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Effectiveness of the removal of coral-eating predator Acanthaster planci in Pulau Tioman Marine Park, Malaysia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2016

Solomon T. C. Chak Open the ORCID record for Solomon T. C. Chak [Opens in a new window] ,
Clement P. Dumont ,
Kee-Alfian Abd. Adzis  and
Katie Yewdall
Solomon T. C. Chak*
Affiliation:
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
Clement P. Dumont
Affiliation:
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
Kee-Alfian Abd. Adzis
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science & Technology, Marine Ecosystem Research Center, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
Katie Yewdall
Affiliation:
Blue Ventures Conservation, Aberdeen Centre, 22-24 Highbury Grove, London, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to:S.T.C. Chak, Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, 10th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, MC5557, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027 email: solomonchak@gmail.com
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Abstract

Population outbreaks of the coral-eating predator crown of thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster planci are responsible for large-scale disturbance of coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. In response, attempts are often made to control COTS outbreaks in protected areas. For instance, volunteers remove thousands of sea stars every year in Malaysia. This study reports the status of the COTS population in the Pulau Tioman Marine Park and examines the effectiveness of the seasonal sea star removal programme. After the 2009 removal season, we monitored COTS densities and coral assemblages before and after a 6-month no-removal season at sites with and without COTS removal efforts. We recorded high COTS densities up to 330 ind. ha−1 at a few sites independent of removal effort. In fact, removal only temporarily reduced large individuals from local populations. Moreover, after the no-removal season, sites with COTS removal had increased live coral cover, but sites without COTS removal had a drastic decrease in live coral cover, with Acropora spp. being most affected. Therefore, this study suggests that the current seasonal removals could promote coral health, despite the high density of COTS.

Keywords

coral declineoutbreakdisturbancepredator removalcrown-of-thorns
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 98 , Special Issue 1: Special Section: European Marine Biology Symposium Papers 2016 , February 2018 , pp. 183 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2016 

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