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The Potential Effect of Ocean Acidification on Acanthster planci (Crown-of-
Thorns Starfish) Larvae in Pulau Bidong
Loh Chuah Ju Yee
Supervisor: Dr Tan Chun Hong
Co-supervisor: Dr Poh Seng Chee
Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology)
School of Marine and Environmental Science
Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTs), Acanthaster planci is known as one of the most
significance threats in coral reef ecosystem. It is important to investigate the
environmental tipping point on COTs early life history stages to understand the limits
for normal development of this species. In this study, the effects of projected ocean
acidification conditions (pH: 7.4 & 7.8) were tested on fertilization success and larvae
development rate of the COTs. The results showed that lowered seawater pH has no
significance impact on the fertilization success rate. However, larvae size in the
lowered pH treatments were significantly smaller than the control treatment (pH: 8.1).
Length and width of COTs in lowered pH treatments were 40%-46% and 28%-47%
smaller than the samples in control treatment, respectively. These findings indicated
that COTs larvae may survived ocean acidification conditions. But, larvae growth rate
may delayed and their size reduced in the lowered pH seawater conditions.
1819 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018