Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Starfish Strike at Coral Kingdom

Starfish Strike at Coral Kingdom

January 16, 2008

Outbreaks of the notorious crown of thorns starfish now threaten the "coral triangle" - the richest center of coral reef biodiversity on Earth.

That's the finding of recent scientific surveys by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and the Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo, USA.




The starfish - a predator that feeds on corals by spreading its stomach over them using digestive enzymes to liquefy tissue - was discovered in large numbers by the researchers on reefs in Halmahera, Indonesia, at the heart of the Coral Triangle, which lies between Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Palau and the Solomon Islands.

The Coral Triangle is considered the genetic fountainhead for many corals found on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo and other reefs in the region.

The surveys confirmed that while Halmahera's reefs are still 30-50 percent richer than nearby reefs, some areas were almost completely destroyed.

"The heart of the Coral Triangle is broken," says Tasrif Katawijaya from the Wildlife Conservation Society's' Marine Program in Indonesia (WCS-IP).

Scientists fear the outbreak is caused by poor water quality, and could be an early warning of widespread reef decline.

"The main cause of damage to the corals was the Crown of Thorns Starfish," Dr. Andrew Baird of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University. "We witnessed a number of active outbreaks of this coral predator. There was little to suggest that the reefs have been much affected by climate change as yet: the threats appear far more localized."

The team also saw first-hand evidence of recent blast-fishing which, according to locals, accompanied the break down of law and order following communal violence in Halmahera between 2000-2003. At the same time many reef lagoons have been mined of their corals for use in construction.

"This is clearly a complex human environment, and effective management of the marine resources must seek to understand and address the causes of conflict among communities," says Dr Stuart Campbell, Program Leader for the WCS-IP.

The researchers pointed out that there were still healthy populations of certain species - and still time to reverse the damage.

"The good news is that the reef fish assemblages are still in very good shape" said Tasrif Katawijaya from WCS-IP. "We saw napoleon wrasse and bump head parrot fish at almost every site. So these reefs have the capacity to recover if we can address the current threats."

The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) announced by six regional governments at the Bali Climate Change Conference recently offers hope for the reefs in the region, the researchers say. However, there are few details of how it will work and in particular, there is, as yet, no mention of the fundamental role of research in the conservation programme.

"We are disappointed that a comprehensive research programme is yet to be outlined in the CTI. The success of large marine parks, like the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is due to the primary role of science in understanding what's going on, so managers can make good decisions," said Baird.

"It isn't enough just to document the diversity of the region. Large scale research is required to understand the Coral Triangle ecosystems and to decide how best to respond to threats such as poor water quality and overexploitation," Campbell added.

James Cook University



Related Coral Reef Current Events and Coral Reef News Articles Coral Reef Current Events and Coral Reef News RSS Coral Reef Current Events and Coral Reef News RSS
Coral reefs inspire rare consensus -- just save them
One of the first set of studies to examine what tourists and recreation enthusiasts actually think about coral reef ecosystems suggests they are a rare exception to controversies over human use versus environmental conservation - their stunning beauty is so extraordinary that almost everyone wants them protected in perpetuity.

What are coral reef services worth? $130,000 to $1.2 million per hectare, per year: experts
Experts concluding the global DIVERSITAS biodiversity conference today in Cape Town described preliminary research revealing jaw-dropping dollar values of the "ecosystem services" of biomes like forests and coral reefs - including food, pollution treatment and climate regulation.

Coral bleaching increases chances of coral disease
Mass coral bleaching has devastated coral colonies around the world for almost three decades. Now scientists have found that bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease and, in turn, coral disease can exacerbate the negative effects of bleaching.

Man-made crises 'outrunning our ability to deal with them,' scientists warn
The world faces a compounding series of crises driven by human activity, which existing governments and institutions are increasingly powerless to cope with, a group of eminent environmental scientists and economists has warned.

Time to tap climate-change-combating potential of the world's ecosystems
Investing in restoration and maintenance of the Earth's multi-trillion dollar ecosystems - from forests and mangroves to wetlands and river basins - can have a key role in countering climate change and climate-proofing vulnerable economies.

NOAA report finds flower garden banks sanctuary reefs among healthiest in Gulf
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is among the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the tropical Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to a new NOAA report.

Humans
Mounting evidence that human activity is changing the world's oceans in profound and damaging ways is outlined in a new scientific discussion paper released today.

Overfishing and evolution
Using snorkelers and SCUBA divers is not the best way to monitor fish populations, if we want to know the evolutionary effects of overfishing.

Corals face 'a stormy future'
As global warming whips up more powerful and frequent hurricanes and storms, the world's coral reefs face increased disruption to their ability to breed and recover from damage.

Help for climate-stressed corals
Banning or restricting the use of certain types of fishing gear could help the world's coral reefs and their fish populations survive the onslaughts of climate change according to a study by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other groups.
More Coral Reef Current Events and Coral Reef News Articles
Coral Reefs (World Life Library)

Coral Reefs (World Life Library)
by Charles Sheppard (Author)

"Coral Reefs" is a must-have for nature enthusiasts, environmentalists and ocean lovers. This book is an excellent general introduction to coral reefs and is full of fascinating facts and fabulous four-color photographs. It presents scientific insights and information in a way that is not only readable but highly enjoyable to a popular audience.

This book explores the major regions where coral reefs live, which include the Bahamas Bank in the greater Caribbean region, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Great Barrier Reef, the largest reef structure in the world. Readers will become familiar with the interlocking web of life that the reefs support, as well as how the reefs form and grow.

About one third of the world's reefs have been killed or nearly so by abuse and...

Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium Insert for Saltwater Fish, Marine Fish Only with Live Rock Aquarium, Coral Reef Tank, Freshwater Aquarium. Gorgeous Corals, Non-Toxic, Easy to Clean. Reef Aquarium at Saltwater Fish Only Tank costs. INSTANT REEF R035

Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium Insert for Saltwater Fish, Marine Fish Only with Live Rock Aquarium, Coral Reef Tank, Freshwater Aquarium. Gorgeous Corals, Non-Toxic, Easy to Clean. Reef Aquarium at Saltwater Fish Only Tank costs. INSTANT REEF R035
by Instant Reef by Archer USA

Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium Inserts for Saltwater Fish Aquarium, Marine Fish Only with Live Rock Setup (FOWLR), Coral Reef Aquarium or Tropical Freshwater Fish Tank. Realistic Looking Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium. All Saltwater Fish / Marine Fish are Reef Safe to Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium Inserts. Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Lionfish,Tang / Surgeon Fish, Trigger Fish, Wrasses, Foxface / Rabbitfish, Even Shark! FOWLR (Fish Only with Live Rock) is Perfect for people who like a beautiful saltwater fish tank without worrying about delicate corals in a coral reef aquarium setup. Live rock can be placed behind artificial coral reef aquarium inserts or in sump / refugium for biological filtration. Artificial coral reef inserts also have Porous / Rough surfaces for beneficial bacteria to...

Reef Coral Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Reef Set, Vol. 3)

Reef Coral Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Reef Set, Vol. 3)
by Paul Humann (Author), Ned DeLoach (Author)

530 classic photographs of living specimens and the most current scientific classifications help identify virtually every species of stony coral, gorgonian, fire coral and black coral in the tropical western Atlantic.

Coral Reef Adventure (IMAX) [Blu-ray]

Coral Reef Adventure (IMAX) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Liam Neeson, Howard Hall, Michele Hall, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Rusi Vulakoro
Directed By: Greg MacGillivray

Take a once-in-a-lifetime journey across the South Pacific for a spectacular IMAX adventure. Joy, ecstasy, a spiritual high: these words describe the exhilaration of diving a pristine coral reef, and ocean explorers Howard and Michele Hall bring their love of the ocean into action. With Jean-Michael Cousteau, deep reef scientist Richard Pyle and Fijian diver Rusi Vulakoro, they explore and capture on film the dazzling underwater world of coral reefs, magical places here on Earth. This tropical excursion through the South Pacific will surprise and delight you as you fall in love with the reefs, and your heart will ache at the tragic, irretrievable loss of these fragile worlds.

Coral Reef (DK 24 HOURS)

Coral Reef (DK 24 HOURS)
by DK Publishing (Author)

Following the cycle of life from the animals' point of view, this new series approaches the natural world in a completely unique way. Written in a conversational style that will draw in readers of all ages, DK 24 Hours let you get up close and personal with the natural world.

Aquavista 500 Wall Mounted Aquarium with Coral Reef Background, Black Frame

Aquavista 500 Wall Mounted Aquarium with Coral Reef Background, Black Frame
by Aquavista

Aquavista 500 is a wall mounted aquarium that hangs like a painting. Extremely low maintenance and easy to set up, the 6.6 gallon Aquavista 500 only requires 10 minutes of maintenance per month. The unit can be further customized with different picture frames and customizable backgrounds that are all interchangeable. The AV500 comes pre-assembled with advanced filtration, heater, air pump, lighting, and an embedded control panel that allows you to program the temperature and light. As seen in HGTV, USA Today, and the New York Times.

Coral Reef

Coral Reef
by Donald Silver (Author), Patricia Wynne (Author)

Hardy adventurers ages 6 - 9 dive into a silent watery world where tiny coral animals grow together to form rock gardens of white, pink, and red-orange. In this action-packed undersea circus, jaws snap, tentacles sting, ink gets squirted, and fish suddenly glow while animals that look like plants sway gently and bashful clams hide the lively secrets inside their shells. Surprisingly dry and armed with a few pieces of equipment and their boundless imaginations, children explore this magical realm one small square at a time. "Science education at its best." -- Science Books and Films

World Atlas of Coral Reefs

World Atlas of Coral Reefs
by Mark D. Spalding (Author), Edmund P. Green (Author), Corinna Ravilious (Author)

Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world, host to an extraordinary variety of marine plants and animals. They are also one of the world's most fragile and endangered ecosystems. The growth of mass tourism, combined with the boom in popularity of scuba diving, has brought these spectacular ecosystems to public attention across the planet. Coral reefs provide essential fish habitat, support endangered and threatened species, and harbor protected marine mammals and turtles. They are a significant source of food, provide income and employment through tourism and marine recreation, and offer countless other benefits to humans, including supplying compounds for pharmaceuticals. Yet coral reefs around the world are rapidly being degraded by a...

Pack of 2 Vibrant Red Coral Reef Table Accent Lamps

Pack of 2 Vibrant Red Coral Reef Table Accent Lamps
by CC Home Furnishings


Table Accent Lamps
Item #12363
Each lamp features a vibrant red coral design & white linen rectangle shade
Each uses (1) 100w bulb (not included)
Black lead cord, 3-way switch
UL approved
Material(s): Polyresin
Dimensions: 30.5"H
Shade Dimensions: 12.75"L x 13.5"W x 10"H

Pack includes 2 of the lamp shown

The Reef Set: Reef Fish, Reef Creature and Reef Coral (3 Volumes)

The Reef Set: Reef Fish, Reef Creature and Reef Coral (3 Volumes)
by Paul Humann (Author), Ned DeLoach (Author)

Reef Fish3rd Edition, Reef Creature 2nd Edition and Reef Coral 2nd Edition Identification books packaged in a beautifully printed Shelf Case.

© 2009 BrightSurf.com