Overview

• The bacterium Vibrio pectenicida was definitively confirmed and cultured, with results published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
• Field-ready diagnostic kits are in development to detect the pathogen in wild and captive sea star populations.
• Trials are underway to test probiotics and the influence of water temperature on disease progression and resistance.
• Captive-breeding programs aim to identify and propagate sunflower sea stars with innate resistance to support recovery efforts.
• Unchecked sea urchin populations have decimated kelp forests, highlighting the need for targeted ecosystem interventions.