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Variable food alters responses of larval crown-of-thorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidification
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Variable food alters responses of larval crown-of-thorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidification

Benjamin Mos, Naomi Mesic and Symon A. Dworjanyn
Communications biology, Vol.6, 639
14/06/2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05028-1
PMID: 37316528
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Variable food alters responses of larval crown-ofthorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidification928.55 kBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
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Variable food alters responses of larval crown-ofthorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidificationView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open

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Abstract

Carbon cycle Climate-change ecology Coral reefs Developmental biology Zoology
Phytoplankton abundance is decreasing and becoming more variable as the ocean climate changes. We examine how low, high, and variable phytoplankton food supply affected the survival, development, and growth of larval crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster sp. exposed to combined warming (26, 30 °C) and acidification (pH 8.0, 7.6). Larvae fed a low food ration are smaller, and develop slower and with more abnormalities than larvae fed a high ration. Larvae fed a variable food supply (low, followed by high ration) overcome the negative effects of low food on development rate and occurrence of abnormalities, but are 16–17% smaller than larvae fed the high ration continuously. Acidification (pH 7.6) slows growth and development and increases abnormalities regardless of the food regime. Warming slows growth and development, but these effects are mitigated by high food availability. As tropical oceans warm, the success of crown-of-thorns starfish larvae may depend on the abundance of their phytoplankton prey.

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