I was pleased when I was in California recently to see an abundance of sea stars, or starfish, like those above. They’ve been in trouble on the West Coast. A sea star “wasting syndrome” has caused the populations to crash. Not far from Sequim in Freshwater Bay an estimated 98% of sea stars are thought to have died.
The suspected cause is a densovirus caused by waters that are warmer than usual. The virus has spread from Alaska to Mexico and causes starfish to degrade into a white goo. Researchers have found recovery in some areas with growing populations of young sea stars. So far local marine biologists have found little cause for optimism. I hate to imagine tide pools without sea stars.
The starfish have nice brilliant colours. It seems like one can not go anywhere without learning of a species that is on the way to extinction.
That’s all so sad. I read an article just the other day describing the problem. It’s interesting how everything is so connected. Global warming will doubtless have many effects about which we have no idea at this point.
A ‘star’ for you on your forehead for posting this wonderful pix of starfish,
And yet climate change deniers refuse to admit there’s anything wrong.
Very pretty. I’m also glad to see there are some populations still thriving.
Oh no… Come to think of it, I haven’t seen any in a long time. When I was a kid, they were everywhere on the Atlantic coast here… Lovely photos!
It seems so many changes are happening to the environment these days! Glad you saw at least one starfish!
Oh, I hope that this “illness” can be reversed. Wonderful photos that I appreciate seeing; our Great Lakes just don’t offer the same little beauties.
These are much fatter than the ones I see on the East Coast. And, I wasn’t aware that starfish are suffering. I hope a solution is found.
Such pretty colors. And such sad news – I had not heard of this before. I hope the trend turns around and more survive.