"Surviving Coral Bleaching: The Reign of Reef-Devouring Starfish"

Juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish have been found to withstand high heat levels that kill coral, making them resilient to warming waters caused by climate change. These starfish can wait patiently for the opportune moment to grow into carnivorous predators and devour reefs just as they begin to regrow. The increase in their numbers and the availability of rubble habitat generated by coral bleaching and mortality contribute to the initiation of adult crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, exacerbating the ravages of climate change on coral reefs.