Population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci L.) remain one of the most significant biological disturbances on tropical coral reefs although the increasing attention given to other threats has greatly limited recent progress in understanding the cause and consequences of this phenomenon. In September 2005 dramatic increases in the abundance of A. planci were observed on ...

The analysis of literature data allowed to highlight the importance plant Prunus spinosa L. as a valuable source material in selection stone crops and its fruits raw materials for food pharmaceutical industries. Leading scientists have obtained significant number forms varieties terrain, particular Ukraine created variety Donets’kyy krupnyy, CIS such Desertnyy, Velykoplidnyy, Sverkhobilnyy, Sla...

Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary contains a moderately diverse coral reef community (150 coral species, 259 fish species) that is protected from most human activities. The coral community was devastated by a crown-of-thorns starfish invasion in 1979 and has recently been affected by two major hurricanes (1990 and 1991) and a period of unusually high water temperature (1994). Long-term mon...