Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution Expansion and Historical Population Outbreak Patterns of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish, Acanthaster planci sensu lato, in Japan from 1912 to 2015

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Coral Reef Studies of Japan

Part of the book series: Coral Reefs of the World ((CORW,volume 13))

Abstract

The present chapter reviews the distribution and population outbreak records of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci sensu lato, in Japan from 1912 to 2015. The literature survey suggests that A. planci sensu lato distribution has been extending northward since 1945 from Amami Oshima (its previous northernmost distribution) to Miyake Island and Goto Island. Genetic homogeneity within Japanese A. planci sensu lato populations indicates that larval dispersal has likely caused this poleward migration. Water temperatures have significantly increased in the temperate area of Japan, implying that global warming is partly responsible for this poleward migration. More frequent and intense population outbreaks in temperate areas were also observed, possibly in relation to increased water temperatures and successive larval dispersal from the south. Overall, complex and persistent patterns were observed for two major successive population outbreaks in Japan: from 1969 to 1991 and from 1995 to now. The evidence suggests that the western Okinawa populations are the most likely origin for secondary outbreaks within Japan. The Amami population is also likely to be an important source for outbreaks in temperate regions. However, no records of population outbreaks were found for least in two regions: Ogasawara and the Osumi Islands. Ogasawara is located approximately 1000 km south of the Kuroshio Current, so infestation via larval dispersal from other populations is more limited than in other Kuroshio regions. The Osumi Islands are, however, located in the middle of the Kuroshio Current, implying that insufficient corals are available for the growth of A. planci sensu lato or that unknown environment factors such as abundant predators of juvenile starfish suppress recruitment and juvenile survival.

The original version of this chapter was revised. An erratum to this chapter can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6473-9_13

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Asahi Shimbun Newspaper (2004) Sep. 12 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzie J (1999) Genetic structure of coral reef organisms: ghosts of dispersal past. Am Zool 39:131–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biodiversity Center of Japan, Natural Environmental Bureau, Ministry of Environment (2015) Compiled Report 2008–2012 Monitoring-site 1000 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Biodiversity Center of Japan, Natural Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment (2013) Monitoring sites 1000 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Biodiversity Center of Japan, Natural Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment (2014) Monitoring sites 1000 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Birkeland C (1982) Terrestrial runoff as a cause of outbreaks of Acanthaster planci (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). Mar Biol 69:175–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birkeland C, Lucas J (1990) Acanthaster planci. Major management problem of coral reefs. CRC Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of Management for Coral Reef Conservation in Amami Islands (16-H25) (2014) Compiled report of coral reef monitoring and control effort for crown of thorn starfish (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Endean R (1974) Acanthaster planci on the Great Barrier Reef. Proc 2nd Int Coral Reef Symp 1:563–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Haszprunar G, Spies M (2014) An integrative approach to the taxonomy of the crown-of-thorns starfish species group (Asteroidea: Acanthaster): a review of names and comparison to recent molecular data. Zootaxa 25:271–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirata K (1967) Distribution of raised reef limestones and present reef-building activity in Takara-jima and Kodakara-jima, Nansei Islands. Jpn Sci Reps Kagoshima Univ 16:75–107. (In Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Houk P, Bograd S, van Woesik R (2007) The transition zone chlorophyll front can trigger Acanthaster planci outbreaks in the Pacific Ocean: historical confirmation. J Oceanogr 63:149–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Jangoux M, Aziz A (1984) Les asterides (Echinodermes) du centre-ouest de l’ocean Indien (Seychelles, Maldives et iles Mineures). Bull Mus Nat d’Hist Nat Paris Ser 6(A)(4):857–884

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamezaki N, Nomura K, Ui S (1987) Population dynamics of stony corals and Acanthaster planci in Sekisei Lagoon, Okinawa (1983–1986). Mar Parks J 74:12–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Katoh M, Hashimoto K (2003) Genetic similarity of outbreak populations of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) that were 15 years apart in Okinawa, Japan. Coral Reefs 22:178–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kayanne H, Hongo C, Okaji K, Ide Y, Hayashibara T, Yamamoto H, Mikami N, Onodera K, Ootsubo T, Takano H, Tonegawa M, Maruyama S (2012) Low species diversity of hermatypic corals on an isolated reef, Okinotorishima, in the northwestern Pacific. Galaxea, J Coral Reef Stud 14:73–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keesing J, Halford A (1992) Importance of postsettlement processes for the population dynamics of Acanthaster planci (L.). Marine Freshw Res 43:635–651

