Controlled Starfish Feeding May Aid Reef Diversity
A research-stage study suggests moderate starfish predation could support coral variety on the Great Barrier Reef.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Environmental
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University of Sydney researchers reported in Ecology and Evolution that crown-of-thorns starfish at controlled levels may support biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reef. The study, conducted at One Tree Island Research Station and led by Dr. Shawna Foo, is a research-stage finding rather than a management policy. Its benefits apply specifically to controlled starfish populations.
Why it matters
The findings align with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which holds that moderate disturbance can allow more species to coexist. Declining natural predator populations have contributed to the destructive impact of starfish outbreaks, shifting attention toward managing predators as well as outbreaks.
The study measured coral tissue survival across observed feeding events, finding about 75 percent survived. The comparison point is the reef's four major outbreaks since the 1960s, which the authors' controlled-population framing contrasts against. Whether the pattern holds across other reef sites is not established in the source.
The players
University of Sydney
A research university whose team published the study examining starfish feeding and reef biodiversity.
Dr. Shawna Foo
Lead researcher on the study of crown-of-thorns starfish feeding and coral competition.
One Tree Island Research Station
A field station on the Great Barrier Reef where the study was conducted.
The details
Starfish selectively feed on fast-growing Acropora coral, which is a branching coral that grows quickly. That feeding creates space for slower-growing Montipora and Porites corals to establish, which are more massive and slow-growing species. Researchers examined feeding scars and remaining tissue at protected sites where healthy fish populations keep starfish numbers under control.
Timeline
Since the 1960s, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced four major starfish outbreaks.
The Tech Race
The study sits within ongoing reef research on how predation shapes coral community composition on the Great Barrier Reef. Its framing against the intermediate disturbance hypothesis places it in an established ecological debate rather than a new mechanism.
The findings concern management of reef ecosystems rather than any product or service available to the public. Their practical influence depends on whether conservation strategies adopt managing natural predators alongside outbreak control; no timeline for such changes is given.
The takeaway
The benefits identified apply only to controlled starfish populations, and major outbreaks remain a threat. Readers can watch for follow-up research testing whether the pattern holds across other reef sites.
Further reading
For broader context on reef ecology, explore Environmental coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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Should governments prioritize controlling crown-of-thorns starfish over eliminating them entirely?
