The future of utilising semiochemical pest control methods to manage the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on coral reefs

Abstract

The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris; CoTS) is arguably the most destructive non-human animal to coral reefs, significantly impeding coral survival in the face of the foremost effects of climate change and coral bleaching. Controlling the unprecedented number of CoTS outbreaks and damage on reef systems is vital for the survival of the reef ecosystem. The emergent strategy of using semiochemicals in terrestrial pest control management, due to their environmentally friendly nature, has generated interest in their application to control populations of this destructive species. However, there have been only a limited number of studies on promising semiochemical applications within aquatic systems. This Perspectives Review provides a much-needed outlook of CoTS chemosensory and semiochemical repertoire, how we might hypothetically utilise semiochemicals with regard to modifying CoTS behaviours and discusses future research directions and the scope for innovative semiochemical technologies with the aim of sustainably controlling CoTS populations, thereby mitigating their devastating outbreaks and destruction of coral reef systems.