Ochre Sea Star

Weekly Sea Discovery: Wasting Sea Stars of the Intertidal

Many of you may have noticed or heard about the virus causing sea stars along the Pacific Northwest to waste away, known as Sea Star Wasting Disease/Syndrome. The virus isn’t new, but changes in ocean temperature and marine environments have resulted in mass die-offs of sea stars. One sea star that has been especially affected is the ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus). You’ve probably seen this sea star along the coast with their brightly coloured bodies ranging from deep purple to vibrant orange.

These stars are a dominant predator in the intertidal and are a keystone species in these ecosystems. Because they are such successful predators, they have significant impacts on many different creatures, like mussels, worms, barnacles, marine snails, and other invertebrates. By influencing the number and distribution of these organisms, ochre sea stars can completely change the structure of these communities (see diagram below).

When there is a variety of intertidal structure types (algae, mussels and barnacles), there is more habitat for different creatures. With the loss of ochre sea stars due to sea star wasting disease, we can see reductions in algae and invertebrate diversity, as mussels take over. Diversity is essential for an ecosystem to be healthy and sustainable.

BUT things are not hopeless for intertidal diversity, as there is a potential underdog sea star fit to play the ochre sea star’s top predator role. The mottled sea star preys on similar intertidal species and is usually inferior to the mighty ochre sea star. Yet scientists have found that mottled sea stars are less susceptible to sea star wasting disease and are increasing in numbers in the Strait of Georgia.  We know little about the predatory power of mottled sea stars. Still, they may be able to reduce mussel cover in the absence of ochre sea stars and maintain diversity in the intertidal.

There is good news still! Populations of ochre stars along the Pacific Northwest are starting to recover, and their intertidal influence is strengthening again.