Billions of starfish have died in a decade-long epidemic
9 months ago
- #ecosystem conservation
- #marine biology
- #climate change
- Scientists have identified the cause of a decade-long epidemic that killed over 5 billion sea stars (starfish) off the Pacific coast of North America.
- The culprit is the bacteria Vibrio pectenicida, found in the coelomic fluid of affected sea stars.
- The disease, known as sea star wasting syndrome, causes lesions, arm loss, and eventual disintegration of the sea stars.
- The sunflower sea star was the hardest hit, losing 90% of its population in the first five years of the outbreak.
- Previous research mistakenly focused on a densovirus, which turned out to be a normal part of healthy sea stars.
- The epidemic has led to a surge in sea urchin populations, which have decimated 95% of Northern California's kelp forests.
- Kelp forests are vital ecosystems, providing food and habitat for numerous marine species.
- Scientists hope to use the findings to restore sea star populations and regrow kelp forests, comparing them to 'the rainforests of the ocean.'
- Future research will explore the link between rising seawater temperatures and the disease, as well as potential treatments like probiotics.