Sea stars are dying off at dramatic rates across the West Coast from Baja California in Mexico to Alaska. The wasting disease that is affecting sea stars also is not specific to one species: more than 20 sea star species have been affected so far.
USGS scientists have been part of team studying this new epidemic. Scientists have found a densovirus that may be responsible for the sea star deaths: Sea Star Associated Densovirus (SSaDV).
Cooperative Research
Virus Calculated as Culprit Killing Sea Stars — Soundwaves Newsletter
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome — Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring
Nearshore Benthic Systems in the Gulf of Alaska — Gulf Watch Alaska
Publications related to sea star wasting disease are listed below.
Science to support aquatic animal health
Up in arms: Immune and nervous system response to sea star wasting disease
Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality
- Overview
Sea stars are dying off at dramatic rates across the West Coast from Baja California in Mexico to Alaska. The wasting disease that is affecting sea stars also is not specific to one species: more than 20 sea star species have been affected so far.
USGS scientists have been part of team studying this new epidemic. Scientists have found a densovirus that may be responsible for the sea star deaths: Sea Star Associated Densovirus (SSaDV).
Cooperative Research
Virus Calculated as Culprit Killing Sea Stars — Soundwaves Newsletter
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome — Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring
Nearshore Benthic Systems in the Gulf of Alaska — Gulf Watch Alaska
- Publications
Publications related to sea star wasting disease are listed below.
Science to support aquatic animal health
Healthy aquatic ecosystems are home to a diversity of plants, invertebrates, fish and wildlife. Aquatic animal populations face unprecedented threats to their health and survival from climate change, water shortages, habitat alteration, invasive species and environmental contaminants. These environmental stressors can directly impact the prevalence and severity of disease in aquatic populations. FUp in arms: Immune and nervous system response to sea star wasting disease
Echinoderms, positioned taxonomically at the base of deuterostomes, provide an important system for the study of the evolution of the immune system. However, there is little known about the cellular components and genes associated with echinoderm immunity. The 2013–2014 sea star wasting disease outbreak is an emergent, rapidly spreading disease, which has led to large population declines of asteroDensovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality
Populations of at least 20 asteroid species on the Northeast Pacific Coast have recently experienced an extensive outbreak of sea-star (asteroid) wasting disease (SSWD). The disease leads to behavioral changes, lesions, loss of turgor, limb autotomy, and death characterized by rapid degradation (“melting”). Here, we present evidence from experimental challenge studies and field observations that l