Crown of Thorn Starfish Impact and Control

The Great Barrier Reef is under threat from the crown of thorns starfish, a native species that has become a pest. This starfish consumes hard corals, affecting the entire reef ecosystem. Control methods like sodium bisulfate injections are labor-intensive and limited in scope. Human activities, such as urbanization, may contribute to the starfish population increase. Future research should focus on understanding these dynamics and mitigating human impact.

What is one of the major threats to the Great Barrier Reef?

• Pollution

• Climate change

• Crown of thorn starfish

• Overfishing

How many arms can a crown of thorn starfish have?

• Up to 21

• 15

• 10

• 5

What effect does the crown of thorn starfish have on the reef ecosystem?

• Decreases coral populations

• Promotes coral growth

• Increases biodiversity

• Has no effect

What is the most effective current method to control the crown of thorn starfish?

• Chemical sprays

• Using predators

• Injecting sodium bisulfate

• Physical removal

Why is the sodium bisulfate method not widely used?

• It's ineffective

• It's harmful to other species

• It's labor-intensive

• It's too expensive

What factor is believed to contribute to the starfish's population increase?

• Increased tourism

• Climate change

• Overfishing

• Nutrient runoff from urbanization

What stage of the starfish's life benefits from increased plankton availability?

• Larval stage

• Egg stage

• Adult stage

• Juvenile stage

What should future research focus on regarding the crown of thorn starfish?

• Understanding population growth

• Increasing tourism

• Building artificial reefs

• Developing new coral species

What can humans change to help alleviate the impact on the environment?

• Water temperature

• Coral types

• Human behaviors

• Natural predators

What is a potential reason for the starfish's high survival rate to adulthood?

• Human intervention

• Warm water temperatures

• Abundant coral

• Lack of natural predators