Data for: Settlement cue selectivity by larvae of the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish

Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) cause extensive
degradation of coral reefs, threatening the structure and function of
these important ecosystems. For population irruptions to initiate and
spread, large numbers of planktonic larvae have to successfully transition
into their benthic life-history stage (i.e. settlement), whereby larval
behaviour and the presence of settlement cues may shape spatial patterns
of recruitment and adult densities. Our results demonstrate that a wide
range of coralline algae species induce COTS larvae to settle; however,
the capacity to promote settlement success varied manyfold among algal
species, ranging from >90% in Melyvonnea cf. madagascariensis to
<2% in Lithophyllum cf. kotschyanum and two Porolithon species at
24 hours. Because many coralline algae species that promote high
settlement success are prevalent in shallow reef habitats, our findings
challenge the hypothesis that COTS larvae predominantly settle in deep
water. Considering both larval behaviour and algal ecology, this study
highlights the ecological significance of coralline algae communities in
driving settlement patterns of COTS. More specifically, the local
abundance of highly inductive coralline algae (especially, Melyvonnea cf.
madagascariensis) may explain marked spatial variability in the abundance
of COTS and the incidence of population irruptions.