Researchers uncover the destructive microorganism responsible for sea star wasting disease
The sea star wasting disease, a mysterious affliction that swept along the Pacific coast of North America since 2013, has left many questions unanswered until recently. This disease, responsible for the deaths of billions of sea stars, including the critically endangered sunflower sea star, has been a significant concern for marine biologists and conservationists alike.
However, a breakthrough in research has shed light on the cause of the sea star wasting disease. A team of scientists, led by marine ecologist Alyssa-Lois Gehman from the Hakai Institute in British Columbia, identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the culprit. This discovery, confirmed by injecting cultured bacteria into healthy sea stars which then developed disease symptoms, is a critical step enabling directed recovery efforts.
The epidemic has resulted in a significant population loss for sunflower sea stars, one of the world's largest starfish. Recovery programs for these majestic creatures are underway, including a program led by the Nature Conservancy and collaborative efforts by more than a dozen aquariums to captive-breed them.
Current recovery efforts focus on captive breeding, monitoring wild populations, and research to understand and combat the disease caused by Vibrio pectenicida. The coordinated conservation plan by the SAFE program (2024–2027) includes establishing recovery goals, addressing threats, and improving public communication.
Explored methods to enhance resistance to Vibrio pectenicida and combat the sea star wasting disease include studying genetic associations with disease resistance, investigating how temperature affects disease proliferation, and experimenting with outplanting to determine the most effective strategies and locations for reintroduction. This approach aims to identify or select for sea stars potentially more resistant to the bacteria in order to improve survival rates after release into the wild.
Another promising path involves using probiotics to equip sea stars with other microorganisms to help them deal with pathogens. The overpopulation of sea urchins, typically preyed on by sea stars, has led to the destruction of kelp forests. By restoring sea star populations, efforts can be made to rebalance these ecosystems and promote the recovery of kelp forests.
The identification of Vibrio pectenicida as the causative pathogen opens exciting avenues for disease management and recovery. Ongoing research at institutions like the University of British Columbia and the U.S. Geological Survey is actively exploring both disease mechanisms and practical restoration approaches. For marine ecologist Alyssa-Lois Gehman, the finding is incredibly fulfilling and important, while seeing a few sea stars now is exciting for ecologist Kevin Lafferty, who believes they may be the lucky survivors from the disease outbreak.
In summary, recovery efforts for sea star species affected by sea star wasting disease focus on captive breeding, monitoring, disease research, planned reintroductions, and community engagement under coordinated conservation programs. Explored resistance methods include genetic studies for resistance, effects of ocean temperature on Vibrio dynamics, and experimental outplanting trials to optimize reintroduction. The key enabling discovery is the identification of the bacterial cause, Vibrio pectenicida, which guides these efforts and focuses future research and management strategies.
- The recent discovery of Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of the sea star wasting disease opens opportunities for health and wellness research in marine biology, focusing on developing methods to combat the disease and improve the health of affected sea star species.
- As part of the health-and-wellness strategy, environmental science research aims to understand the effects of temperature on Vibrio pectenicida proliferation, investigating potential solutions for disease management and contributing to the overall recovery of sea star populations and the environmental balance in kelp forests.
