Small, hidden crabs may be the missing link influencing coral-eating starfish populations, according to a study published in ...

Small, hidden crabs may be the missing link influencing coral-eating starfish populations, according to a study published in ...

crabs and small fish species that in turn bring in larger fish species that is there to eat those,” said North Carolina ...

Lab studies suggested that crabs avoided living coral tissue, instead feeding in areas of recent tissue loss. Out on the reef, the team observed that wounded corals lost patches of algae faster ...

Building on previous research which looked at what crab species would eat juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish in aquariums, scientists went out on the reef and surveyed the crabs and CoTS present.

crabs, shrimps, worms, sea cucumbers—of stunning diversity. Add to these the hundreds of new species scientists identify worldwide each year. Schooling above the reef are fish painted ...