A new study has solved the mystery behind sea star wasting disease, which has been killing billions of marine creatures along the West Coast since 2013. Researchers have found that a strain of bacteria from Vibrio pectenicida is responsible for the devastating disease.
The pathogenic bacteria was identified through DNA sequencing and analysis of infected sea stars’ coelomic fluid, also known as “blood.” The study’s authors discovered high levels of V. pectenicida in infected sea stars, which was different from healthy individuals.
Sea star wasting disease has had catastrophic consequences for ecosystems, driving the largest sea star species to the brink of extinction. The disease infects more than 20 different species and is particularly devastating for sunflower sea stars, causing population losses of over 87% further north.
The discovery has shed light on the ecological dynamics affected by the disease, as sunflower sea stars play a crucial role in keeping sea urchin populations under control, which in turn regulates kelp forests. The loss of these sea stars has led to an explosion in urchin populations, threatening the stability of kelp forests and their associated species.
The study’s authors acknowledge that there is still much to be learned about the disease, but identifying the cause of wasting disease is a crucial step towards recovering the affected species and understanding its ecological impact.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/animals/mystery-of-why-sea-stars-keep-turning-into-goo-finally-solved-and-its-not-what-scientists-thought