Abstract
An extensive 2013 mass mortality event along the West Coast of North America due to Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) has affected at least 20 species of sea stars. Among environmental factors potentially contributing to the timing of the current outbreak, increased coastal water temperatures are hypothesized to have contributed to previous and current outbreaks of SSWD. With a laboratory experiment, we tested whether cooler temperatures, similar to average winter temperatures, compared to average summer temperatures could slow the progression of morbidity or prevent SSWD mortality entirely in Pisaster ochraceus. Sea stars housed in cooler water progressed through SSWD states more slowly than sea stars housed at summer temperatures. However, the cooler temperature did not prevent SSWD mortality, and all stars died of the disease. Our data are consistent with experimental studies and field observations during previous and current outbreaks, and support the hypothesis that changes in coastal water temperatures have influenced one of the largest disease related mass mortality events in our oceans.
Highlights
Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) has recently devastated populations of sea stars along the West Coast of North America
Stars housed at cooler winter temperatures (9°C) lived more than twice as long as individuals housed at ambient summer temperatures (12°C) (Fig 2)
We demonstrate that a decrease in water temperature of 3°C delays SSWD morbidity and mortality in P. ochraceus collected from the intertidal zone from 2 sites in the Salish Sea
Summary
Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) has recently devastated populations of sea stars along the West Coast of North America. The current outbreak encompasses the entire Pacific coast of North America, from Baja California, MX to Alaska, USA and has impacted at least 20 known species and several genera [1]. The well-known ochre star, Pisaster ochraceus Brandt 1835 was, prior to 2013, very common along the West coast of North America, but is uncommon or absent from most sites within its’ former range [1]. In contrast to P. ochraceus, the blood star, a species complex of the genus Henricia, is still common throughout the Salish Sea [pers.
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