Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014

Shannon Phillips, Howard Teas, Chrissy McLean What is sea star wasting?

eginning in 2013 and which scientists were able to place tists led by Ian Hewson were able to B continuing through into categories. The initial stage of determine what a pathogen linked to 2014, the west coast of wasting, not placed in to a catego- wasting disease, aptly named sea star North America experienced a ry due to the difficulty of classify- associated densovirus (SSaDV). The large-scale sea star mortality ing, is more of a behavioral process used to determine the virus is event. Stretching from North- change in the sea star; they exhibit summarized in Figure 1. The cause, ern Mexico to Alaska, this epi- lethargy and severe limb curling. SSaDV, leaves scientists with a multi- demic occurred in a wide array The first category is when lesions tude of questions that may only be an- of environmental conditions, affect the skin of one of the arms swered with more time to investigate. over a wide range of habitats, of the sea star, which appear like and over 10 different sea star cuts in their flesh. The categories were affected. This progress upward depending on mortality event was named how many arms “Sea Star Wasting Syndrome” show these cuts. Figure 1. Summary of Hewson et al.’s Process in and captured not only scien- Often, the sea Determining the Virus Linked To Sea Star Wasting tist’s attention, but the media’s star, due to their as well. malleable tissue, Throughout most of 2014, the will drop the cause of sea star wasting syn- infected arms. drome remained a mystery, The final stage, sparking action from many category four, groups to study the cause. This includes loss of wasn’t the first time that sea limbs, multiple star wasting syndrome had arms covered in been seen, but it was the first lesions, com- time it had been witnessed so plete deflation widespread. and death. Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Finally, at the was used to describe a set of near end of symptoms that appeared to 2014, a large spread through and impact a collaborative sea star in a systematic manner, group of scien- Pa ge 2 Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014

Figure 2. Daily The Beginning of Sea Star Day 1. Monitoring of Wasting Progression Wasting Monitoring at the of Mottled Stars in PTMSC Tanks Port Townsend Marine Science Center In November of 2013, the PTMSC reached out to basis. They were able to Day 2. Port Townsned Marine Melissa Miner of UCSC, to document the categorical Science Center (PTMSC) gain more information. progression and death of began to see many of their Due to the rapid rate of 18 mottled stars. They mottled sea stars show the syndrome’s spreading, were also able to submit signs of a sickness. As PTMSC was advised to information and some sea wasting had occurred in assemble a monitoring ef- stars with early signs of the PTMSC tanks in previ- fort of the sea stars in their wasting to the ever- Day 3. ous years, it was theorized tanks and an additional growing research efforts. that the sea stars were get- request to set up a plot Images from this effort are ting wasting symptoms as nearby to monitor the im- shown in Figure 2. described in a paper pub- pacts to the nearby sur- By early 2014, PTMSC, lished in 2009 (Bates et al.). roundings. directed by Melissa Miner, However, PTMSC had As a predominantly volun- had also established their never experienced this teer run organization with first intertidal monitoring Day 4. many sea stars getting sick a well established citizen plot, with a team of citizen at the same time. At the science program, PTMSC scientists, at Indian Island same time, reports began was able to quickly assem- County Park. 2014 became to appear in the media, ble a team of dedicated the first year of observa- documenting sick sea stars observers to monitor the tion for this newly devel- dying along the coast. They progression of wasting. oped long-term monitoring reported on a project led Before the end of 2013, project. by researchers from Uni- Day 5. PTMSC had established a versity of California Santa team of citizen scientists to Cruz who were examining monitor the tanks on a the progression of the syn- weekly (and often daily) drome.

