Abstract
Much debate has surrounded the notion that outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) have occurred in the geological past and hence are natural phenomena. As this debate has recently been renewed, we have reassessed statistically data presented by Frankel (1977, 1978) as evidence for the occurrence of past outbreaks. This was done using Frankel's data as well as those from extensive starfish surveys conducted prior to the commencement of his research. Our analysis of these data indicates that the occurrence of A. planci remains in recent sediments is independent of whether or not the reef from which the sample was collected had experienced a recent outbreak. Based on this premise, it is not possible to infer from Frankel's data the occurrence of past outbreaks from similar material in much older sediments. Thus while the data presented by Frankel (1977, 1978) may show that A. planci has existed within the Great Barrier Reef for at least several thousand years it does not demonstrate that outbreaks of this starfish have occurred in the geological past.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennett I (1981) The Great Barrier Reef. Lansdowne Press, Sydney
Birkeland C (1982) Terrestrial runoff as a cause of outbreaks of Acanthaster planci (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). Mar Biol 69: 175–185
Blake DB (1979) The affinities and origins of the crown-of-thorns sea star Acanthaster Gervais. J Nat Hist 13:303–314
Endean R (1973) Population explosions of Acanthaster planci and associated destruction of hermatypic corals in the Indo-West Pacific region. In: Jones OA, Endean R (eds) Biology and geology of coral reefs. Academic, New York, pp 389–438
Endean R (1977) Acanthaster planci infestation of reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Proc 3rd Int Coral Reef Symp 1:185–191
Endean R (1982) Crown-of-thorns starfish on the Great Barrier Reef. Endeavour 6:10–14
Endean R, Stablum W (1975) Population explosions of Acanthaster planci and associated destruction of the hard-coral cover of reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Environ Conserv 2:247–256
Frankel E (1977) Previous Acanthaster aggregations in the Great Barrier Reef. Proc 3rd Int Coral Reef Symp 1:201–208
Frankel E (1978) Evidence from the Great Barrier Reef of ancient Acanthaster aggregations. Atoll Res Bull 220:75–93
Kendall M, Stuart A (1979) The advanced theory of statistics, vol. 2, Inference and relationship, 4th edn. Griffin, London
Pearson RG (1974) Recolonization by hermatypic corals of reefs damaged by Acanthaster. Proc 2nd Int Coral Reef Symp 2:207–215
Pearson RG (1981) Recovery and recolonization of coral reefs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 4:105–122
Pearson RG, Endean R (1969) A preliminary study of the coral predator Acanthaster planci (L.) (Asteroidea) on the Great Barrier Reef. Queensl Dept Harb Mar, Fish Notes 3:27–55
Potts DC (1981) Crown-of-thorns starfish—man-induced pest or natural phenomenon? In: Kitching RL, Jones RE (eds) The ecology of pests. CSIRO, Melbourne, pp 55–86
Rowe FWE, Vail L (1984) Crown of thorns: GBR not under threat. Search 15:211–213
Tudhope AW (1984) Holocene sediments of Davies Reef lagoon, Australia. Adv Reef Sci, Maiami, Florida, p 128
Vine PJ (1973) Crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci) plagues: The natural causes theory. Atoll Res Bull 166:1–10
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moran, P.J., Reichelt, R.E. & Bradbury, R.H. An assessment of the geological evidence for previous Acanthaster outbreaks. Coral Reefs 4, 235–238 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298082
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298082