Conservation & Threats
Different stages of the asteroid life cycle will have different responses to climate change (Byrne, 2011). All aspects of the life cycle need to be completed for ecological success, so any affect from climate change is going to threaten the chances of this success. Studies have shown positive outcomes in the adult stages after simulating climate change in the laboratory (Byrne, 2011). Although this is good, larvae and juvenile stages are usually more sensitive for all species and no research has been conducted to determine the effects of climate change in these phases of the life cycle.
Another threat for this species of sea star is predation. Although great evolutionary measures have been taking with the addition of an armour-like exterior, there is still the posing threat of predators (Blake, 1983). In the Indo-West Pacific, there is less armour on the populations due to a decrease in stressors and a relatively stable climate (Blake, 1983). This could negatively affect the species if this area was to be hit with climate change more severely than others. Despite the threat of predators and climate change, this species has no short-term threats that would require the need for conservation or protection.
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