Researchers inspecting the reefs  in French Polynesia found that corals have recovered from several disturbances, including several bleaching events and a cyclone in the last two decades

This capacity to recover is probably linked with the high numbers of herbivorous fish on Tiahura Reef

Branching corals such as this Acropora are the favorite food of the Crown of Thorns Starfish that is now at outbreak levels on Tiahura Reef

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