The catastrophic event initially seemed to target two large and obvious species, the giant pink star Pisaster brevispinus and the sunflower star Pycnopodia helianthoides. Later reports and photography have documented two other species, the mottled star Evasterias troschelii and the morning sun star Solaster dawsoni as being involved as well. Affected specimens simply seemed to totally disintegrate after severe internal disruption. This phenomenon is being referred to as “sea star wasting disease”.
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Sea Star Catastrophe
by Andy Lamb & photos by Neil McDaniel
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome now documented on NE Vancouver Island The Marine Detective
Devastating Starfish Disease turns up in Nanaimo area
Times Colonist
Family Relations in Sea Star Wasting Syndrome
Vancouver Aquarium
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome: Gulf Islands and Saanich Inlet
Vancouver Aquarium
Sea Star Epidemic in Howe Sound?
Vancouver Aquarium
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UCSC Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring: Trends and Synthesis