvae can feed on organic matter released from corals |
| topic | Acanthaster COTS coral reefs coral mucus food limitation isotope analysis Japan |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/8/4/18 |
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