The sunflower sea star, nearly extinct due to disease, is crucial for controlling sea urchins and preserving kelp forests.
Jennifer Adler reports for Vox.
In short:
- Sea star wasting disease has decimated the sunflower sea star population along the West Coast.
- The decline of sunflower sea stars has led to an explosion of sea urchins, which are destroying kelp forests.
- Scientists are now successfully breeding sunflower sea stars in captivity to reintroduce them to their natural habitats.
Key quote:
"The geographic scale from Mexico all the way up into Alaska, and with over 20 species affected — there has never been anything (that we have any data on) that’s happened like that with sea stars before."
— Drew Harvell, marine ecologist at Cornell University
Why this matters:
This brightly colored creature, with its numerous arms and impressive size, plays a vital role in marine ecosystems, particularly in controlling sea urchin populations. Without sunflower sea stars, sea urchins multiply unchecked, devouring vast areas of kelp forests. These underwater forests are essential not only for marine biodiversity but also for sequestering carbon and protecting coastal environments from erosion.
