“We should care because it could be a bellwether of things to come,” Gehman said. “That way, we can identify mitigating factors, so that we can try to lessen the negative effects of climate change on this species,” Gehman said.īut addressing climate change is the most obvious step to try to ensure sea stars' survival. Scientists are scrambling to determine how exactly the virus, warm water and other factors might be causing the massive impacts of SSWD. “And also, anywhere we're seeing pockets of disease.” “Then we can start to track where we're seeing growth and potential evidence of the recovery of sea stars,” Gehman said. If people see sea stars, they can take photos and record data on the app about their sightings and provide valuable information to researchers. So, there’s a push to educate the public about sea stars and to encourage them to become citizen scientists and help researchers monitor populations in their areas, she said.Īn especially useful tool is the iNaturalist app that can be downloaded to cellphones, Gehman said. It’s difficult for researchers and scientists to monitor the entire Pacific coastline for sea stars, Gehman noted. “We’re still seeing some, but they are variable, small populations and generally small individuals.” Citizen scientists can monitor sea stars Biologist Alyssa Gehman says citizen scientists can help researchers monitor sea star populations and incidents of disease by using apps like iNaturalist to record sightings in their areas. ![]() However, the sunflower star is still in peril and has only been detected in isolated areas along the B.C., Washington and Alaska coasts.ĭivers in the Discovery Islands off the east coast of Vancouver Island recently reported seeing sunflower stars, Gehman said. Gehman’s own research looks at whether different sea star species, such as the leather star, are more resistant to the disease. Researchers in Oregon also noted an unusual and dramatic jump in baby ochre star populations, but it’s not clear if it’s a response linked to SSWD or whether the populations can avoid contracting the virus, Gehman said. “So while we’re seeing more ochre stars, the disease is not gone.” “On the central coast, we’ve definitely seen some recovery, but we also appear to be seeing what look like seasonal outbreaks in the late summer,” said Gehman, adding, again, warmer water appears to be an aggravating factor. coast, said Gehman.īut what’s unclear is how extensive those populations are, and if they will last. However, there does seem to be pockets of recovery of the ochre star along the B.C. In British Columbia, the decline in the sunflower star is linked to rising urchin numbers and a 30 per cent decline in kelp forests, a fundamental source of food and habitat for a range of marine animals, including otters, seals and fish. Sunflower stars, in particular, are voracious eaters that can swallow sea urchins whole, keeping their populations in check.īut now without this primary predator, sea urchins are mowing down kelp forests. Ochre stars keep mussel colonies along rocky shorelines at bay, allowing other plants and animals to thrive. coast are most likely to recognize - are keystone species.īoth have a disproportionately large influence in their ecosystem, Gehman said. Ripple effect on marine ecosystemsĪside from the alarming loss of sea stars, their disappearance has larger, ongoing implications for the marine ecosystem, Gehman said.īoth sunflower and ochre stars - the purple and orange starfish found clinging to rocky beaches and piers that people along the B.C. Lab experiments also show infected stars die faster and suffer a higher mortality rate in warmer water, she said.īut it’s still not entirely clear what higher temperatures do to the virus in the water, she added. ![]() Research indicates rising sea temperatures linked to climate change makes the sea stars more vulnerable to a virus that previously had isolated effect on sea star populations - but is now pushing some to the edge of extinction, said Gehman. ![]() The loss is so widespread, persistent and alarming that Gehman and a group of her peers are trying to get the sunflower sea star registered as a threatened species.
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