2. Diving

Sea Star Wasting Disease

Photos of recent sea star (commonly called Starfish) mortality due to Seastar Wasting Disease (aka Sea star Wasting Syndrome) in Puget Sound Washington, Howe Sound BC, and other areas. Please note photographers are listed on each photograph, and photos are ©2013 by the individual photographer, and may not be used without permission.
Report your observations to the Vancouver Aquarium and/or UC Santa Cruz:
http://www.vanaqua.org/act/research/sea-stars
http://www.eeb.ucsc.edu/pacificrockyintertidal/data-products/sea-star-wasting/index.html#track-disease
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shows this thinning in close-up. Note how distinct the edges of the rays look and how flat the star is. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
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shows this thinning in close-up. Note how distinct the edges of the rays look and how flat the star is. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel

Pycnopodia helianthoidesSunflower StarSeastarWastingDiseaseSyndrome

  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • November 24th, 2013 - Titlow Beach (Tacoma) Washington. Photo ©2013 Jennifer Collins
  • Here it is again, 20 days later. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • Here's another comparison shot, as a baseline on the 9th of October. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • Twenty days later, this is what the first photo looked like. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • shows an individual star that is being consumed by mat bacteria. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • shows the mat of bacteria at the foot of the walls and rotting stars piled up. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • shows a star that has weaken to the point where it has lost its grip on the rocks and fallen to the bottom of a rocky wall. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • shows the gonads breaking through holes in the body wall. At this point rays often break off and crawl away briefly. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • shows how the body wall begins to rupture, allowing the gonads and pyloric caeca to spill out. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • shows this thinning in close-up. Note how distinct the edges of the rays look and how flat the star is. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
  • This shows the high densities of Pycnopodia that were typical of many parts of Indian Arm and Howe Sound. Most of the stars look OK, but the one just right of center frame is exhibiting the syndrome, looking “thinned-out” and emaciated. Photo ©2013 Neil McDaniel
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