No Sea Stars on Bishop's Beach

Observation by Seth Spencer:

Over the past three years there have been no sea stars on Bishop's Beach in Homer, Alaska due to Sea Star Wasting Disease. This is notable because prior to this there have always been sea stars on Bishop's Beach. Scientists still don't know how it is being spread, but it is killing the major sea star species from California to Alaska between 2013 and present.

Comments from LEO Editors:

According to the Morro Bay Estuary Program, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome is a series of symptoms that lead to mortality. Typically, sea stars will develop lesions that eventually become surrounded with decay, causing a fragmentation of the sea star's body and eventual death. Researchers initially attributed Sea Star Wasting Syndrom to the densovirus, however further inquiry revealed that the densovirus is only responsible for sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides moralities.

Sea Star Wasting Syndrome affects sea star species differently. The Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) is working to survey the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska, tracking the progression of the disease through 200 monitoring sites. Researchers have found that in subtidal habitats, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome will affect sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) first, followed by rainbow star (Orthasterias koehleri), giant pink star (Pisaster brevispinus), giant star (Pisaster giganteus), mottled star, ochre star and sun star (Solaster), leather star (Dermasterias imbricata), vermilion star (Mediaster aequalis), six-armed stars, and bat star (Patiria miniata).

MARINe is currently accepting observers of sea star wasting disease and has several resources available for observers. Observations of healthy or diseased sea stars can be submitted here. If you are interested in submitting an observation, MARINe has survey protocols for subtidal and intertidal monitoring. Also available is a (Pisaster ochraceus) symptoms guide.