FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEA STARS

1 SEA STARS NEAR EXTINCTION LINKED TO WARMING WATERS

Sea stars in the waters off the West Coast that died off in the billions about a decade ago are not recovering as expected and are nearly extinct, a new study says. Published by the Royal Society, the study links the decline to warmer water, which is blamed on climate change.

2 STARFISH CAN GROW UP TO 40 ARMS

Also known as starfish, sea stars come in multiple bright colours, including purple, yellow and red. While many have five arms and are shaped like a star, other starfish species have 10, 20 and even 40 arms and can grow to a metre in diameter.

3 STARS ONCE THRIVED OFF OF CALIFORNIA, MEXICO COASTS

While sea stars disappeared off Mexico and sourthern California, there are still some in B.C. waters, but it’s unclear if they’ll survive, said Sara Hamilton, a PHD student at Oregon State University and lead author of the study. These “charismatic creatures” have been wasting away since 2013, she said, and studies have shown this could be due to bacteria or a virus that thrives in warm waters.

4 WASTING DISEASE CAN KILL STARS WITHIN 48 HOURS

The wasting disease leaves white or discoloured lesions on their surface and can destroy adult and juvenile sea stars within 48 hours. “Those lesions start to spread over their body, and I mean it would be like if we lost all of our skin,” Hamilton said. “Their insides start pouring out. Some of their arms begin to fall off because the lesions disconnect their arms. It’s very disturbing.”

5 LOSS OF SEAS STARS HAS AFFECTED ECOLOGICAL BALANCE

The massive loss of sea stars has also upset the ecological balance in coastal oceans, as the starfish once kept sea urchins in check, which now feast on kelp forests. Kelp is an important habitat for other marine wildlife to use for food and shelter. “As you lose sea stars, their role in the ecosystem dims and they shine a little less bright.”