-Piaster ochraceus-
Ochre Sea Star
Keystone predator controls density of mussel population. Crucial in maintaining organization and diversity of intertidal zones.
-Sea Star Wasting Syndrome-
Largest mortality event for marine diseases yet seen. Warming waters? Bacterial? Viral? Scientists test theories. Meanwhile… Sea Stars perish up and down Pacific Coast. What next…Science behind this post:
Scientists Close in on What’s Killing Sea Stars The Keystone Species Concept in Ecology and Conservation Starfish Nearly Vanished From Popular Destination On Oregon CoastWordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: “Dialogue”
It’s your turn now: for this week’s challenge, bring together two of your photos into dialogue. What do they say to each other?
I hope they will find the cause of this and take action! I wish you a good day!
How beautiful! And how sad. I’ve heard of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome but hadn’t seen an image of it.
Good contrast between the photos. First one shows brightly coloured, fully blossoming sea urchins, anemone, and coral (? lower left). A few mussel dishes remain from lunch, while the sea star is reaching for briquettes to start the barbecue. Colourful, vigorous, summer-holiday imagery. The second one is relatively devoid of life forms or gaiety, being mostly limp seaweed and a few urchins gone into hiding. The dead sea star resembles a patient with advanced dementia sitting in a geri-chair, unshaven, unmoving, muscles gone, shoved up against the seaweed so as not to be in anyone’s way. I’d say you’re getting your point across.
So sad that this wasting is destroying the sea stars on the coasts. And we don’t even kn ow why exactly.
Ron
Yes, Christina, it will be helpful when the exact causes are determined. The challenges will likely be sizable, though. With solutions that will entail long-term global commitment to changes in the ways humans view our planetary-ecosystems and our use Earth’s resources.
Jane
It is a very sad thing to witness, Cindi. Our tidal pools here in the Northwest have always been filled with an abundance of ochre sea stars… we all mourn the losses and hope that full recovery will one day occur.
Jane
You are so right, Ron, it is very sad. If you want to follow the progress scientists are making with research, I have found that Yale 360 and Earthfix are two helpful websites. They post articles on current environmental issues. Yale more global in focus, Earthfix more Northwest in focus:
http://e360.yale.edu
http://earthfix.opb.org
Jane
Thank you, Dandyknife. I prefer the robust, full-of-life dialogue that you proposed. It was a very startling experience to photograph the sea stars you see in these two photos in the same tidal pool location… only yards apart. The photos were taken at Yaquina Head near Newport. I’m not sure if that was one of the areas you visited on your trip here earlier this year…
Jane
Thanks Jane, I have several sites to follow but I did not have the Yale 360. I’ll keep up on that one too.
Ron
Do you have any others to recommend?
Oh, that is so sad 🙁 Thanks for sharing the plight of the sea stars with such a beautiful images.
Thank you,Connie, for your concerned response. It is a very sad ecological situation; worsened by how helpless it makes most people feel.
Jane
try this one at Salish Sea Currents; http://www.eopugetsound.org/magazine
and http://salishseanews.blogspot.com/
these two sites report on what’s going on in the Sound and beyond.
Thanks, Ron. I’m in Gig Harbor visiting my daughter. Good to have sites that relate a bit further north!
Your suggestions have been added to my RSS feed.
Disturbing to see the increasing number of challenges faced by the Sound ecosystems.
Talk about world under stress…
Jane
http://www.eeb.ucsc.edu/pacificrockyintertidal/data-products/sea-star-wasting/index.html
Just found this, thought you might find interesting.
~Jane
Thanks Jane, this is a sad story so far. The disease keeps moving up the coast and is now well entrenched in Alaska. It might be letting up in WA .
Ron
Yes, Ron. Alarming aspect of the Alaska connection is the idea that the syndrome jumped into a different ocean current system. Glad it might be letting up in WA. Scientists who met recently in Newport also noted that more juveniles are being observed. Like you, I hope this all turns around soon…
~Jane
I hear that it has happened before and abated. Let’s hope this one does too over time.
Ron
Agreed!!