Native sea star survival – what’s the odds?
Like most other seastars, Meridiastra calcar (aka Carpet Seastars, formerly Patiriella calcar) are slow movers and spend their whole life in localised areas. Their varied diet of algae, molluscs, detritus and dying animals provides a good living. But unlike most other seastars, Patiriella brood their young within their body, rather than shedding masses of eggs [...]
People power – best defence against pest seastars
Earthcare volunteers plucked around 5,000 pest seastars from St Kilda harbour today. The group has conducted similar culls since 2006, recording the numbers collected and their size. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the seastar population’s seasonal behaviour, as well as protect the native species that live in the St Kilda Harbour [...]
Birds up close help make our day
Many people find a walk on the beach is a great way to relax and kick sand over their day-to-day worries; and the sight of birds roosting contentedly suggests all’s well with their world. The regular presence of the birds suggests their food supply is there too! Many seabirds are attracted to rocky outcrops and [...]
