Effects of Predation on Acanthaster: Age-Structured Metapopulation Models

  • H. I. Mccallum
Conference paper
Part of the Lecture Notes in Biomathematics book series (LNBM, volume 88)

Abstract

A model of predation on subadult Acanthaster planci is developed within a metapopulation framework in which adult starfish and predators are patchily distributed, but reefs are linked by larval dispersal. The model demonstrates that it is possible for starfish to be maintained at low levels by predators with a type II functional response on some patches, provided larval mixing is incomplete and resource limitation exists on at least one reef. Because of the long pre-reproductive post settlement stage in Acanthaster, predation on this stage is found to be of particular importance in then population dynamics of the starfish.

Keywords

Great Barrier Reef Coral Reef Community Zero Equilibrium Pelagic Larval Stage Acanthaster Planci 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • H. I. Mccallum
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of ZoologyUniversity of QueenslandAustralia

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