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How does the crown of thorn starfish affect coral reefs around Australia?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish threatens coral life because it eats coral. This is typically natural, but when overbred, such as on the Great Barrier Reef, they eat the coral, leaving it void of life. Typically the coral regrows itself, but when the starfish is in overabundance, it passes back over the young coral, not giving it time to recooperate. Thus, the coral reefs cannot support life, damaging the ecosystem.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe Crown of Thorns Starfish is the world's largest starfish and lives around tropical coral reefs and feeds on the coral in the reefs. The damage caused by the starfish is irreparable, and the extent of this damage is also increasing in the Great Barrier Reef. This is due to the absence of natural predators in these waters, and what is believed to be an increase in nutrient-rich runoff from nearby coastal areas of northern Queensland.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoJust not Australia, The Crown-of-Thorns is endemic to tropical coral reefs in the Red Sea, the Indian ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.
An individual starfish can consume up to 6 square metres (65 sq ft) of living coral reef per year.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIt eats the coral.
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Are starfish coral?
No, starfish can move. Coral cannot move. Starfish have a mouth with which to eat. Coral bring in nutrients through tendrils.
Do starfish live in the coral reef?
Mainly no they do not, because they rarely eat coral as it is sharp and occasionally poisonous.
Do starfish eat coral?
Many types of starfish will eat coral. There is one particular species of starfish, called the crown of thorns starfish, that eats coral polyps in large quantities. It is very destructive to coral reefs.
What is the starfish habitat?
A starfish lives in the sea and occasionally in coral reefs
Where do stone fish?
in coral reefs around Australia
What plants do starfish live in?
starfish live in coral and sea grass beds.
Where do starfish live on the beach?
on the coral reef
Where is the starfish's habitat?
The habitat is on a rock or on coral .
What do starfish eat for their food?
coral and clams
What do you get with the coral bunny build a bear?
a starfish
What is the effect of global warming on coral reefs?
The El Niño weather pattern and the accompanying Southern Oscillation affect most of the tropical Pacific Ocean. The increased rainfall means that the water loses its normal salinity. This is believed to to be one of the reasons for the incidents of coral death in the eastern Pacific. The Crown-Of-Thorns starfish is a major natural predator of coral in Australia. Its numbers seem to increase during times of heavy rainfall and the corresponding increase of nutrients from the flooding of coastal rivers. The starfish has caused terrible damage to the coral of the Great Barrier Reef.
Were is a coral reef?
Coral reefs can be found ALL AROUND THE WORLD! the largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. around 1260 different ones
