Coral's Secret Weapon: How Venom Fights Off Hungry Sea Stars

Crown-of-thorns sea stars (CoTS) are a big problem for coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific. They eat a lot of coral, especially certain types like Acropora. But why do they prefer some corals over others? Scientists think it might have something to do with coral venom. They looked at the venom of different coral species to see if it affects the sea stars' eating habits. The team studied both preferred and non-preferred coral species. They also included some corals from the Caribbean, where CoTS are not found. This helped them compare toxins and see if there are any differences based on location. They found that all corals have toxins, but some types are unique to certain species.For example, jellyfish-like toxins were only found in Porites corals. Meanwhile, Acropora corals had unique pore-forming toxins. Some of these toxins seem to have evolved because of environmental pressures, like the presence of CoTS. This means corals might be developing defenses against their hungry predators. The study gives a good starting point for understanding how coral venom works. This could help scientists figure out how to protect coral reefs from future CoTS outbreaks. It's a reminder that nature is full of surprises, and even the most delicate-looking creatures have ways to protect themselves.