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"Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands" (Environmental Sciences and Policy Management 107 and Integrative Biology 158) - Fall 2006.

Download the Paper (252 K, PDF file) - December 1, 2006 Tell a colleague about it. Printing Tips: Select 'print as image' in the Acrobat print dialog if you have trouble printing.

ABSTRACT:
Previous studies of the feeding biology of Culcita novaeguineae Muller & Troschel in Hawai’i have shown that the cushion star prefers to prey on coral species of the genus Pocillopora over the genus Porites. Distribution and feeding biology studies of C. novaeguineae in Cook’s Bay on the island of Mo’orea, French Polynesia have shown that it habitats near Porites spp. coral in areas where Porites spp. coral is sparse, and prefers to prey on Acropora spp. coral. The purpose of this study was to further examine coral prey preference of C. novaeguineae in Mo’orea, using specimens from four areas on the island for better representation of its feeding ecology on Mo’orea, French Polynesia. My studies showed that C. novaeguineae in Mo’orea prefers Acropora spp. and Pocillopora spp., over Porites spp. (p=0.0046), and showed no preference for Acropora spp., over Pocillopora spp.. The study further determined that C. novaeguineae primarily feeds nocturnally, and moves persistently in search for food. As a coral predator, C. novaeguineae can affect abundance of certain coral species, and change the overall reef ecology in Mo’orea.

SUGGESTED CITATION:
Sigrid V. Hawkins, "Feeding Preference of the Cushion Star, Culcita Novaeguineae in Mo’orea" (December 1, 2006). Water Resources Center Archives. Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands (ESPM 107/IB 158). Paper hawkins.
http://repositories.cdlib.org/wrca/moorea/hawkins