Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae
Outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns seastar (CoTS) represent a major cause of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef. Outbreaks can be explained by enhanced larval survival supported by higher phytoplankton availability after flood events, yet little is known about CoTS larvae feeding behaviour, in parti...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/9/1/8 |
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| author | Camille Mellin Claire Lugrin Ken Okaji David S. Francis Sven Uthicke |
| author_facet | Camille Mellin Claire Lugrin Ken Okaji David S. Francis Sven Uthicke |
| author_sort | Camille Mellin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns seastar (CoTS) represent a major cause of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef. Outbreaks can be explained by enhanced larval survival supported by higher phytoplankton availability after flood events, yet little is known about CoTS larvae feeding behaviour, in particular their potential for selective feeding. Here, single- and mixed-species feeding experiment were conducted on CoTS larvae using five algae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Pavlova lutheri, Tisochrysis lutea, Dunaliella sp. and Chaetoceros sp.) and two algal concentrations (1000 and 2500 algae·mL−1). Cell counts using flow-cytometry at the beginning and end of each incubation experiment allowed us to calculate the filtration and ingestion rates of each species by CoTS larvae. In line with previous studies, CoTS larvae ingested more algae when the initial algal concentration was higher. We found evidence for the selective ingestion of some species (Chaetoceros sp., Dunaliella sp.) over others (P. lutheri, P. tricornutum). The preferred algal species had the highest energy content, suggesting that CoTS selectively ingested the most energetic algae. Ultimately, combining these results with spatio-temporal patterns in phytoplankton communities will help elucidate the role of larval feeding behaviour in determining the frequency and magnitude of CoTS outbreaks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:10:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47b280265c224f0b8b2c59436b0ff555 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:10:40Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-47b280265c224f0b8b2c59436b0ff5552022-12-22T04:24:37ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182017-02-0191810.3390/d9010008d9010008Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) LarvaeCamille Mellin0Claire Lugrin1Ken Okaji2David S. Francis3Sven Uthicke4Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, AustraliaCoralquest Inc., 1-34-10 Asahicho, Atsugi 2430014, JapanAustralian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3, Townsville, QLD 4810, AustraliaOutbreaks of the crown-of-thorns seastar (CoTS) represent a major cause of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef. Outbreaks can be explained by enhanced larval survival supported by higher phytoplankton availability after flood events, yet little is known about CoTS larvae feeding behaviour, in particular their potential for selective feeding. Here, single- and mixed-species feeding experiment were conducted on CoTS larvae using five algae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Pavlova lutheri, Tisochrysis lutea, Dunaliella sp. and Chaetoceros sp.) and two algal concentrations (1000 and 2500 algae·mL−1). Cell counts using flow-cytometry at the beginning and end of each incubation experiment allowed us to calculate the filtration and ingestion rates of each species by CoTS larvae. In line with previous studies, CoTS larvae ingested more algae when the initial algal concentration was higher. We found evidence for the selective ingestion of some species (Chaetoceros sp., Dunaliella sp.) over others (P. lutheri, P. tricornutum). The preferred algal species had the highest energy content, suggesting that CoTS selectively ingested the most energetic algae. Ultimately, combining these results with spatio-temporal patterns in phytoplankton communities will help elucidate the role of larval feeding behaviour in determining the frequency and magnitude of CoTS outbreaks.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/9/1/8electivityfeeding behaviourfiltration rateGreat Barrier Reefphytoplankton |
| spellingShingle | Camille Mellin Claire Lugrin Ken Okaji David S. Francis Sven Uthicke Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae Diversity electivity feeding behaviour filtration rate Great Barrier Reef phytoplankton |
| title | Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae |
| title_full | Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae |
| title_fullStr | Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae |
| title_short | Selective Feeding and Microalgal Consumption Rates by Crown-Of-Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) Larvae |
| title_sort | selective feeding and microalgal consumption rates by crown of thorns seastar acanthaster cf solaris larvae |
| topic | electivity feeding behaviour filtration rate Great Barrier Reef phytoplankton |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/9/1/8 |
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