Science. 1973 May 4;180(4085):504-6. doi: 10.1126/science.180.4085.504.
Analysis of data on coral abundance and growth, and the population size (26 individuals per hectare) and feeding rate of Acanthaster indicates that Pocillopora reefs on the Pacific coast of Panama are undergoing vigorous growth in the presence of this predator. Prediction of the effects of a population increase in Acanthaster to plague proportions (2.5 times that presently observed) suggests that reefs could still maintain a positive growth. However, Acanthaster at ten times the present population density would lead to rapid destruction of reefs. It is argued that coral destruction due to Acanthaster represents only one of several factors affecting coral reef progression.
对珊瑚丰度和生长数据、棘冠海星种群大小（每公顷 26 只）和摄食率的分析表明，在这种捕食者存在的情况下，巴拿马太平洋海岸的鹿角珊瑚礁正在蓬勃生长。棘冠海星数量增加到瘟疫程度（目前观察到的数量的 2.5 倍）的影响预测表明，珊瑚礁仍能保持正增长。然而，棘冠海星的种群密度是目前的 10 倍，将导致珊瑚礁的迅速破坏。有人认为，棘冠海星对珊瑚的破坏只是影响珊瑚礁发展的几个因素之一。
