About the Cover

Abstract

Next article FreeAbout the CoverPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreThe cover image features a crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster sp.) feeding on a branching coral in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Crown-of-thorns sea stars are one of the largest and most efficient predators on scleractinian (hard) corals and are capable of killing entire regions of coral reefs. They are notorious for their propensity to periodically undergo population outbreaks, which have contributed to sustained and ongoing declines in live coral cover across the Indo-Pacific. Despite being one of the most ecologically influential and most intensively studied species in the marine environment, key knowledge gaps remain about the biology and ecology of Acanthaster sp.In this issue, a group of crown-of-thorns sea star researchers from all around Australia (Pratchett et al., pp. 330–346) present a list of unresolved questions as a guide for future research efforts to better understand and manage Acanthaster sp. populations. Most of the research questions enumerated by Pratchett et al. are also broadly relevant for the study of sea star species that are keystone predators in other locations and habitats. In their Introduction (pp. 217–218), the editors of the series—Ciemon F. Caballes and Maria Byrne—highlight the importance of these contributions in advancing our knowledge of sea star population dynamics. This special issue brings together contributions examining the demography, life history, feeding ecology, behavior, and physiology of sea stars. This collective body of knowledge on sea stars provides some critical scientific underpinning for the management of irruptive pest species and for the conservation of threatened species.Credits: Photo of crown-of-thorns starfish at Lodestone Reef, central Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Ciemon F. Caballes, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Cover design: Matt Lang, University of Chicago Press. Next article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Biological Bulletin Volume 241, Number 3December 2021Demography, Ecology, and Management of Sea Star Populations Published in association with the Marine Biological Laboratory Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/718908 Views: 809Total views on this site © 2021 The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.