The problems of invasive species: crown-of-thorns starfish The basic definition of an invasive race is when a species is native to another the habitat is transported to a foreign ecosystem. Without natural predators, it completely ruins the food chain of the native genus. One of the ways an invasive species takes control of its host habitat is that it has no natural predators, reproduces rapidly, and outcompetes native species in obtaining food. In other words, foreign inhabitants can potentially damage an already stable ecological unit. It is important that all this ends because some animals may become extinct because they are hunted by unknown predators or starve to death due to lack of food. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay An example of this is the Crown of Thorns starfish, the true origin of this species is found in the waters of India and the Pacific. The invasion began in the 1960s, when the larval stage of the Crown-of-thorns starfish migrated to another area that was not their natural habitat; a reason why they were placed in one place because of their natural predators such as the Triton Shell. These starfish species are known for their voracious appetite for consuming coral. If there is no natural predator to wield its poisonous spines, this will destroy the coral community and bleach the coral indefinitely. Because the coral had been destroyed, many fish had lost their food source and home to the crown-of-thorns starfish. It is also quick to reproduce and the larva can also find new corals to satisfy its hunger. Crown-of-thorns starfish are actually good for a coral, however if there is a greater number of them than their biggest competition for food. Therefore, this leads to increased consumption and a greater likelihood of coral bleaching. This also decreases diversity on coral reefs, as fish flee the reef because they are no longer protected. The dramatic change in the reef reduces it to an algae-dominated system and becomes sterile. If this continues, only a few coral reef communities will have richly diverse marine life. Not only that, but the decline in colorful corals will also affect the economy of exotic places that depend on those places for money, where tourists flock from all over the world to see. To control the dense starfish population and keep away from intact coral reefs, divers must inject the deadly starfish with sodium bisulfate, which kills them within days. However, this substance is not toxic to other marine organisms, so it does not move up the food chain if the poisoned starfish is eaten. Secondly, to ensure that crown-of-thorns numbers remain manageable by monitoring their populations. But also finding alternatives to not only remove invasive species, but also finding a cost-effective way to do it. However, it is important for marine biologists to know the difference between nutrient runoff and crown-of-thorns starfish larval outbreaks. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize Essay First, to prevent ecosystem decay due to foreign invaders, people in charge of importing exotic creatures who think that the creature will benefit the native environment, should do thorough research. Specifically, the frequency with which it reproduces, its natural predators and, finally, the.