@article{fdi:010065278,
  title = {{L}ime juice and vinegar injections as a cheap and natural alternative to control {COTS} outbreaks},
  author = {{M}outardier, {G}. and {G}ereva, {S}. and {M}ills, {S}. {C}. and {A}djeroud, {M}ehdi and {B}eldade, {R}. and {H}am, {J}. and {K}aku, {R}. and {D}umas, {P}ascal},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}utbreaks of the corallivorous crown-of-thorns seastar {A}canthaster planci ({COTS}) represent one of the greatest disturbances to coral reef ecosystems in the {I}ndo-{P}acific, affecting not only coral reefs but also the coastal communities which rely on their resources. {W}hile injection approaches are increasingly used in an attempt to control {COTS} densities, most of them display severe drawbacks including logistical challenges, high residual environmental impacts or low cost-effectiveness. {W}e tested a new alternative control method based upon acidic injections of cheap, 100% natural products. {W}e investigated the lethal doses, intra- and inter-specific disease transmission and immune responses of {COTS} when injected with fresh lime juice (extracted from local {C}itrus arantifolia) and white spirit vinegar. {H}igh {COTS} mortality was achieved with small volumes: 10-20 ml per seastar induced death in 89%/97% of injected specimens after an average 34.3 h/29.8 h for lime juice and vinegar respectively. {H}ighest efficiency was reached for both solutions with double shots of (2 x 10 ml) in two different areas on the body: 100% mortality occurred within 12-24 h, which is similar or faster compared with other current injection methods. {M}ultiple immune measures suggested that death was very likely caused by p{H} stress from the acidic solutions rather than a bacterial infection. {C}ontagion to either conspecifics or a variety of other reef species was not observed, even at {COTS} densities 15 times higher than the highest naturally reported. 10 to 20 {I} lime juice/vinegar could kill up to a thousand {COTS} at a cost of less than 0.05 {USD} per specimen; no permits or special handling procedures are required. {W}e conclude that injections of lime juice and vinegar offer great advantages when compared to current best practises and constitute a cheap and natural option for all reefs affected by {COTS}.},
  keywords = {{VANUATU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {O}ne},
  volume = {10},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {e0137605 [16 p.]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0137605},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065278},
}