Marine biologists investigating ecological dynamics across Australia’s Great Barrier Reef revealed surprising findings indicating that the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish may paradoxically support long-term reef biodiversity. The predatory echinoderm, historically viewed by reef conservationists as an unmitigated threat to coral health during cyclical population outbreaks, consumes live coral polyps by extruding its stomach over calcareous skeletons. However, intensive underwater ecological surveys documented that the predators leave surviving patches of living coral tissue behind in nearly 75 percent of examined feeding events.
Researchers observed that by predominantly grazing upon fast-growing, opportunistic branching staghorn corals, the starfish inadvertently prevent monocultures from crowding out slower-growing massive and encrusting coral species. The fragmented colonies left in the wake of feeding episodes frequently regenerate rapidly, creating complex habitat niches and structural diversity that support diverse fish and invertebrate communities. The ecological study emphasizes that natural predation regimes in undisturbed marine environments play a nuanced regulatory role, urging conservation agencies to balance targeted culling programs with broader holistic ecosystem preservation.
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Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261030002957.htm