Samuel A Matthews, David H Williamson, Roger Beeden, Michael J Emslie, Rickard T M Abom, Daniel Beard, Mary Bonin, Peran Bray, Adriana R Campili, Daniela M Ceccarelli, Leanne Fernandes, Cameron S Fletcher, Dan Godoy, Christopher R Hemingson, Michelle J Jonker, Bethan J Lang, Sheriden Morris, Enrique Mosquera, Gareth L Phillips, Tane H Sinclair-Taylor, Sascha Taylor, Dieter Tracey, Jennifer C Wilmes, Richard Quincey
Resilience-based management is essential to protect ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Unlike large-scale climate threats to Great Barrier Reef (GBR) corals, outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) can be directly managed through targeted culling. Here, we evaluate the outcomes of a decade of strategic COTS management in suppressing outbreaks and protecting corals during the 4th COTS outbreak wave at reef and regional scales (sectors). We compare COTS density and coral cover dynamics during the 3rd and 4th outbreak waves...
2024: PloS One