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi T, Hori S, Doi H, Kawano M (2006) Noteworthy phenomena on the marine organisms in the coastal region of Yamaguchi Prefecture, southwestern Japan Sea. Bull Yamaguchi Pref Fish Res Ctr 4:19–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurata (1984) Acanthaster planci in Ogasawara Islands. Mar Parks J 61:7–9. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas J (1973) Reproductive and larval biology of Acanthaster planci (L.) in Great Barrier Reef waters. Micronesica 9:197–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas J, Jones M (1976) Hybrid crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci X A. brevispinus) reared to maturity in the laboratory. Nature 263:409–412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marine Parks Center of Japan (1987) Report for study of revealing factors of population dynamics of organisms in marine ecosystem and its management method (S 61). (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Masuda R (2007) Seasonal and interannual variation of subtidal fish assemblages in Wakasa Bay with reference to the warming trend in the sea of Japan. Environ Biol Fish 82:387–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of the Environment and Japanese Coral Reef Society (2004) Coral reefs of Japan. Japan Wildlife Research Center, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of the Environment, Natural Environmental Bureau (2005) Investigation for management policy report (Survey on marine organisms living in Kushimoto Marine Park Region). (In Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitsukuri K (1903) Sample collecting travel report of Amami Oshima and Okinawa. Zool Mag 15:176. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyazaki Nichinichi Shinbun (2012) (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran P (1986) The Acanthaster phenomenon. Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 24:379–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran PJ, De’ath G (1992) Estimates of the abundance of the crown-of-thrones starfish Acanthaster planci in outbreaking and non-outbreaking populations on reefs within the Great Barrier Reef. Mar Biol 113:509–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moyer JT, Tanaka T (1978) Crown-of-thorns starfish invades Miyake-jima. Memorical Biol Station Miyake-jima 44:17. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakachi S (2007) Discovery of Acanthaster brevispinus at Okinoshima Sukumo. Current 27(7):6. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima Y, Nishikawa A, Iguchi A, Sakai K (2012) Regional genetic differentiation among northern high-latitude island populations of a broadcast-spawning coral. Coral Reefs 31:1125–1133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura M, Okaji K, Higa Y, Yamakawa E, Mitarai S (2014) Spatial and temporal population dynamics of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, over a 24-year period along the central west coast of Okinawa Island, Japan. Mar Biol 161:2521–2530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura M, Kumagai NH, Sakai K, Okaji K, Ogasawara K, Mitarai S (2015) Spatial variability in recruitment of acroporid corals and predatory starfish along the Onna coast, Okinawa, Japan. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 540:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Natural Conservation Division, Department of Cultural and Environmental Affairs Okinawa Prefectural Government (2011) Report for renovation project for coral reef resources (H22) (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Natural Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment (2003) The report of conservation project for marine parks (H14) (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Natural Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment (2005) Investigation on management policy. A report for investigation of marine organism distribution in Kushimoto Marine Park (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nature Conservation Bureau, Environment Agency (1973) Research on shallow marine ecosystem. Research on the mechanisms and management for the population outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nature Conservation Bureau, Environment Agency (1974) The sequel to the research on shallow water ecology. Mechanism of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak and its countermeasures (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nature Conservation Bureau, Environment Agency and Marine Parks Center of Japan (1994) The Report of the Marine Biotic Environment Survey in the 4th National Survey on the Natural Environment Vol. 3 Coral Reefs (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nature Conservation Division, Department of Cultural and Environmental Affairs, Okinawa Prefectural Government (2006) Guideline for crown-of-thorns starfish. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nature Conservation Division, Okinawa Prefectural Government (2003) Report on implementation of reef check, fiscal 2003 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikaido M (1963) The tropical starfish, Culcita novaeguineae Müller et Troschel has been found in the sea near Okinoshima, Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Zool Mag 72:163–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishida M, Lucas JS (1988) Genetic differences between geographic populations of the crown-of-thorns starfish throughout the Pacific region. Mar Biol 98:359–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nohara S, Satake K, Takase T, Kurokawa M (2009) Characteristics of nutrient of island and coastal waters in Izu and Ogasawara Islands. Jpn Jpn J Limnol 70:225–238. (in Japanese)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nomura K (2004) Coral communities in Kushimoto (13). Mar Pavilion 33:1. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nomura K, Kimura T, Kawagoe H (2001) The introduction of the spot check method as a simple monitoring method of large coral reef area, and that practical example in the Sekisei Lagoon, Southern Ryukyus. Mar Parks J 131:5–12. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oki K (2014) Changes of coral reefs in Amami Islands-Historical consideration of population outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Okinawa Prefectural Tourism Development Bureau (1976) Influence of Acanthaster planci on coral reef ecosystem, concerning heavy infestations of Acanthaster planci (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratchett MS, Caballes CF, Rivera-Posada JA, Sweatman HPA (2014) Limits to understanding and managing outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.) In: Hughes RM, Hughes DJ, Smith IP (eds) Oceanogr. Mar Biol Annu Rev: An Annual Review, vol 52. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 133–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Saba M, Irimura S (2002) Hitode Guidbook. Hankyu Communications. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimoike K (2000) Changes in coral coverage and occurrence of the crown-of-thorns starfish around Akajima Island from 1989 to 1999. 1:19–21 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shirai S (1956) Letter from Amami, No2. Collect Breed 18:301–307. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki G, Yasuda N, Ikehara K, Fukuoka K, Kameda T, Kai S, Nagai S, Watanabe A, Nakamura T, Kitazawa S, Bernardo L, Natori T, Kojima M, Nadaoka K (2016) Detection of a high-density Brachiolaria-stage larval population of crown-of-Thorns Sea star (Acanthaster planci) in Sekisei Lagoon (Okinawa, Japan). Diversity 8:9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tada M (1982) Transition of sea of Ashizuri over 20 years. Mar Parks J 56:3–5. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi N (1986) Tolerance and reactions of Acanthaster planci against lowered temperatures. Undergraduate thesis, Dept. of Marine Sciences, Univ. of the Ryukyus. 17pp. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Takemoto N (2005) Analysis of the present data of Acanthaster planci and larval sampling in the field aiming for revealing the mechanisms of population outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish. Mini-dissertation (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Taniguchi H (2012) Five years after the outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish: the present state and future prospects of coral reefs around Akajima Island. Midoriishi 23:20–24. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmers MA, Andrews KR, Bird CE, deMaintenton MJ, Brainard RE, Toonen RJ (2011) Widespread dispersal of the crown-of-thorns sea star, Acanthaster planci, across the Hawaiian Archipelago and Johnston Atoll. J Mar Biol 2011:10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timmers M, Bird C, Skillings D, Smouse P, Toonen R (2012) There’s no place like home: Crown-of-Thorns Outbreaks in the Central Pacific are regionally derived and independent events. PLoS ONE 7:e31159

