@article{fdi:010057281,
  title = {{P}redator crown-of-thorns starfish ({A}canthaster planci) outbreak, mass mortality of corals, and cascading effects on reef fish and benthic communities},
  author = {{K}ayal, {M}ohsen and {V}ercelloni, {J}. and {L}ison de {L}oma, {T}. and {B}osserelle, {P}. and {C}hancerelle, {Y}. and {G}eoffroy, {S}. and {S}tievenart, {C}. and {M}ichonneau, {F}. and {P}enin, {L}. and {P}lanes, {S}. and {A}djeroud, {M}ehdi},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}utbreaks of the coral-killing seastar {A}canthaster planci are intense disturbances that can decimate coral reefs. {T}hese events consist of the emergence of large swarms of the predatory seastar that feed on reef-building corals, often leading to widespread devastation of coral populations. {W}hile cyclic occurrences of such outbreaks are reported from many tropical reefs throughout the {I}ndo-{P}acific, their causes are hotly debated, and the spatio-temporal dynamics of the outbreaks and impacts to reef communities remain unclear. {B}ased on observations of a recent event around the island of {M}oorea, {F}rench {P}olynesia, we show that {A}canthaster outbreaks are methodic, slow-paced, and diffusive biological disturbances. {A}canthaster outbreaks on insular reef systems like {M}oorea's appear to originate from restricted areas confined to the ocean-exposed base of reefs. {E}levated {A}canthaster densities then progressively spread to adjacent and shallower locations by migrations of seastars in aggregative waves that eventually affect the entire reef system. {T}he directional migration across reefs appears to be a search for prey as reef portions affected by dense seastar aggregations are rapidly depleted of living corals and subsequently left behind. {C}oral decline on impacted reefs occurs by the sequential consumption of species in the order of {A}canthaster feeding preferences. {A}canthaster outbreaks thus result in predictable alteration of the coral community structure. {T}he outbreak we report here is among the most intense and devastating ever reported. {U}sing a hierarchical, multi-scale approach, we also show how sessile benthic communities and resident coral-feeding fish assemblages were subsequently affected by the decline of corals. {B}y elucidating the processes involved in an {A}canthaster outbreak, our study contributes to comprehending this widespread disturbance and should thus benefit targeted management actions for coral reef ecosystems.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {O}ne},
  volume = {7},
  numero = {10},
  pages = {e47363},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0047363},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057281},
}