Scientists Identify Bacteria Causing Death of 5 Billion Starfish Along Pacific Coast

Scientists have identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of sea star wasting disease, which has killed over five billion sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America since 2013, including a 90 percent population decline in sunflower sea stars. This disease causes starfish to disintegrate, with symptoms such as twisted limbs, lesions, and arm detachment. The outbreak has had devastating ecological impacts by allowing sea urchin populations to explode, which in turn has led to the destruction of up to 95 percent of kelp forests, vital marine ecosystems often called the 'rainforests of the ocean.' Previous efforts mistakenly blamed a virus, but new research focusing on the internal coelomic fluid of sea stars revealed the bacterial culprit. The link between warmer ocean temperatures and larger outbreaks suggests climate change may be exacerbating the disease. Researchers emphasize the importance of this discovery for guiding restoration efforts to protect these critical marine species and habitats.