Publications by authors named "Hayden R Millican"
Feeding biology of crown-of-thorns seastars across sites differing in Acropora availability.
Mar Environ Res
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- Crown-of-thorns seastars (COTS) are significant threats to coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, primarily due to their predation on fast-growing corals like Acropora, affecting coral community diversity.
- A study comparing two sites on One Tree Island reef found that COTS fed significantly more in areas with higher Acropora availability, indicating that coral type influences their feeding behavior and movement.
- Results showed that lower Acropora levels may correlate with reduced COTS feeding rates, suggesting that reefs where Acropora isn't dominant might be less vulnerable to COTS outbreaks.
Crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster spp.) feeding ecology across species and regions.
Sci Total Environ
June 2024
The coral predators, crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, Acanthaster spp.) remain a major cause of extensive and widespread coral loss in Indo-Pacific coral reefs. With increased phylogenetic understanding of these seastars, at least five species appear to be present across different regions.
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