A recent discovery by scientists has shed light on the mysterious sea star wasting disease that has ravaged marine ecosystems along the Pacific Coast of North America. The culprit behind this devastating epidemic is a previously unknown bacterium, Vibrio pectenicida. This microorganism causes widespread disintegration among sea stars, leading to a staggering 90% mortality rate for sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides). As a result, the species has been declared critically endangered due to its severe impact on the marine ecosystem, making it the largest documented non-commercial epidemic affecting more than 20 species of sea stars.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vibrio-pectenicida-identified-as-cause-of-sea-star-wasting-disease-affecting