Experts decode the cause of the death of more than 5 billion starfish

The disappearance of starfish has disrupted the North American marine ecosystem. New research reveals the real cause of this tragedy.

A sea star “spawning boom” following a population decline more than a decade ago is helping the species rebound along the Oregon coast, according to new research by scientists at Oregon State University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Photo: Sarah Gravem.

The study, published in the journal Ecosphere, did not determine whether the breeding boom was due to the decline of “sea star wasting disease” – a disease that causes large numbers of sea stars to decline – or was simply a lucky coincidence. Photo: oregonconservationstrategy.

“Sea star wasting disease is still happening and sea star populations continue to fluctuate, but there is also growing evidence that they are recovering,” said lead author Sarah Gravem, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University. Photo: mddphoto/iStock.

Researcher Sarah analyzed starfish populations in eight locations over a 23-year period. She and her colleagues found that starfish populations have now reached or exceeded levels before the outbreak of “starfish wasting disease.” Photo: owlcation.

“After an 84% decline in starfish numbers in 2014, we quickly saw an 8,000% increase in the number of baby starfish landings,” said researcher Sarah. Photo: owlcation.

Bruce Menge, professor emeritus of integrative biology at Oregon State University, said starfish are now thriving and growing large enough that they can survive at the same rate as before the outbreak in most locations in Oregon. Photo: owlcation.

However, the average body size of starfish is still about 25-65% smaller than before in most locations, and coastal starfish populations are less stable than before the outbreak. Photo: owlcation.

The findings suggest that the starfish population has yet to return to its previous stable state, dominated by adults. The researchers say this may be due to the continued influx of new waves of starfish – juveniles – as well as intermittent outbreaks of disease. Photo: Neil McDaniel/Provided.

In a recent study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, the cause of “starfish wasting disease” is a virus called vibrio pectenicida. The virus causes starfish to develop lesions that look as if they are melting. Photo: N. McDaniel.

Readers are invited to watch the video : Discovering many new species in the Mekong River Region. Source: THĐT1.

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