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Devastating Disease That Transformed Sea Stars Into Gelatinous Mass For Years Challenged Science, Until The Identification Of A Specific Bacteria In The Internal Fluid Of The Animals
After more than ten years of investigation, scientists announced that they have finally solved the mystery in the ocean responsible for the death of more than 5 billion sea stars along the Pacific coast, between Mexico and Alaska.
The outbreak, which began in 2013, was caused by a bacterial infection that affected more than 20 species, with the most affected being the sunflower sea star, with a population loss of approximately 90% in the first five years.
The condition, known as wasting disease in sea stars, caused lesions, loss of arms, and eventually total dissolution of the animals, reducing them to a gelatinous substance. The impact on the marine ecosystem was significant, triggering an imbalance in the food chain and the proliferation of sea urchins, which quickly began consuming the kelp forests.
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The study revealing the causative agent was published on Monday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, confirming that the bacteria Vibrio pectenicida, present in the internal fluid of sea stars, known as coelomic fluid, is responsible for the phenomenon.
New Analysis Identified Bacteria Overlooked By Previous Research
For years, scientists followed false leads. The initial hypotheses pointed to a virus, the densovirus, but later studies revealed that it was already a common inhabitant of healthy stars, with no direct relation to the disease.
Other researchers failed by only analyzing dead tissues, which no longer contained the necessary fluid to detect the pathogen. The turnaround came with a study led by researchers from the Hakai Institute in Canada, who analyzed the liquid around the organs of stars in the early stages of the disease.
The bacteria Vibrio pectenicida, already known to affect shellfish, was finally identified as the central pathogenic agent of the disease. The discovery opens new possibilities for the protection, monitoring, and recovery of the remaining populations.
Environmental Impact Affects Food Chains and Kelp Forests
With the collapse of sea star populations, the sea urchins, the main prey of these predators, began to multiply uncontrollably. The result was the devastation of about 95% of the kelp forests in Northern California in less than a decade.
These underwater forests are compared to “tropical forests of the ocean” due to their ecological importance, serving as shelter and food for fish, otters, seals, and other marine organisms. The absence of the stars allowed the urchins to destroy vast areas of these habitats.
With the cause of the outbreak identified, scientists can now seek alternatives such as the captive breeding of healthy stars, the selection of individuals with natural immunity, and even the use of probiotics to enhance resistance to the pathogen.
Environmental Recovery Depends On The Restoration Of Sea Stars
According to researchers, initiatives for relocation of resistant specimens, genetic testing, and controlled reproduction are already in planning. The objective is to reintroduce sunflower sea stars in devastated areas to restore ecological balance.
Biologist Alyssa Gehman from the Hakai Institute described the visual impact of the disease as “truly grotesque,” with the arms of the stars literally falling off. She also highlighted the importance of sea stars as top predators that control the population of urchins.
The information used to prepare this content was gathered from sources such as AP News, which has been following the case since the beginning of the epidemic, as well as the original publication in the scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.
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