DNA-based identification of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in coral reef fish faeces and gut contents

The datasets summarises the results from a research project examining predation on Crown of Thorn starfish by coral reef fish. It includes all fish species caught during four field trips, including location and date caught, as well as results from digital droplet PCR for analyses of CoTS DNA presence.Fish were collected on reefs in the central GBR and around Lizard Island in 2018 and 2019 using methods approved by GBRMPA, DPI Fisheries and JCU Animal Ethics. Their faecal and gut content samples were analysed for CoTS DNA at AIMS in 2018 and 2019 to examine potential predation on Crown of Thorn starfish by coral reef fish.CoTS DNA in fish faecal and gut content samples was analysed using digital droplet PCR. The PCR data is either a ‘YES’ or a ‘NO’, that is COTS DNA is presence (YES) or absent (NO). A Yes suggest that that particular coral reef fish species may have eaten Crown of Thorn starfish.