Alekzandra Thoms
Sea-stars,
more commonly known as Star-fish, an indicator species, have been decaying and
liquefying at a disconcerting speed. This disease is known as Sea Star Wasting
Syndrome. An indicator species is one that, if it develops a disease or begins
dying off rapidly, could indicate a bigger problem that could spread to the
rest of its ecosystem.
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome has affected around 95% of Sea
Stars from British Columbia, Canada, down to California. But it is not confined
to the West Coast. Sea Stars, dead of the same disease, have been identified on
the East Coast, from Maine to New Jersey. Citizens on the coast are asked to
keep an eye out for deteriorated Star Fish, and to submit them online, so a
Real Time image can be made for scientists. Scientists do not know the cause of
the syndrome, nor the connection between the two coasts, but they do know that
Sea Stars are key species in their eco systems.
What scienctists do know is
that the loss of Sea Star will have a major impact on their ecosystems. They
control population by eating larvae and without this control, adult animal
numbers will skyrocket, and other species that the Sea Star usually preys on,
like worms and clams, consume/change abiotic (nonliving) conditions. Clams take
nutrients which fertilize, and worms aerate – meaning more air is distributed
through the water where it normally is not.
All in all, the dying off of such an important species
could have potentially enormous side effects on the rest of the working eco
system around it, which relys so heavily on the Sea Star’s existence.
This article, though, did have some weak spots, much like
our blossoming trouble with this sea species. Our author seemed to give such a
strong case for all the ways this could be harmful, but then contradicted herself
by saying it may not have such a huge impact and that there is no way to know
yet. This part could have gone without saying, or in a less contradictory manner.
"Sea Star Wasting Syndrome"(image
from site)
Poppick,
Laura. "Mysterious Disease Turning Sea Stars to Goo May Disrupt Tidal
Ecosystems." LiveScience.com. Livescience, 8 Nov. 2013. Web.
08 Nov. 2013.
http://www.livescience.com/41042-starfish-wasting-disease.html
http://www.livescience.com/41042-starfish-wasting-disease.html
Alekzandra,
ReplyDeleteI thought that the way you presented your knowledge and understanding of the article was done well. I also thought that the way you incorporated statistics in your review was very informative and helpful. Another thing that I thought was presented well was the relation to our world. I liked how you linked the two, it made me think about what marine life would be like without the existence of starfish. A couple things that I learned from reading your review were that I didn't know that Sea Star Wasting Syndrome existed. I also was informed that scientists studying this disease, has no idea how starfish catch it. My one change to your review would be that you would expand on the changes in the marine life that would be affected by the extinction of starfish. Overall I thought that your review was really informative and interesting and I really enjoyed reading it!
I'm sad to be informed Patrick's family is dying off. I think this topic, although disheartening, is very captivating. Your current event was very clear and easy to understand. I enjoyed when you stated, "This article, though, did have some weak spots, much like our blossoming trouble with this sea species." It was a very nice comparison that added to your report. I was interested to learn that the existence of star fish is much more essential than I previously thought. I liked how you included all of the different ways the death of star fish has effected marine life (other than leaving behind a friendless sponge). I think your review was very well done, and more importantly, it was interesting to read.
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