Starfish
Why it Matters?
Over 12 years, over 5 billion starfish died from a wasting disease. Scientists have now identified Vibrio pectenicida, a cholera-related bacterium, as the cause. The collapse of starfish populations disrupted marine ecosystems, especially kelp forests.
What You Should Know?
Starfish (also called sea stars) are marine invertebrates from the phylum Echinodermata. They are not fish.
Starfish are keystone predators that control populations of sea urchins, mussels, barnacles.
Their presence maintains biodiversity and balances the marine food web. Kelp forests, important carbon sinks, were degraded due to unchecked sea urchins.
They thrive in coral reefs, rocky shores, and intertidal zones.
Starfish are strictly marine animals and require saltwater to survive.
Starfish Wasting Disease has killed over 5 billion starfish since 2013, particularly along the Pacific Coast of North America.
The disease causes starfish limbs to fall off and bodies to disintegrate.
Sunflower sea stars were worst hit, losing 90% of their population.