How do the crown-of-thorns starfish reproduce?
The crown-of-thorns starfish can spawn millions of eggs a year but many of these are lost due to predation. They have free-swimming larvae which gets dispersed with the plankton in the oceans. These larvae eventually become juveniles with five arms through metamorphosis where there is a complete change in their form. Adulthood is reached in about two years which repeat the process of reproduction. What are the predators of the crown-of-thorns starfish? Some scientists explain that the reason for crown-of-thorns outbreaks is due to the loss of its important natural predators which man collect as food. These predators include triton shells, prawns, and trigger fish. Other researchers attribute the outbreak to high levels of nutrients in the coastal areas, which generally accumulate due to human activities offshore or water runoff. Triton shells are one of the major predators of crown-of-thorns starfish. Positive Effects of Crown-of-Thorns Outreaks? Although many scientists agree that the