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokioka T (1953) Invertebrate fauna of the intertidal zone of the Tokara Islands V. Echinodermata. Seto Marine Biol Lab 3:144–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchiumi H (1962) Recent evidence for the northward extension of the range of some tropical echinoderms in Japanese waters. Zool Mag 71:102–108. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Uthicke S, Doyle J, Duggan S, Yasuda N, McKinnon A (2015) Outbreak of coral-eating Crown-of-Thorns creates continuous larvae cloud over 320km of the Great Barrier Reef. Scientific Report. 5, Article number: 16885

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogler C, Benzie J, Lessios H, Barber P, Worheide G (2008) A threat to coral reefs multiplied? Four species of crown-of-thorns starfish. Biol Lett 4:696–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogler C, Benzie J, Barber PH, Erdmann MV, Ambariyanto, Sheppard C, Tenggardjaja K, Gérard K, Wörheide G (2012) Phylogeography of the crown-of-thorns starfish in the Indian Ocean. PLoS One 7:e43499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vogler C, Benzie JAH, Tenggardjaja K, Ambariyanto, Barber PH, Wörheide G (2013) Phylogeography of the crown-of-thorns starfish: genetic structure within the Pacific species. Coral Reefs 32:515–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Web site 1: the Japan Meteorological Agency (n.d.) http://www.data.jma.go.jp/kaiyou/data/shindan/a_1/japan_warm/japan_warm.html

  • Web site 2: Yaeyama Environmental Network by Yaeyama Fishermen’s cooperative (n.d.) http://www.churaumi.net/onihitode/onihitode2.html

  • Web site 3: Local diver in Fukue jima. (n.d.) http://fukuejima.la.coocan.jp/sea-kyoku-hi/oni-hitode.html

  • Web site 4: A blog by local diver in Koshikijima (n.d.) http://blog.livedoor.jp/super_sea_story_pro-koshiki/archives/52367441.html

  • WWF Japan (2008) Nansei Islands biological diversity field research report. http://www.wwf.or.jp/activities/upfiles/Nansei_Is_BDreport_opt.pdf (In Japanese)

  • Yaeyama Mainichi Shinbun (2010) May 27

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi M (1973) Early life histories of coral reef asteroids, with special reference to Acanthaster planci (L.) In: Jones OA, Endean R (eds) Biology and geology of coral reefs. Academic, New York, pp 369–387

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi M (1974) Growth of juvenile Acanthaster planci (L.) in the laboratory. Pac Sci 28:123–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi M (1981) Crown-of-thorns starfish and coral reefs. Anim Nat 11:28–35. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi (1984) Population outbreak of Acanthaster planci in Okinawa and its counterplan. 1–10 (Brief notes in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi (1986) Acanthaster planci infestations of reef and coral assemblages in Japan: a retrospective analysis of control efforts. Coral Reefs 5:23–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi (1987) Occurrences and persistency of Acanthaster planci pseudo-population in relation to oceanographic conditions along the Pacific coast of Japan. Galaxea 6:277–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamano H, Sugihara K, Nomura K (2011) Rapid poleward range expansion of tropical reef corals in response to rising sea surface temperatures. Geophys Res Lett 38:L04601. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL046474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamazato K (1969) Acanthaster planci, the coral predator. Konnichi Ryukyu 13:7. (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamazato K, Kiyan T (1973) Reproduction of Acanthaster planci in Okinawa. Micronesica 9:185–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda N, Nagai S, Hamaguchi M, Lian CL, Nadaoka K (2006) Development of microsatellite markers for the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci. Mol Ecol Notes 6:141–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda N, Nagai S, Hamaguchi M, Okaji K, Gérard K, Nadaoka K (2009) Gene flow of Acanthaster planci (L.) in relation to ocean currents revealed by microsatellite analysis. Mol Ecol 18:1574–1590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda N, Ogasawara K, Kajiwara K, Ueno M, Oki K, Taniguchi H, Shinichiro K, Okaji K, Nadaoka K (2010) Latitudinal differentiation of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) in the reproduction patterns through the Ryukyu Island archipelago. Plank Benth Res 5:156–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda N, Nagai S, Taquet C, Nadaoka K, Suharsono, Susato HA (2011) Reef connectivity of Acanthaster sp. in the Coral Triangle Region. In: Polymorephisms JSoD (ed) DNA Polymorphisms. Toyo Shoten, p134–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasuda N, Taquet C, Nagai S, Yoshida T, Adjeroud M (2014) Genetic connectivity of the coral-eating sea star Acanthaster planci during the severe outbreak of 2006–2009 in the Society Islands, French Polynesia. Mar Ecol 36:668–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yokochi H, Ogura M (1987) Spawning period and discovery of juvenile Acanthaster planci (L.) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) at northwestern Iriomote-Jima, Ryukyu Islands. B Mar Sci 41:611–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Yomiuri Newspaper (2007) Oct. 14

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Dr. Ken Okaji for reviewing and providing many significant detailed comments about this manuscript. I also thank Mr. Eiji Yamakawa and Mr. Megumu Tsuchikawa for sampling A. planci sensu lato on Okinawa and Ogasawara Islands. I am also grateful to everyone who provided information about A. planci population outbreaks. In particular, I thank Mr. Katsuki Oki and Mr. Hisao Kohama from the Minami Daitojima Fishery Corporation, Mr. Masaru Takeishi from Yakushima, Mr. Gensui Shimono from Koshiki-jima Fishery Corporation, Mr. Tetsuro Hayashi from Sea-Mail in Tanegashima, Ms. Emiko Ando from Kagoshima Environmental Research and Service, Dr. Shu Nakachi from the Biological Institute on Kuroshio, and Ms. Toshiko Nishibe. Sampling for genetic analysis was conducted within the framework of a comprehensive management program of the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks in Okinawa Prefecture funded by the Nature Conservation Division, Department of Cultural and Environmental Affairs, Okinawa Prefectural Government. This research was also supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (4RF-1501) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and the Program to Disseminate Tenure Tracking System from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organization for Promotion of Tenure Track, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuenkibanadai Nishi, Miyazaki, Japan

    Nina Yasuda

Authors
  1. Nina Yasuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nina Yasuda .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioresources Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College, Nago, Okinawa, Japan

    Akira Iguchi

  2. Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan

    Chuki Hongo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Yasuda, N. (2018). Distribution Expansion and Historical Population Outbreak Patterns of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish, Acanthaster planci sensu lato, in Japan from 1912 to 2015. In: Iguchi, A., Hongo, C. (eds) Coral Reef Studies of Japan. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 13. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6473-9_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation