@article{fdi:010094822,
  title = {{V}acuums of the sea : ecological function of large coral reef benthic scavengers in suppressing crown-of-thorns starfish ({COTS}) outbreaks},
  author = {{K}ayal, {M}ohsen and {L}enihan, {H}. {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}espite their drastic impacts on coral reefs, outbreaks of the coral-feeding seastar crown-of-thorns starfish ({COTS}), {A}canthaster, have remained a scientific enigma. {S}ignificant efforts in coral reef conservation science have been dedicated to identifying natural predators able to exert demographic control on {COTS} and prevent population outbreaks. {T}hese efforts are motivated by empirical evidence showing that reefs within marine protected areas are less prone to {COTS} outbreaks than reefs open to fishing where potential {COTS} predators have been reduced or removed functionally from food webs. {R}esearch findings point towards {COTS}' early life stages as a major demographic bottleneck for {COTS} populations, with various reef fish and benthic organisms identified as predators of the seastar. {Y}et, no species or species groups have been clearly identified as exerting enough top-down control to influence {COTS} population increases or prevent outbreaks. {W}e report the benthic scavenging behavior of eagle rays (family {M}yliobatidae), a large-bodied predator, feeding in coral rubble fields of {K}anaky {N}ew {C}aledonia, critical habitats where juvenile {COTS} find refuge and food and accumulate to produce population outbreaks. {W}e argue that with their effective substrate-sucking feeding behavior, similar to vacuums of the sea, eagle rays may be a hitherto unidentified predator able to exert significant control on {COTS} populations. {E}agle rays and other large benthic scavengers were previously neglected in the search for major {COTS} predators. {R}elatively little existing data show that eagle ray populations in {K}anaky {N}ew {C}aledonia's lagoon are more abundant inside than outside marine protected areas, which concords with the hypothesis that they could be responsible for the mitigation of {COTS} outbreaks as reported within reserves. {W}e advocate for further investigations on the role of eagle rays and other large benthic scavengers in controlling {COTS} outbreaks, and the importance of preserving the unique ecological function of sea vacuums for coral reef conservation.},
  keywords = {{C}oral reef ; {A}canthaster ; {S}eastar ; {P}redator outbreak ; {E}agle ray ; {N}ature-based solution ; {NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}deas in {E}cology and {E}volution},
  volume = {18},
  numero = {},
  pages = {22--31},
  ISSN = {1918-3178},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.24908/iee.2025.18.1.n},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094822},
}