WWF: Harmful starfish threatening RP corals again
COTS or crown-of-thorns starfish (ancanthaster planci), which can decimate entire sections of coral reef in weeks, are back in the Philippines and in greater numbers.
This was the warning aired Wednesday by environmental group World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which said outbreaks have been reported in coastal areas in Luzon and Mindanao.
"This year the COTS have returned – in ever greater numbers. Yesterday, outbreaks were reported in Mabini, Batangas., WWF said in a statement on its website.
WWF said a check through its sites throughout the country revealed that COTS outbreaks had also hit Apo Reef and Puerto Galera in Mindoro, Roxas in Palawan, Bolinao in Lingayen Gulf, Kiamba and Glan in Sarangani Bay.
WWF said "it is possible that many other coastal areas have been affected as well,"
A single COTS can totally consume six meters of healthy reef yearly, it said.
WWF said COTS outbreaks usually occur during summer, when ocean temperatures and nutrient levels increase and give rise to algal blooms.
story continued
This was the warning aired Wednesday by environmental group World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which said outbreaks have been reported in coastal areas in Luzon and Mindanao.
"This year the COTS have returned – in ever greater numbers. Yesterday, outbreaks were reported in Mabini, Batangas., WWF said in a statement on its website.
WWF said a check through its sites throughout the country revealed that COTS outbreaks had also hit Apo Reef and Puerto Galera in Mindoro, Roxas in Palawan, Bolinao in Lingayen Gulf, Kiamba and Glan in Sarangani Bay.
WWF said "it is possible that many other coastal areas have been affected as well,"
A single COTS can totally consume six meters of healthy reef yearly, it said.
WWF said COTS outbreaks usually occur during summer, when ocean temperatures and nutrient levels increase and give rise to algal blooms.
story continued
posted by anthony m, at 6:17 PM
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