Abstract
LARGE aggregations of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci L have destroyed a high proportion of the coral on certain Indo-Pacific reefs. We report that gamete release by one A. planci induces other ripe starfish to spawn; similar behaviour has been observed in certain other echinoderms1,2. During natural spawning a pheromone is released from the gonad, which synchronises spawning in neighbouring animals and also induces starfish movement towards the spawning individual. Using a Y maze to study chemoattraction in spawning starfish, we have attempted to isolate and characterise the active gonad component.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fox, H. M., Proc. Camb. phil. Soc. biol. Sci., 1, 71–74 (1924).
Gemmill, J. F., Phil. Trans. R. Soc., B 205, 213–294 (1914).
Owens, D., Fiji Agric. J., 33, 1–15 (1971).
Endean, R., in Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, II, (edit. by Jones, O. A., and Endean, R.), (Academic, New York and London, 1974).
Gemmill, J. F., Q. Jl microsc. Sci., 64, 155–189 (1920).
Kanatani, H., Int. Rev. Cytol., 35, 253–298 (1973).
Ormond, R. F. G., et al., Nature, 246, 167–169 (1973).
Ormond, R. F. G., and Cambell, A. C., Second Int. Symp. Coral Reefs, Gt Barrier Reef, Australia (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BEACH, D., HANSCOMB, N. & ORMOND, R. Spawning pheromone in crown-of-thorns starfish. Nature 254, 135–136 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254135a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254135a0
