Sea star wasting—marked in a variety of sea star species as varying degrees of skin lesions followed by disintegration—recently caused one of the largest marine die-offs ever recorded on the west coast of North America, killing billions of sea stars. Despite the important ramifications this mortality had for coastal benthic ecosystems, such as increased abundance of prey, little is known about the causes of the disease or the mechanisms of its progression. Although there have been studies indicating a range of causal mechanisms, including viruses and environmental effects, the broad spatial and depth range of affected populations leaves many questions remaining about either infectious or non-infectious mechanisms. Wasting appears to start with degradation of mutable connective tissue in the body wall, leading to disintegration of the epidermis. Here, we briefly review basic sea star biology in the context of sea star wasting and present our current knowledge and hypotheses related to the symptoms, the microbiome, the viruses, and the associated environmental stressors. We also highlight throughout the article knowledge gaps and the data needed to better understand sea star wasting mechanistically, its causes, and potential management.
A review of asteroid biology in the context of sea star wasting: Possible causes and consequences
Biological Bulletin
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Abstract
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | A review of asteroid biology in the context of sea star wasting: Possible causes and consequences |
| Series title | Biological Bulletin |
| DOI | 10.1086/719928 |
| Volume | 234 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press |
| Contributing office(s) | National Wildlife Health Center |
| Description | 26 p. |
| First page | 50 |
| Last page | 75 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |