オニヒトデ
体の上部表面を覆う棘からその名がついたオニヒトデは、サンゴの生態系に不可欠な動物です。このヒトデは、成長の速いサンゴを主要な餌とする傾向にありサンゴ礁の多様性維持に役立っています。ただし異常発生すると造礁サンゴを食べ尽くし、自然のバランスを大きく崩してしまうこともあります。
[キャプション]
サンゴを食べるオニヒトデの集団
造礁サンゴ。オニヒトデの侵襲を受ける前と後
足摺宇和海国立公園におけるオニヒトデの年間駆除数
Title The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
- Kochi
- Topic(s)：
- $SETTINGS_DB.genreMap.get($item) National Parks/Quasi-National Parks
- Medium/Media of Use：
- Interpretive Sign
- Text Length：
- ≤250 Words
- FY Prepared：
- 2019
- Associated Tourism Board：
- Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park
- Associated Address：
- 2610 Hiromi, Otsuki-cho Hata-gun , Kochi
English
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
The crown-of-thorns starfish, so named because of the spines that cover the upper surface of its body, is an integral part of coral ecosystems. These starfish help ensure the diversity of coral reefs by feeding especially on fast-growing corals. When they multiply beyond their usual numbers, however, they can consume entire populations of reef-building corals and severely disrupt the natural balance.
[Captions]
A group of crown-of-thorns starfish feeding on corals.
Reef-building corals before and after a starfish invasion.
The number of crown-of-thorns starfish exterminated around Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park by year.
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