Sunflower Sea Star
About
The critically endangered sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia
helianthoides) is among the largest sea stars in the world and is the only species
of its genus. Adults have 16 to 24 limbs with a maximum arm span of 1 meter
(about 3.3 feet). The underside of their arms (called tube feet) helps them crawl
across the ocean floor. They also have light sensitive eyespots on the tips of their
arms, to help the sea stars find food. The color of the sunflower sea star
ranges widely, but it is commonly known for being bright orange. You might
notice that sea stars have a bumpy surface, these spines are called Pedicellaria.
They are pincher-like organs used to clean the surface of the skin.
The sunflower sea star has lost more than 90% of their
population since 2013. This is mainly because of sea star wasting disease. The Center
for Biological Diversity submitted a federal petition in August of 2021 for the
sunflower sea star to be listed as threatened or endangered. It is now listed
as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend.
Habitat—Marine
Neritic
The neritic zone of the ocean is a shallow marine environment
above the drop off of the continental shelf. The lowest depth sunflower sea stars
can be found in is 455 meters.
The sunflower sea star is not a migrant species, they were extant to the western coast of Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, California, and Mexico. According to the Puget Sound Institute of the University of Washington, the sunflower sea star is now only found in areas north of the Puget Sound with the majority of their population in Canada and Alaska.
Species role
Sunflower sea stars play a critical role in maintain kelp
forests. They are predators of sea urchins which are known for destroying kelp
forests. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for thousands of species. These
forests have more diversity and variety of flora and fauna than almost any
other ocean communities.
Sunflower sea stars are carnivorous, with a diet consisting of both living and dead—opalescent squid, clams, spiny dogfish, herring, sea urchins, mollusks, and even other sea stars.
Cause of decline
·
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome- causing
lesions, contortions, lost limbs, disintegration, and death
o
Which is caused by climate change
o
Also caused by an unknown pathogen
§
Warmer oceans make the effects more deadly
§ Ocean acidification also threatens sea stars
Why should
you care?
The sunflower sea star not extinct yet but problems in the pacific
is increasing because of their absence. The Star Wasting Syndrome has caused a 311%
increase in medium-sized sea urchins, which has decreased kelp forest densities
by 30%. Kelp forests were already threatened by heatwave events in the ocean
and are now even more at risk.
The sunflower sea star is a top predator of urchins that are
a threat to marine life if their populations aren’t kept under control. And the
loss of kelp forests would take away the homes of thousands of species.
Star Wasting Syndrome/Disease is caused by an unknown
pathogen that affects sea star species. It is an epidemic and extremely concerning
to west coast marine life.
Current
conservations efforts
§
In 2020, they were placed on the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s critically endangered species list
due to Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. This listing, which affords sunflower sea
stars legal protection measures.
§
The Nature Conservancy—creating a ‘roadmap to
recovery’ for the sunflower sea star to identify information gaps and
challenges that will need to be overcome.
§
Roping off on beaches—preventing people from
entering coves where sea stars are found.
§ Signs about Sea Star Wasting Syndrome on beaches—warning tourists to be careful (not touch them etc.) and spreading word about the disease.
§
Scientists at the University of Washington are
breeding sunflower sea stars in captivity.
How can geography
help?
Tools for geographical mapping like GIS (geographic
information system) can help scientists and conservationists determine just how
many are left in Washington, Canada, and Alaska. Mapping current sunflower sea
star habitat can also help researchers decide where to relocate new populations
if they chose to do so.
Because ocean warming and acidic water contributes to Sea
Star Wasting Syndrome, GIS can be used to determine what parts of the ocean
should be avoided by sea stars and if any patterns are occurring.
How can YOU
help?
§
If you see a diseased, unhealthy sea star, or no
sea stars on the west coast, click this link https://marinedb.ucsc.edu/ssd/public/observation-log/create
and submit what you’ve found!
o
Scroll to the bottom of this page https://marine.ucsc.edu/data-products/sea-star-wasting/index.html
for pictures detailing what healthy and unhealthy sea stars look like to better
describe your findings
§
DO NOT take any sea stars from their habitat or
touch them!
§
Act against climate change!
o
Walk, bike, take public transportation
o
Eat less meat and less dairy
o
Save energy by using fewer appliances and switch
to LED light bulbs
§
Ditch sunscreens that contain oxybenzone,
octinoxate, octocrylene, homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, PABA,
Parabens, Triclosan, any nanoparticles, any form of microplastic—click here for
more information https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html
o
Some good alternatives are ‘Body Block,’ ‘Sea
& Summit,’ ‘thinksport,’ and ‘Butterbean organic’
§ Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
o Buy less and maintain what you have (do away with fast fashion) (if you need something, buy it second hand).
o Say goodbye to plastic—no more plastic bags for food (buy reusable ones), don’t buy bottled water, bring around reusable containers with you
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