sea star wasting syndrome – theoutershores

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On the Rocks: Now and Then

By: minustide November 25, 2020

Comparative Photos, Photo Challengeintertidal, Lens-Artists, oregon coast, Pisaster ochraceus, sea star wasting syndrome, starfish, tidepools, zonation4 Comments

It’s the setting, height, and shape that make the rock below an intertidal superstar. This surf zone heavy-hitter sits in an intertidal sweet spot where accessibility and rarely exposed lower reaches find the optimal balance. It’s a leviathan tall enough to support all the intertidal zones, and its steep broad faces impart visibility to the…

The Changeable Rocky Intertidal: 2013 v. 2018

By: minustide October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

Photo Challenge, zonationintertidal, Lens-Artists, oregon coast, sea star wasting syndrome6 Comments

The last five years have been a period of extremes for Pacific Northwest rocky intertidal ecosystems. We’ve all heard about sea star wasting syndrome, and persistent warm sea temperatures known as the blob. These unusual events are extreme enough that it’s reasonable to be curious about whether we might see changes in our familiar rocky…

Comparative Photos Show Rocky Intertidal Changes Between 2013 and 2016

By: minustide June 15, 2016October 17, 2018

Ecology, Intertidal Zonation, Marine Biology, Nature, Oregon Coastkeystone species, oregon coast, Pisaster ochraceus, sea star wasting syndrome, starfish, tide pools, zonation6 Comments

With the last bout of sea star wasting syndrome eastern Pacific starfish took a big hit. I describe the progression at this intertidal site in A Peek at Pisaster After Two Years of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. After three years their numbers are still down. Removal experiments have shown we can expect changes in rocky…

How Stable the Starfish?

By: minustide July 19, 2015July 20, 2015

Uncategorizedblogging 101, oregon coast, Pisaster ochraceus, sea star, sea star wasting syndrome, starfish3 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Finite Creatures.” This post is the Day 11 assignment for my Blogging 101 class. For decades we have known that starfish, like Pisaster ochraceus, are potent predators that play a big role, directly or indirectly, in maintaining the familiar communities of plants and animals in the intertidal…

A Peek at Pisaster After Two Years of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome

By: minustide May 4, 2015June 9, 2018

Echinodermata, Ecology, Marine Biology, Nature, zonationkeystone species, oregon coast, Pisaster ochraceus, sea star wasting syndrome, starfish, tide pools, zonation5 Comments

It’s a good time to check in on the rocky intertidal. All along the west coast sea star wasting syndrome has, to varying degrees, reduced Pisaster ochraceus, a potent predator and organizing force in rocky intertidal communities. Generations of intertidal ecologists, students, fisherpeople and other harvesters, tide poolers, and beachcombers have grown to count on…

My thoughts and experiences on the exposed outer coast. Lots of photos and a few words about intertidal nature. I’m always thinking about sandy beach connections to its sister ecosystems, the rocky intertidal, estuaries, and coastal forests. You can see photos of things I’ve found washed ashore on my Wrack Line pages. If you are looking for new takes on common intertidal algae, plants, and animals, I’m always updating my Variety of Life pages. I love the full-page layout on all theoutershores’ pages.