What’s Killing West Coast Starfish?
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Since 2013, millions of starfish have perished along the West Coast, victims of a mysterious illness called sea-star wasting disease. Now scientists think they might have a clue into what’s causing the massive die-off. A recent study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences links the wasting to a virus that’s been floating around our oceans for at least 70 years. But is the virus the only culprit?
The time-lapse video below shows a starfish infected with the disease.
Segment Guests
Lesanna Lahner
Lesanna Lahner is a marine life veterinarian at the Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, Washington.
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About Annie Minoff
@annieminoffAnnie Minoff is a producer for The Journal from Gimlet Media and the Wall Street Journal, and a former co-host and producer of Undiscovered. She also plays the banjo.