Sea Star Wasting Disease
Southwest Alaska Network. 2018. Sea Star Wasting Disease. Southwest Alaska Network
Sea stars play a vital ecological role as top-level predators shaping nearshore ecosystems. The absence of sea stars can enable other organisms that sea stars eat, like mussels, to multiply and drive out other nearshore inhabitants. An epidemic of wasting disease began in 2013, affecting sea stars from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. The epidemic affects at least 20 sea star species and sea star populations along the west coast of the U.S. have experienced very high levels of mortality. As the disease progresses, sea stars often lose arms and can have a jelly-like appearance. Death can occur within a few days of the initial signs of infection. This disease has been observed in several locations in southeast Alaska and more recently in Western Prince William Sound and Kachemak Bay.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Southwest Alaska Network
- Date of Issue
- 2018-03
- Publisher
- Southwest Alaska Network
- Units
- KATM , KEFJ , SWAN
- Keywords
- sea star, starfish, wasting disease
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Infestations and Disease | Animal Diseases , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Intertidal Communities