Does light and short-term high food availability enhance larval success in the coral eating Crown of thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris)?

Updated: 2026-06-09

This study investigated how light conditions and the timing and duration of high food availability influence the development, survival and settlement of larvae of the corallivorous Crown of thorns seastar (CoTS), Acanthaster cf. solaris. Experiments were conducted at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) National Sea Simulator facility between 2022 and 2025 using larvae produced from wild-collected adult broodstock. Larvae were cultured under controlled laboratory conditions in flow-through cone systems at 28.5 °C and fed mixtures of Dunaliella sp. and Tisochrysis lutea under experimental manipulated food and light treatments. Larval development, morphology, mortality and settlement success were assessed at multiple developmental stages. Developmental progression was quantified by scoring larvae into developmental categories from early bipinnaria to late brachiolaria stages. Morphological measurements including larval length, width and gut dimensions were obtained from microscopy images. Settlement assays were conducted using chips of mixed crustose coralline algae to induce metamorphosis in competent larvae and larvae settlement scored after 24h. Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed effects models using R software (v 4.2.2).