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Crown-of-thorn Starfish

Crown-of-thorn Starfish By: Amanda Barmore Acanthaster planci Phylum: Echinodermata Calcitic skeleton Water vascular system Mutable collagenous tissue Pentaradial body organization Class: Asteroidea True starfish Movement with tube feet Predators Distribution Crown of Thorn Starfish

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Crown-of-thorn Starfish

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  1. Crown-of-thorn Starfish By: Amanda Barmore

  2. Acanthaster planci • Phylum: Echinodermata • Calcitic skeleton • Water vascular system • Mutable collagenous tissue • Pentaradial body organization • Class: Asteroidea • True starfish • Movement with tube feet • Predators

  3. Distribution

  4. Crown of Thorn Starfish Appearance - 25-35cm, max 80cm - 12-19 arms - multicolored - GBR: reddish grey with red-tipped spines

  5. Behavior • Habitat • Coral Reefs • Movement • Tube feet • Feeding • Digestive enzymes

  6. Life Cycle • Fertilization • Embryo develops into larvae; feeds on plankton • Planktonic stages • At the mercy of the ocean • Gastrula Bipinnaria  Brachiolaria • Primordium – sack like structure

  7. Life Cycle • Settlement • Day 2: Juvenile starfish • Month 6: about 1 cm and feeding on coral • Year 2: 20 cm and sexually mature • Year 3-4: Senile, low growth and reproduction

  8. Outbreaks • Natural Hypothesis • Agricultural runoff creating algal blooms • Man interference • Removal of starfish predators

  9. Outbreaks • Type • Primary • Secondary • Duration • 1- 4 Years • GBR 15 Years

  10. GBR Outbreaks

  11. Healthy Habitats

  12. The Evil • Reef Destruction • 5-6 km yearly • 86% of GBR • Humans • Poisonous spines

  13. Destroyed Habitats

  14. Containment Problems • Gamete production • 65 million eggs • Larval size • Antibodies to track • Reef size • Needle in a hay stack

  15. Reef Protectors • Red Spotted Trapeze Crab • Giant Triton • Hawaiian Lined Fireworm • Divers

  16. Red spotted trapeze crab

  17. Giant Triton

  18. Hawaiian Lined Fireworm

  19. Divers • Cutting • Not practiced • Injections • Copper sulfate • Removing • Difficult

  20. Knowledge • Imprecise Science • 1960’s • Willingness • Attitude • Research • GBRMPA

  21. Research

  22. Pictures

  23. References • Google Images • Crown of thorn starfish Q&A, http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/cot-starfish/pages/cot-000.html • www.gbrmpa.gov.au/.../sotr/latest_updates/cots • http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/cot-starfish/pages/cot-f15.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown-of-thorns_starfish • Ecological Applications Textbook • http://www.divegallery.com/crownofthorns.htm • http://www.tellusconsultants.com/Thread/ACANTH.HTM

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