It's been three years since millions of sea stars from Alaska to Canada and down to Baja, Mexico started wasting away into gooey white mounds. The disease, called “sea star wasting syndrome” (SSWS) has persisted at low levels in most areas, and continues to kill sea stars. Ochre stars are keystone species, which are organisms that have a significant impact on other species in their ecosystem. She had heard reports that even captive sea stars in the Vancouver Aquarium were dying. This information is just as valuable as observations of diseased individuals. Ochre stars are among the species of sea stars reported to experience high mortality rates due to Sea Star Wasting Disease. Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Observation Log. Some sea star communities on the west coast could recover, but marine scientists still can’t pinpoint the environmental factors behind the unprecedented disease outbreak We need you to answer this question! Sea star wasting disease is still a mystery, but experts are on the case. Check each additional sea star species showing NO disease symptoms. More than 80 percent of the ochre sea stars on the northern coast died as a result of that outbreak of sea star wasting syndrome, as the disease is called. This sea star shows signs of complete tissue deterioration, the most severe category of sea star wasting syndrome, and is likely dead or dying. 1) indicated a seasonal component to disease progression in sea stars, where fewer SSWD mortalities were logged in winter months when compared to summer. The disease was then noted in Vancouver in late August, central California beginning in November 2013, and finally in … The cause of the widespread sea star mortality has been uncertain, so it has simply become known as “sea star wasting disease” (SSWD). Sea stars are dying off at dramatic rates across the West Coast from Baja California in Mexico to Alaska. The cause of the widespread sea star mortality has been uncertain, so it has simply become known as “sea star wasting disease” (SSWD). So they've shifted their efforts to monitoring sea star populations and investigating why this disease—probably caused by a very common ocean virus—is now … SEA STAR WASTING SYNDROME In preparation for our exhibition "The Flowers Are Burning" we were in contact with several marine biologists, researchers, aquarium staff, and science writers in the spring of 2015.Daniela Ginta, freelance writer for Planet Experts, generously offered to write an article about Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS) for our exhibition. Only check species actually observed at the site. Marine researchers say recent sea star wasting disease epidemic defies prediction. The absence of sea stars can enable other organisms that sea stars eat, like mussels, to multiply and drive out other nearshore inhabitants. There are around 40 different species of sea stars that have been affected by this disease. When was sea star wasting disease first noticed? Sea star wasting disease is caused by a virus For nearly a year and a half, sea stars – in particular, those of the class Asteroidea have been suffering from mass die-offs. From Mexico to Alaska, sea stars withered and died, their bodies dissolving into mush, leaving nothing but goo and spines behind. THE SEA STARS ARE MELTING by Mary Kay Neumann The largest marine disaster that has ever been recorded has taken place in the ocean. Please remember to fill out a log even if you search and only find healthy sea stars, or no sea stars! A healthy sunflower sea star that measures three feet across cruises across the … Although this mysterious disease had been observed in the years 1970, 1980, and 1990 scientists have never seen it affect so many sea stars on such a large scale. Sea star wasting disease is still a mystery, but experts are on the case. Sunflower sea stars (commonly called starfish) are dying off by the millions on the Pacific Coast from Sea Star Wasting Disease.