Scientists to recreate snail scent to scare starfish from Great Barrier Reef

Australian researchers hope to synthesise the smell of an oversized sea snail to help control movements of crown-of-thorns starfish, which threaten the reef

Australian Associated Press

Monday 15 December 2014 03.45 GMT

Australian scientists are hoping to recreate the smell of an oversized sea snail after discovering its scent strikes terror into the hearts of crown-of-thorns starfish.

If researchers can synthesise the smell of the giant triton it could one day be used to help control movements of the starfish, which pose a major threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

Footage of lab studies show crown-of-thorns have a violent reaction when exposed to water the snails have been in. They immediately become agitated and try to scuttle away on their stumpy legs.

Dr Scott Cummins, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, says the scent could be a powerful weapon in fighting starfish infestations.

“It won’t kill the starfish but if we can disperse aggregations, particularly during spawning season where they need to be near each other to breed, that might significantly reduce numbers,” he says.

Read on ...

'Starving' crown-of-thorns starfish in mass stranding

By Ella DaviesReporter, BBC Nature

Hundreds of crown-of-thorns starfish found on a beach in southern Japan in January stranded themselves because they were starving, say researchers.

More than 800 were discovered on a 300m stretch of sand on Ishigaki island.

The starfish population "outbreak" was first identified in 2009, when masses of juveniles were seen feeding on the island's outer coral reef.

The coral-eating starfish then took three years to move onto the beach where they perished.

The reason for the starfish population boom is not clear, but the strange behaviour has shown marine scientists what can happen when these slow-moving creatures completely deplete their food source.

Continued:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18294729