A preliminary survey of Beaver Reef was conducted during 2001 and 2002. Beaver is a mid-shelf reef off Mission Beach and Dunk Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Beaver had just experienced it’s third major outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) in four decades. The tour operators that visit Beaver have attempted to control the starfish by manual collection and killing in the area of their dive operations.
This relatively small area of starfish control was SCUBA dived regularly and searched repeatedly in detail for the presence of giant tritons. At least six live specimens of giant triton were located during the study. All specimens of any encountered species of starfish were also recorded. The study was continued into 2002 until both crown-of-thorns starfish and giant tritons were once again too difficult to locate. Beaver Reef will be resurveyed for both tritons and starfish, but our focus in 2003 and 2004 will probably have to move further south to John Brewer Reef off Townsville which is presently undergoing a renewed starfish outbreak.
John Brewer Reef was surveyed previously for giant tritons in 1986 and 1988 at the end of the previous outbreak. Until there is further coral regeneration at Beaver Reef, it is expected to carry only a very small population of crown-of-thorns starfish. This population will be spread out looking for food as will their predators the giant triton. At this stage of the outbreak cycle, it is very difficult to locate tritons. This was the case at John Brewer Reef in 1989 and Norman, Hastings and Saxon Reefs in 1990. We were unable to fund the ultrasonic tags that would have enabled us to continue the monitoring of tritons at Beaver Reef subsequent to the starfish outbreak. We are now hoping to conduct a series of starfish bait experiments which if successful, will provide a means of studying the giant triton on a reef between crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
Beaver Reef (Feeding Data 2001-2002)
|
# |
DATE |
ID |
DIET |
COMMENT |
|
1 |
05/04/2001 | 1,2,3 | Nil | Shark Alley, 3 tritons in 15m – Mike, Andy, John, Norm |
|
2 |
28/08/2001 | 1 | Nil | Friendship Bombie, triton in 10m – Col, John |
|
3 |
10/09/2001 | 2 | Nil | Friendship Wall, triton in 1 m – John |
|
4 |
09/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Triton on cage with Acanthaster – Tourist |
|
5 |
10/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Triton not hungry – Darren |
|
6 |
11/10/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci (adult) | Devoured instantly – AM SHAL, 20 LL, 7 FE, NP |
|
7 |
12/10/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci (adult) | Starfish injured – AM FRBO, AP, 10 LL; PM SHAL, AP, 20 LL, 2 FE |
|
8 |
15/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM SITE1, AP, 2 LL, NR, 2 FE; PM FRBO, 20 LL, CN, 2 FE |
|
9 |
16/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM SITE1, AP, 3 LL; PM FRBO, 20 LL, GW |
|
10 |
20/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM SITE1, AP, LL, 2 NN, 2 FE; PM SHAL, 12 LL, NP, FM, 2 FE |
|
11 |
21/10/2001 | 3 | Linckia laevigata (adult) | Devoured instantly – Fernando |
|
12 |
23/10/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci (sub) | Devoured instantly – AM FRBO, 2 AP, 2 CN, 20 LL; PM SITE1, LL, NN, FE, NC |
|
13 |
25/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM FRBO, AP, 10 LL, FE; PM SITE1, NN, FE |
|
14 |
27/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM SITE1, 3 AP, NC; PM SITE1, NR |
|
15 |
28/10/2001 | 3 | Nardoa pauciforis | Devoured instantly – AM NCAY, 3 AP, 4 LL, NP, FE; PM SITE1, FE |
|
16 |
29/10/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly – PM NOWA-SHAL, AP, 4 LL, NN |
|
17 |
30/10/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM NCAY AP, LL, NP, NR, FE, EL |
|
18 |
31/10/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly – AM SITE1, AP, 2 LL, FE; PM SHAL, 4 LL, NP, 2 FE |
|
19 |
01/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry – AM SITE1, FE; PM NOWA, 4 FE |
|
20 |
03/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | In cave. AM MOBO NIL, PM WEBO NIL |
|
21 |
04/11/2001 | 4 | Linckia laevigata | Bombie off Friendship Wall, triton in 3m – Fernando |
|
22 |
06/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
23 |
06/11/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly, AM FEBO, CT, 6 LL; PM NCAY, AP, 25 LL, 6 FE |
|
24 |
08/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
25 |
08/11/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly, AM NCAY, 2 AP, 10 LL, FE; FRWA, 20 LL, FE |
|
26 |
10/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | Regurgitated AP spines, attacked AP |
|
27 |
10/11/2001 | 4 | Nil | Attacked AP, AM NGUT, AP, 20LL, NN, NP, 2 FE; PM FRBO, AP, 10LL, FE |
|
28 |
12/11/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Both shells high in cave – Susie |
|
29 |
15/11/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Both shells high in cave – Susie |
|
30 |
17/11/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Both shells in cave – Susie |
|
31 |
19/11/2001 | 3,4 | Acanthaster planci | Both shells attacked and consumed prey instantly |
|
32 |
22/11/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly, SITE1 AP |
|
33 |
22/11/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Regurgitated Acanthaster planci spines |
|
34 |
24/11/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci | Sub-adult devoured instantly. SITE1 3LL, NN, FE |
|
35 |
24/11/2001 | 4 | Nardoa novaecaledoniae | Devoured instantly. Moved 10M |
|
36 |
25/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | High in cave. NCAY, AP, 25LL, 2NN, NP, 4FE |
|
37 |
25/11/2001 | 4 | Linckia laevigata | Devoured instantly |
|
38 |
25/11/2001 | 5 | Nil | Bombie near boat, triton in 2m – Susie |
|
39 |
25/11/2001 | 5 | Fromia indica | Devoured instantly |
|
40 |
25/11/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Sub-adult devoured instantly 30 minutes after Fromia was eaten |
|
41 |
27/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | Attacked AP, FRBO 3AP, 20LL, 2FE |
|
42 |
27/11/2001 | 4 | Nil | Attacked AP |
|
43 |
27/11/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
44 |
28/11/2001 | 3 | Nil | AP in bag eaten. SITE1 APJ, 2FE |
|
45 |
28/11/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Scraps from bag only |
|
46 |
28/11/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
48 |
29/11/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci | Sub-adult. SITE1 APS, EL, FE |
|
50 |
29/11/2001 | 4 | Not hungry | In crevice |
|
51 |
29/11/2001 | 5 | Not hungry | Moved 1m |
|
52 |
01/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, SITE1 APS, 2LL, 2FE; FRWA 2AP, 10LL, 2FE |
|
53 |
01/12/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Sub-adult devoured instantly |
|
54 |
01/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Attacked AP instantly |
|
55 |
02/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, FRBO 2AP, 25LL, FE; SHAL-WCAY AP, 15LL, 2FE, 2EL |
|
56 |
02/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
57 |
02/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
58 |
03/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing |
|
59 |
03/12/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
60 |
03/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
61 |
06/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing |
|
62 |
06/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | In crevice |
|
63 |
09/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing |
|
64 |
09/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly. SITE1 FE; FRWA 15LL |
|
65 |
10/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing, NCAY 3FE, NO; FRBO 10LL, 2FE |
|
66 |
10/12/2001 | 5 | Neoferdina offreti | Devoured instantly |
|
68 |
11/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing, FRBO 15LL, FE; SITE1 APS, 2FE |
|
69 |
11/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Sub-adult devoured instantly |
|
70 |
12/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing, SITE1 AP; FRWA 15LL, 2FE. LM |
|
71 |
12/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
72 |
13/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Moved 1m, NCAY 15LL, 2NN, 2NP, FE, EL |
|
74 |
13/12/2001 | ES1 | Nil | Observed previously on NOWA |
|
75 |
13/12/2001 | ES2 | Nil | Recently died. Operculum located. 1-2months internal growth of algae.. |
|
76 |
16/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing, NOWA FE; FRWA AP, 10LL, FE |
|
77 |
16/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
78 |
17/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing, SITE1 NO, FRWA APS, 20LL, NN |
|
79 |
17/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
80 |
18/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, FRBO 20LL, 2FE, 2NR; SITE1 AP, FE |
|
81 |
18/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | Moved 30M |
|
82 |
18/12/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
83 |
18/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
84 |
20/12/2001 | 3,4 | Nil | Missing |
|
85 |
20/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry, NCAY 30LL, NN, 2FE; SITE1 APS, FE |
|
86 |
22/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Moved 30M, SITE1 4APS, LL |
|
87 |
22/12/2001 | 3 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured sub-adult instantly |
|
