Credit: Provided by QUEST
Summary:
An infectious disease, which causes the limbs of starfish to crawl away from their bodies, is killing multiple species along the west coast in the largest marine epidemic ever known. Scientists think the pathogen spreads through the water and physical contact, as well as through shellfish.
Starfish are a keystone species, so their loss could disrupt the ecosystem, say scientists.Full Text:
An infectious disease, which causes the limbs of starfish to crawl away from their bodies, is killing multiple species along the west coast in the largest marine epidemic ever known. Scientists think the pathogen spreads through the water and physical contact, as well as through shellfish. Starfish are a keystone species, so their loss could disrupt the ecosystem, say scientists.
