University of California
Recent increases in observations of Acanthaster planci in lagoons on the North Coast of Moorea, French Polynesia have prompted a population survey on both the outer reef slope and inside the lagoon. Nine transects were performed along the coast between (S 17°28.971, W 149°54.130; & S 17°28.65, W 149°50.75). A. planci population was found to be very patchy. Timed surveys using SCUBA showed the population of stars on the outer reef slope to be concentrated in a depth range between 15-30m, with a high concentration 40/Ha near one of our transects.