Research Project
Full description When reefs get too warm, Crown-of-thorns Starfish (CoTS) tend to be harder to find and cull, making it difficult to prioritise CoTS control efforts effectively and efficiently across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Using a modelling approach, this project aims to evaluate the pros and cons of different strategies to control CoTS during coral bleaching events, which will be developed with input from managers and operators. For example, when bleaching occurs on a reef, should we switch to just monitoring, or stop culling and redirect vessels to other reefs? If so, what triggers these actions, and when do we make the decisions? By assessing alternative CoTS control strategies, researchers aim to improve CoTS control planning and protect coral reefs.