Abstract
The movement capacity of the crown-of-thorns starfishes (Acanthaster spp.) is a primary determinant of both their distribution and impact on coral assemblages. We quantified individual movement rates for the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster solaris) ranging in size from 75–480 mm total diameter, across three different substrates (sand, flat consolidated pavement, and coral rubble) on the northern Great Barrier Reef. The mean (±SE) rate of movement for smaller (<150 mm total diameter) A. solaris was 23.99 ± 1.02 cm/ min and 33.41 ± 1.49 cm/ min for individuals >350 mm total diameter. Mean (±SE) rates of movement varied with substrate type, being much higher on sand (36.53 ± 1.31 cm/ min) compared to consolidated pavement (28.04 ± 1.15 cm/ min) and slowest across coral rubble (17.25 ± 0.63 cm/ min). If average rates of movement measured here can be sustained, in combination with strong directionality, displacement distances of adult A. solaris could range from 250–520 m/ day, depending on the prevailing substrate. Sustained movement of A. solaris is, however, likely to be highly constrained by habitat heterogeneity, energetic constraints, resource availability, and diurnal patterns of activity, thereby limiting their capacity to move between reefs or habitats.
Highlights
The rate at which animals move has a major bearing on their ecology, influencing their exposure to different environments, foraging patterns, and biological interactions [1,2]
Collection of crown-of-thorns starfish was conducted under Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Permit No.G15/37363.1
There were marked differences in the length of tube feet among individuals ranging from a mean of 1.61 ± 0.20SE mm for a starfish that was 28 mm total diameter, up to 25.44 ± 0.55SE mm for a starfish that was 415 mm total diameter
Summary
The rate at which animals move has a major bearing on their ecology, influencing their exposure to different environments, foraging patterns, and biological interactions [1,2]. Short-term maximum rates of movement influence prey capture and/or predator avoidance, whereas sustained rates of movement affect the animal’s capacity to move between different environments and/or habitat patches [1]. This locomotor capacity influences the fate of individuals, the structure of populations, and the evolution of species [2]. The locomotor capacity of crown-of-thorns starfishes, both in terms of direction and velocity, will, influence the patterns and spatial extent of their impacts [6,11] The capacity of these starfishes to move within and among reef habitats is fundamental in addressing long-standing controversies surrounding the initiation and spread of population outbreaks. Understanding the spatial and temporal scales at which adult starfishes move in the landscape will inform the spatial and temporal scales required to design effective and efficient control programs [12]
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