Latest news with #Pycnopodiahelianthoides
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Scientists crack 12-year mystery behind sea star killing epidemic: Bacterium identified as marine mass killer
After more than a decade of devastation that has wiped out over 5 billion sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America, scientists have finally identified the cause of the catastrophic sea star wasting epidemic, marking a pivotal moment in marine science and ecological recovery efforts. The crisis began in 2013, with sea stars from Mexico to Alaska rapidly succumbing to a mysterious wasting disease. Affected creatures exhibited gruesome symptoms: white lesions appeared on their bodies, their arms twisted and fell off, and ultimately, their bodies disintegrated into mush within days. The outbreak decimated at least 20 species, but none more so than the sunflower sea star ( Pycnopodia helianthoides )—whose global population crashed by approximately 90–94% in just five years, with California suffering a staggering 99% loss. Key discovery: The bacterial culprit In a breakthrough study published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution , an international research team pinpointed the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the epidemic's cause. This bacterium, known to also infect shellfish, was found in high concentrations in the coelomic fluid (essentially sea star 'blood') of sick animals, and not in healthy ones—a crucial detail missed in countless earlier investigations that focused on dead tissue samples. Dr. Alyssa Gehman, a marine disease ecologist at the Hakai Institute, described the impact: 'It's truly quite horrific... healthy sea stars display puffy arms extending outward, while the wasting disease leads to lesions, arm loss, and death.' Lead author Melanie Prentice also relayed the shock the research team felt when they finally isolated the bacterium. Catastrophic ripple effects across Pacific ecosystems The loss of sea stars—especially the sunflower sea star—triggered ecosystem upheaval: sea urchin populations, normally kept in check by sea stars, exploded. In turn, unchecked urchins destroyed vast kelp forests along the coast. Northern California alone saw up to 95% of kelp forests wiped out, erasing habitats and food sources for countless marine species and undercutting commercial fisheries. 'Almost everything that lives on the ground underwater runs away from them when they're coming,' said Dr. Gehman, emphasizing the sea stars' role as a keystone predator. Their loss has been called one of the largest documented marine and resilience Now that scientists have finally solved the mystery, attention turns to solutions. Identifying Vibrio pectenicida allows researchers to: Target remaining healthy sea star populations for conservation. Explore captive breeding and possible reintroduction programs. Investigate whether some sea stars harbor natural immunity, with the hope that probiotics or other treatments could help build disease resistance. There is also interest in the role played by warmer ocean temperatures. Similar strains of Vibrio are known to amplify in warmer waters, suggesting climate change may exacerbate future outbreaks.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists crack 12-year mystery behind sea star killing epidemic: Bacterium identified as marine mass killer
After more than a decade of devastation that has wiped out over 5 billion sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America, scientists have finally identified the cause of the catastrophic sea star wasting epidemic, marking a pivotal moment in marine science and ecological recovery efforts. The crisis began in 2013, with sea stars from Mexico to Alaska rapidly succumbing to a mysterious wasting disease. Affected creatures exhibited gruesome symptoms: white lesions appeared on their bodies, their arms twisted and fell off, and ultimately, their bodies disintegrated into mush within days. The outbreak decimated at least 20 species, but none more so than the sunflower sea star ( Pycnopodia helianthoides )—whose global population crashed by approximately 90–94% in just five years, with California suffering a staggering 99% loss. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Key discovery: The bacterial culprit In a breakthrough study published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution , an international research team pinpointed the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the epidemic's cause. This bacterium, known to also infect shellfish, was found in high concentrations in the coelomic fluid (essentially sea star 'blood') of sick animals, and not in healthy ones—a crucial detail missed in countless earlier investigations that focused on dead tissue samples. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best SIP Plans for NRIs in Portugal – Get ₹2L Monthly Pension | Invest ₹18K PB Learn More Undo Dr. Alyssa Gehman, a marine disease ecologist at the Hakai Institute , described the impact: 'It's truly quite horrific... healthy sea stars display puffy arms extending outward, while the wasting disease leads to lesions, arm loss, and death.' Lead author Melanie Prentice also relayed the shock the research team felt when they finally isolated the bacterium. Catastrophic ripple effects across Pacific ecosystems The loss of sea stars—especially the sunflower sea star—triggered ecosystem upheaval: sea urchin populations, normally kept in check by sea stars, exploded. In turn, unchecked urchins destroyed vast kelp forests along the coast. Northern California alone saw up to 95% of kelp forests wiped out, erasing habitats and food sources for countless marine species and undercutting commercial fisheries. Live Events 'Almost everything that lives on the ground underwater runs away from them when they're coming,' said Dr. Gehman, emphasizing the sea stars' role as a keystone predator. Their loss has been called one of the largest documented marine die-offs. Recovery and resilience Now that scientists have finally solved the mystery, attention turns to solutions. Identifying Vibrio pectenicida allows researchers to: Target remaining healthy sea star populations for conservation. Explore captive breeding and possible reintroduction programs. Investigate whether some sea stars harbor natural immunity, with the hope that probiotics or other treatments could help build disease resistance. There is also interest in the role played by warmer ocean temperatures. Similar strains of Vibrio are known to amplify in warmer waters, suggesting climate change may exacerbate future outbreaks.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Researchers figure out what's caused devastating sea star epidemic
