Scientists deploy a 24-armed secret weapon to save California’s kelp forests
Team works to restore the sunflower sea star as 95% of these key underwater ecosystems have been decimated along the Pacific coast in past decade
TL;DR
- Researchers are working to restore the sunflower sea star, a critically endangered marine invertebrate, to help save California's kelp forests.
- Sunflower sea stars have more than five arms, with some having up to 24.
- A marine heatwave starting around 2013 accelerated sea star wasting syndrome, wiping out over 90% of the Pacific sunflower sea star population.
- With the sea stars gone, purple sea urchins exploded in population and devoured kelp forests, reducing them by 95% in the last decade.
- Sunflower sea stars are essential predators of purple sea urchins and their presence creates a 'halo of fear' that deters urchin grazing.
- The Sunflower Star Laboratory is breeding sea stars in tanks and conducting field experiments to gather data for reintroduction.
- The goal is to permanently reintroduce the species to Monterey Bay within a few years to trigger a chain reaction of ecosystem recovery.