Data from: Indirect effects of ocean acidification drive feeding and growth of juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci

The indirect effects of changing climate in modulating trophic
interactions can be as important as the direct effects of climate
stressors on consumers. The success of the herbivorous juvenile stage of
the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster planci, may be affected
by the impacts of ocean conditions on its crustose coralline algal (CCA)
food. To partition the direct effects of near future ocean acidification
on juvenile COTS and indirect effects through changes in their CCA food,
COTS were grown in three pHT levels (7.9, 7.8, 7.6) and fed CCA grown at
similar pH levels. Consumption of CCA by COTS was bolstered when the COTS
were grown in low pH and when they were fed CCA grown in low pH regardless
of the pH in which the COTS were reared. COTS fed CCA grown at pH 7.6 grew
fastest, but the pH/pCO2 that the COTS were reared in had no direct effect
on growth. Ocean acidification conditions decreased the C : N ratio and
carbonate levels in the CCA. Bolstered growth in COTS may be driven by
enhanced palatability, increased nutritive state and reduced defences of
their CCA food. These results indicate that near future acidification will
increase the success of early juvenile COTS and boost recruitment into the
coral-eating life stage.