Researchers at AIMS are currently investigating the mechanisms that drive Crownofthorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef and how they might be controlled. One project, part of the Australian Government's National Landcare Initiative Reef Rescue Program, is looking into the potential for natural predators to be used to control COTS numbers.

The giant triton, a large marine snail, is a known natural predator of COTS. Using its welldeveloped sense of smell, a giant triton is able to locate and pursue a COTS, eventually catching, killing and eating it. However, COTS also have a keen sense of smell, and can sense when a giant triton is near.

Read more about the project here: http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/media/fea...

Watch the video to see how a COTS reacts to the scent of a giant triton.