1.0Reef Checkhttps://www.reefcheck.orgreefcheckdevhttps://www.reefcheck.org/author/reefcheckdev/Mysterious Disease Affecting Sea Stars along the Pacific Coast of North America - Reef Checkrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="mDmB50W7yy"><a href="https://www.reefcheck.org/mysterious-disease-affecting-sea-stars-along-the-pacific-coast-of-north-america/">Mysterious Disease Affecting Sea Stars along the Pacific Coast of North America</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.reefcheck.org/mysterious-disease-affecting-sea-stars-along-the-pacific-coast-of-north-america/embed/#?secret=mDmB50W7yy" width="600" height="338" title="“Mysterious Disease Affecting Sea Stars along the Pacific Coast of North America” — Reef Check" data-secret="mDmB50W7yy" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">
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https://www.reefcheck.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/seastar.jpg300225The past few months have not been kind to sea stars along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada. A mysterious withering or wasting syndrome is sweeping down the coastline infecting sea stars seen in both the intertidal zone and in the shallow subtidal (60ft deep and less). The first sign a star is infected is the development of small lesions on their outer bodies and an overall deflated look. The lesions grow and their tissue continues to deteriorate, causing arms to fall off. In the end the stars more or less disintegrate, often within just a few days. Several species are being affected including ochre stars (Pisaster ochraceus), giant-spined stars (Pisaster giganteus), sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides), sun stars (Solaster stimpsoni), among others.