88 |
22/12/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured sub-adult instantly, Moved 20M |
|
89 |
22/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured sub-adult instantly |
|
90 |
23/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, NCAY 2AP, 6LL, FE; SITE1 LL, FE, EL |
|
91 |
23/12/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
92 |
23/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
93 |
24/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, FRBO-NOWA APS, 5LL, FE |
|
94 |
24/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | Moved 2M |
|
95 |
24/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Sub-adult devoured instantly |
|
96 |
27/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, SITE1-BOAT 5LL, LM, 2FE; FRBO 20LL, 3FE |
|
97 |
27/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | Unmoved |
|
98 |
27/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Unmoved |
|
99 |
28/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, SITE1 NN, NP, 2FE, EL; NWCAY AP, 100LL, NN, NP, EL |
|
100 |
28/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
101 |
28/12/2001 | 5 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
102 |
29/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, NCAY 2AP, 30LL, 2NN, NP, 5FE; NECAY 10LL, FE; NWCAY APS, 50LL, NN, 4FE |
|
103 |
29/12/2001 | 4 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured after 5 mins |
|
104 |
29/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
105 |
30/12/2001 | 3 | Nil | Missing, FRBO AP, 10LL, NN, 3FE, CN; SHAL-WCAY 20LL, NN, NR, 3FE |
|
106 |
30/12/2001 | 4 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
107 |
30/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
108 |
30/12/2001 | 6 | Nil | 150m west of NOWA, triton in 2m – Col, John |
|
109 |
31/12/2001 | 4 | Culcita novaeguineae | Attached itself and fed |
|
110 |
31/12/2001 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
111 |
31/12/2001 | 6 | Acanthaster planci | Regurgitated large number of spines |
|
112 |
31/12/2001 | 6 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured instantly |
|
113 |
03/01/2002 | 4 | Nil | Unmoved |
|
114 |
03/01/2002 | 5 | Nil | Unmoved, SITE1 Nil; FRWA 2APJ, 15LL, 2NN, FM |
|
115 |
03/01/2002 | 6 | Nil | Unmoved |
|
116 |
04/01/2002 | 4 | Nil | Moved 2m, NCAY ES3, 10LL, 2FE; SHAL ES4, 10LL, 3FE |
|
117 |
04/01/2002 | 5 | Culcita novaeguineae | Attached itself and fed |
|
118 |
04/01/2002 | 6 | Nil | Unmoved |
|
119 |
04/01/2002 | ES3 | Nil | Dead shell, 50m north of cay recently crushed |
|
120 |
04/01/2002 | ES4 | Nil | Dead shell, SHAL 10m, clean and intact |
|
121 |
05/01/2002 | 4 | Culcita novaeguineae | Attached itself and fed |
|
122 |
05/01/2002 | 5 | Nil | Unmoved, NCAY-NWCAY 75LL, 2FE |
|
123 |
05/01/2002 | 6 | Nardoa novaecaledoniae | Devoured instantly |
|
124 |
06/01/2002 | 4 | Nil | Unmoved, NCAY-NWCAY 75LL, 2NN, NP, 5FE |
|
125 |
06/01/2002 | 5 | Culcita novaeguineae | Feeding on remains |
|
126 |
06/01/2002 | 6 | Nardoa novaecaledoniae | Devoured instantly |
|
127 |
08/01/2002 | 4 | Nardoa novaecaledoniae | Devoured instantly, NCAY 50LL, 2NN, 5FE; FRBO 20LL, 2FE, CN |
|
128 |
08/01/2002 | 5 | Culcita novaeguineae | Feeding on remains |
|
129 |
08/01/2002 | 6 | Linckia laevigata | Attacked instantly – prey removed |
|
130 |
08/01/2002 | 6 | Culcita novaeguineae | Attached itself and fed |
|
131 |
09/01/2002 | 4 | Linckia laevigata | Devoured instantly, NOWA LL, 6FE; SITE1 AC |
|
132 |
09/01/2002 | 5 | Culcita novaeguineae | Attached itself and fed, starfish escaped |
|
133 |
09/01/2002 | 6 | Nil | Unmoved |
|
134 |
10/01/2002 | 4 | Nil | Unmoved, NCAYCR APS, 50LL, 6FE; SITE1 AP, LL, NO |
|
135 |
10/01/2002 | 5 | Nil | Unmoved, |
|
136 |
10/01/2002 | 6 | Nil | Unmoved, |
|
137 |
12/01/2002 | 4 | Nil | Not hungry, moved 3m, NOWA LL, 5FE; SITE1 AP, FRBO 7LL, NN |
|
138 |
12/01/2002 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
139 |
12/01/2002 | 6 | Acanthaster planci | Devoured sub-adult instantly, moved 2m |
|
140 |
13/01/2002 | 4 | Nil | Not hungry, SITE1 LL, AP; NCAY-NWCAY 75LL, NP, FE |
|
141 |
13/01/2002 | 5 | Nil | Not hungry |
|
142 |
13/01/2002 | 6 | Nardoa novaecaledoniae | Devoured instantly |
|
143 |
13/01/2002 | 6 | Acanthaster planci | Regurgitated Nardoa then fed on mashed Acanthaster |
Charonia Research wishes to thank Quick Cat Cruises, Quick Cat Dive and Quick Cat Scuba Adventures of Mission Beach for their logistic support. Without this in-kind support, preliminary studies such as these, could never be initiated. For further details about how you can be involved in this project please Email and state your details together with any particular areas of interest or concern.
