Posted on 02/02/2014 3:04:15 PM PST by Sir Napsalot
Washington (AFP) - Starfish have been mysteriously dying by the millions in recent months along the US west coast, worrying biologists who say the sea creatures are key to the marine ecosystem.
Scientists first started noticing the mass deaths in June 2013. Different types of starfish, also known as sea stars, were affected, from wild ones along the coast to those in captivity, according to Jonathan Sleeman, director of the US Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center.
"The two species affected most are Pisaster ochraceus (purple sea star or ochre starfish) and Pycnopodia helianthoides (sunflower sea star)," he wrote in a statement in December.
The sunflower sea star is considered among the largest starfish and can span more than a meter in diameter.
The most commonly observed symptoms are white lesions on the arms of the sea star. The lesions spread rapidly, resulting in the loss of the arm. Within days, the infection consumes the creature's entire body, and it dies.
Entire populations have been wiped out in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington state, in the Salish Sea off Canada's British Columbia as well as along the coast of California. The mortality rate is estimated at 95 percent.
Scientists who have spent decades studying the local ecosystem have yet to identify the cause. (Read more at link)
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
It is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt, Bush’s fault
I wonder if Fukushima Fallout is involved in this occurrence?
“Starfish Wasting Syndrome”... cause unknown...
“Global warming” has had them “puzzled” for decades. LOL! They might want to put down all of the “How to Create Computer Models for Dummies” handbooks and pick up a non-revisionist World History book. There’s more to science than just “computer models” created by political hacks with agendas.
Yahoo News.
Take it with a large bucket of salt.
Thinking the same thing.
Mass die offs happen. Every so often Alewives die in the great lakes all at once by the billions. As a child I learned that bobcat populations in Michigan rise and fall in unison with snowshoe hare populations.
Can anyone remember hearing a biologist who didn’t call the species in question “key” to the environment?
Its a sicilian message. It means luca brasi sleeps with the fishes.
I understand that in the the China Sea off japan the jellyfish are over populating the waters. Short story: all this is surely a sign we need to impose communism immediately if not sooner.
I wonder if these same scientists believe in evolution?
If they really did, wouldn't one think that they wouldn't be thrown for such a loop as nature takes its course?
Won't something new evolve to take that "niche"? Where's their faith in what they believe in?
or Evil Rethuglicans
or Fox News
or ..... (grin)
Seriously,does anyone believe this nonsense? If Star fish were key to the marine ecosystem why is where not widespread panic? That is sort of like saying possums are key to the forest ecosystem.
It would nice to find out whats going on, but lets not start acting silly.
better than the sicilian sausage eat that and ever one thinks something died
“Its a sicilian message. It means luca brasi sleeps with the fishes.”
Someone watched the Godfather trilogy last weekend.
Read the comments at the link! What a trip!
Ya think?
Not really much to be confused about. The smallest creatures die first, and it rolls up the food chain.
It mentions those in captivity died also. Could Fukushima Fallout affect them also I wonder?
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