A study published Monday offers long-awaited clarity on a more than decade-long marine mystery: What has been killing the sunflower sea star? In 2013, something began ravaging sea stars along the West Coast, turning them into decaying, fragmented carcasses. Over the next few years, the wasting disease (SSWD) killed billions of animals along the shore, transforming entire marine ecosystems. One species was hit especially hard: Pycnopodia helianthoides, more commonly known as the sunflower sea star. Scientists estimate the global population plummeted by 94% since 2013. California alone lost about 99% of its sunflower sea stars. For over a decade, nobody knew what was responsible. In their paper in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers have now identified the culprit behind the devastating epidemic — and with it, a path forward for restoration. 'This was a big deal for us,' said Alyssa Gehman, a marine disease ecologist at Hakai Institute and the University of British Columbia and senior author on the study. 'When we started these experiments, I knew we would learn more, but I honestly wasn't convinced we would actually find the causative agent of disease.' The breakthrough came during a routine meeting between Gehman and two collaborators, Grace Crandall and Melanie Prentice. They had recently tested whether heat-treated coelomic fluid — the internal body fluid of a sea star — could still trigger the disease when injected into a healthy sea star. When the injected sea stars stayed healthy, it confirmed that the disease was being caused by something that was alive. To find out what that 'something' was, the team turned to a set of techniques that reveals which genes are being expressed by what microorganisms. When they compared healthy and infected animals, one group consistently stood out—the Vibrios, a type of bacteria commonly found in marine environments. Knowing there are many Vibrios, the researchers were curious whether the wasting sickness could be tied to one in particular. Prentice ran the species-level analysis, and the result floored them. 'The whole list was Vibrio pectinocida. And it was in all of our six stars and it was in none of our controls,' Gehman said. It was 'mind-blowingly clear' that this bacteria was causing the disease, she said. For California's kelp forests, and the conservation groups trying to save them, this news is a major turning point. Sunflower sea stars are considered a keystone species, meaning they are critical in regulating the stability and diversity of their ecosystems. One of their most important roles is controlling purple sea urchin populations, a species with a notoriously voracious appetite. 'They can mow down a kelp forest and then actually remain in that ecosystem without a food source,' said Prentice, a marine biologist and study co-author. 'They enter almost like a zombie state until the kelp regrows — and then they eradicate it again.' Sunflower sea stars used to prey on the urchins, keeping their population in check. However, when wasting disease effectively wiped out their main predator, the sea urchins exploded in number, decimating kelp forests and transforming once-lush underwater habitats into so-called 'urchin barrens.' 'Kelp forests are the most important ecosystem on our coast because they house over 800 species of animals,' said Nancy Caruso, marine biologist and founder of the nonprofit Get Inspired. 'Essentially, they're the condos and apartment complexes of the animals that live on our coastline — and when they disappear, they have no place to live.' Kelp forests also filter water, store carbon, and protect coastal communities from storms and erosion, making them, as Prentice described, 'an ally in our fight against the climate crisis.' Since the 2013 outbreak, areas like Northern California have lost more than 95% of their kelp forest cover. Several sites are still considered ecological collapse zones. Researchers say recovery can now be more targeted. Prentice is currently developing a diagnostic test similar to a COVID rapid test, which could help screen animals and seawater for the presence of Vibrio pectinocida before conservationists reintroduce sea stars into the wild. 'That's going to be powerful not just for research, but for management,' she said. 'Now we can actually test animals before we move them — or test the water at a potential outplanting site and say, is this a good place for reintroduction?' Other teams are looking at breeding disease-resistant sea stars. Surviving populations may have natural immunity, which could help shape more resilient captive-rearing programs. At the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, which cares for some of the surviving sunflower stars, the new findings could help reshape priorities. 'It sharpens our focus on what it might take to reintroduce these animals in a way that is thoughtful, informed, and sustainable,' said Johnathan Casey, the aquarium's curator of fish and invertebrates. 'With each new piece of the puzzle, we feel we're getting closer to a future where sunflower stars can once again thrive along our coastline.' Sunflower sea stars used to be everywhere — on sand, rocks, kelp beds, and seagrass beds. For Gehman, that's the point. She hopes the findings help people realize that even the most abundant species can disappear very quickly.
