West Coast Sea Stars Stage Resurgence 10 Years After Massive Die-Off

1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 6

West Coast sea stars are showing a surprising baby boom, marking a comeback roughly a decade after a die-off pushed them close to extinction.
Bruce Menge, an Oregon marine biologist who has studied sea stars since the 1970s, said the rebound is notable for a species once seen as highly resilient.
Sea stars had long appeared well equipped to survive — with no natural enemies, the ability to regenerate lost limbs and prolific reproduction.
The resurgence offers a striking turn for coastal ecosystems after one of the most severe collapses of the species along the U.S. West Coast.

Sources

What is fueling the sea stars' mysterious baby boom a decade after a plague nearly erased them from the coast?

Can this surprising baby boom help save the critically endangered sunflower star and restore vital kelp forests?

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