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Sea Star Wasting Disease
Sea Star Wasting Disease, otherwise known as Sea Star Wasting Syndrome, is a condition that affects starfish and has caused population decline and mass mortality events. There are currently more than 20 species of sea stars that have been affected so far. The symptoms of this disease include abnormally twisted arms, white lesions, deflation of arms and body, arm loss, body disintegration, and eventually death. Those affected die over the course of days or weeks. Through research, it was found that this disease affects larger species of sea stars more than smaller species. Sea Star Wasting Disease was originally thought to be a viral infection, however, recent studies show that it could be caused by ecological interaction. Although this disease is caused by ecological interactions- more specifically, microorganisms sucking up oxygen from the water around infected sea stars, essentially causing the star to suffocate- it can still be transmitted between sea stars. While the "suffocation" is not transmittable from star to star, the bacteria are. Decaying stars exacerbate the situation by providing even more organic material for bacterial communities to flourish. This causes a dangerous feedback loop.

The first notable reports of Sea Star Wasting Disease occurred in the 1970s (specifically 1972 and 1978), but the most recent and massive sea star die-off event was reported in 2013 along the North American Pacific coast. This event was one of the largest wildlife mass-mortality events ever recorded. Throughout 2013-14, sea stars died off at dramatic rates across the west coast from Baja California in Mexico to the gulf of Alaska. In Oregon's near-shore environments, it is estimated that the adult population of purple sea stars had been depleted by up to 80 percent by the end of 2014. This lead to a substantial disruption of predator and prey species in those foreshore habitats.

Currently, most cases are located on the west coast of North America. Map of Sea Star Wasting Disease Locations

As of 2015, a notable number of disease cases began to dwindle, indicating that the worst of the die-off may have passed. Many researchers continue to gather data, monitoring sea star wasting and population recovery in the hopes of preventing or lessening the impact should another possible die-off event occur in the future. Sea stars play essential roles in many ecosystems and help maintain local biodiversity. Knowing how this disease develops has helped researchers treat sick sea stars in the lab, helping to preserve delicate ecological relationships.

Species Affected
Most Affected (Highest Mortality Rate):


 * Pycnopodia helianthoides (sunflower star),
 * Orthasterias koehleri (rainbow star),
 * Pisaster brevispinus (giant pink star),
 * Pisaster giganteus (giant star),
 * Evasterias troschelii (mottled star),
 * Pisaster ochraceus (ochre star),
 * Solaster (sun star),

Affected (Some Mortality Rate):


 * Dermasterias imbricata (leather star),
 * Mediaster aequalis (vermilion star),
 * Leptasterias (six-armed stars),
 * Patiria miniata (bat star)

The usually large populations of ochre and sunflower stars experienced massive, geographically expansive, and well-documented declines. Ecologists consider both sunflower and ochre stars to be keystone species because they have a disproportionately large influence on the other species in their ecosystem.