Age and available coral species modulate transition probability from herbivory to corallivory in juvenile Acanthaster cf. solaris (Crown-of-Thorns seastar)

This dataset was collected in two separate experiments in 2019/20 and 2020/21, looking at the behaviour of juvenile Acanthaster cf. solaris as they transition from their initial herbivorous diet feeding on crustose coralline algae (CCA) to feeding on coral. We aimed to fill key knowledge gaps by identifying the age and size COTS would transition, as well as identifying 50% and 100% probabilities of transition for the cohorts. We also looked at the effect available coral species have on the probability of COTS transitioning, comparing preferred foods Acropora millepora and A. tenuis to Stylophora pistillata. COTS were isolated in flow-through tanks in the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s National Sea Simulator, and provided with CCA and the relevant coral species. In Experiment 1, one COTS was added per tank with CCA and A. tenuis, and was monitored weekly for a transition to a coral diet. In Experiment 2, 10 COTS were added per tank, with CCA and either A. millepora, A. tenuis or S. pistillata, with four replicate tanks per coral treatment. When COTS were observed feeding on corals, they were removed, photographed and their size and age recorded. Experiment 1 was run until all 24 COTS used in the experiment had transitioned, whilst Experiment 2 was run until >50% of the cohort in the A. tenuis treatment (the COTS preferred food) had transitioned.Parameters common to both:Age – Age of Acanthaster cf. solaris juveniles in days post settlementArms – Number of arms on individual Acanthaster cf. solarisDiameter – Average diameter of Acanthaster cf. solaris individuals measured in millimetres from the tips of the armsCoral – The coral species the Acanthaster cf. solaris was found feeding onExp 1Tank Row – the row the COTS tank was inTank Column – the column the COTS tank was inExp 2Tank Rep – The replicate number of the tank for each coral species (n = 4 for each species)Tank No – The individual tank ID numberExp 2 – binomial feedingCCA/Coral – 1 indicates this was the diet of the COTS specimen at the end of the experiment (day 175), 0 indicates it was not

本数据集采集于2019/20与2020/21两次独立实验，旨在探究长棘海星（Acanthaster cf. solaris）幼体从初始植食性阶段（以钙化藻结皮（crustose coralline algae, 以下简称CCA）为食）向珊瑚食性阶段转变的行为模式。本研究旨在填补关键认知空白：明确长棘海星（下文简称COTS）发生食性转变的年龄与体型阈值，并确定该种群食性转变的50%与100%概率临界点。同时，本研究还考察了可供选择的珊瑚物种对COTS食性转变概率的影响，选取其偏好饵料多孔鹿角珊瑚（Acropora millepora）、细枝鹿角珊瑚（Acropora tenuis）与指形杯形珊瑚（Stylophora pistillata）开展对比实验。

实验均在澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（Australian Institute of Marine Science）国家海洋模拟设施（National Sea Simulator）的流水养殖水槽中开展，将COTS单独隔离饲养，并提供CCA与对应珊瑚饵料。
实验1：每个养殖水槽投放1只COTS，搭配CCA与细枝鹿角珊瑚，每周监测其是否完成食性转变。
实验2：每个养殖水槽投放10只COTS，搭配CCA与多孔鹿角珊瑚、细枝鹿角珊瑚或指形杯形珊瑚中的一种，每种珊瑚处理组设置4个重复水槽。当观察到COTS取食珊瑚时，立即将其取出、拍照，并记录其体型与年龄。
实验1持续至本次实验所用的全部24只COTS均完成食性转变，实验2则持续至细枝鹿角珊瑚（COTS偏好饵料）处理组中超过50%的个体完成食性转变。

### 共用参数
1. 年龄（Age）：长棘海星幼体固着后的日龄
2. 腕足数（Arms）：单个长棘海星的腕足数量
3. 直径（Diameter）：以腕足尖端为基准测量的个体平均直径，单位为毫米
4. 摄食珊瑚种类（Coral）：记录到该长棘海星取食的珊瑚物种

### 实验1专属参数
- 养殖水槽排号（Tank Row）：该COTS所在养殖水槽的排数
- 养殖水槽列号（Tank Column）：该COTS所在养殖水槽的列数

### 实验2专属参数
- 养殖水槽重复编号（Tank Rep）：对应珊瑚物种的养殖水槽重复编号（每个物种n=4）
- 养殖水槽编号（Tank No）：单个养殖水槽的唯一标识ID

### 实验2二项式摄食参数
- CCA/珊瑚（CCA/Coral）：取值为1时，表示该COTS样本在实验结束时（第175天）以珊瑚为食；取值为0时，表示其未发生食性转变（仍以CCA为食）