Sunflower Star with Severe Wasting Symptoms Observed During Low Tide Walk at Indian Island Rainbow Sea Star During County Park Tank Observation

Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014 Pa ge 3

Tank Observation Methods No signs of Observers do a weekly visual vironmental conditions inside wasting. assessment of the number of the tanks including: tempera-

individuals present in each ture, pressure, salinity, con- 0 Category tank. For each sea star ob- ductivity, dissolved oxygen served, the observer docu- and pH. The environmental ments the species and assigns conditions are not analyzed in Behavioral Changes: each individual a category this report as the information based on appearance as shown collected first needs to be ana- Lethargy and in Figure 3. Categories used are lyzed for calibration consisten- Limb Curling* adapted from UCSC’s intertid- cy. 1/2 Category al monitoring protocol with Tank observers also visually addition of the category 1/2 to

assess the sand dollars, sea indicate if some individuals urchins and sea cucumbers to present may be showing be- see if the virus can spread into Lesion on one havioral changes, an early pos- related to sea stars. As arm or body. sible indicator of wasting pres- no signs of wasting in these

ence in the individual. species have been observed in Category 1 Category The observers also used a wa- our tanks, this connection was ter quality meter to collect en- not analyzed.

Plot Observation Methods Following UCSC’s intertidal ther healthy, mildly diseased, or Lesion on two monitoring protocol, 2 perma- severely diseased. As per the arms or one nent plots were established on a protocol, no rocks are over- arm and body. rocky jetty at Indian Island turned in the search of stars County Park, Port Hadlock, within the plot, moving algae to 2 Category Washington, where a map and see a star is allowed, and any designated plot size was estab- anecdotal notes, including the

lished for repeatable observa- presence of juveniles is record- tions. Observers do a seasonal ed. Lesions on visual assessment of sea stars most of body. present and progression of Star may be wasting. For each star observed, missing 1-2 the observer first determines arms. the species. If the is a Figure 3. Adapted 3 Category from UCSC’s mottled star or ochre star, the Intertidal Monitoring size of the sea star is document- Protocol of ed from the center of the body Categorical Severe tissue to the tip of the longest arm Progression of Sea deterioration. and then the star is categorized Star Wasting. into either 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 as shown 3 or more *Category 1/2 Added By arms missing. in Figure 3. If the star is not a PTMSC to Ease mottled star or an ochre star, Communication Between 4 Category the species is recorded and then Observers About Behavioral Changes the star is categorized into ei- Pa ge 4 Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014

Figure 4. PTMSC Sea Star Population From Weekly Observations Over Time

Internal Observation Results

From our weekly observations starting in the beginning of 2014, we were able to observe a signifi- cant decline in the sea star popu- lations present in PTMSC tanks (Figure 4), and what appeared to have a definitive population count at this peak, 7 species were affected: Mott- be two peaks of sea star wasting the beginning of the year, thus it is led, Ochre, Rainbow, Slime, Vermillion, in our tanks, with several species not possible to give more than an esti- Blood and the Giant Pink sea stars. observed with wasting at the mated number of deaths due to wast- same time (Figure 5). The second wasting peak appeared to ing. This figure does not include the start at the end of May continuing until The observed population of sea mottled stars that wasted in late 2013. the end of September. This peak includ- stars over time indicates that This figure also does not include a ed many of the same sea star species, throughout 2014, approximately that appeared to have died including: Mottled, Ochre, Rainbow, 54 sea stars died from sea star from other causes, as it did not follow Slime, Vermillion and Blood sea stars. wasting (Figure 4). PTMSC did not the categorical progression of sea star wasting. Figure 6 shows presence or absence in all species of the PTMSC collection that The first peak ap- had observed signs of wasting through- peared in January and Figure 5. Observation of Two Peak out 2014, but does not include species Wasting Periods in Multiple Species continued until the that were not affected by wasting. Recorded Over Time middle of March. In *Individual Species Data Represented in Figure 6

Wasting Presence in Species Over Time Blood Giant Pink Mottled, Ochre, Rainbow, Slime, Vermillion, Blood, Sunflower, Rainbow, Ochre, Slime, Morning Giant Pink Stimpson, Mottled, Vermillion, Blood, Mottled Present Ochre

Rainbow

Slime

Absent Stimpson Sun

1-Jan 31-Jan 2-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 31-May 30-Jun 30-Jul 29-Aug 28-Sep 28-Oct 27-Nov 27-Dec Sunflower Vermillion Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014 Pa ge 5

Blood Star Henricia spp.

Giant Pink Star Figure 6. Wasting Presence and Morning Star Absence dawsoni Throughout 2014 by Species

*Species that end Mottled Star with a presence peak before the year’s end indicate that no more individuals of that species are present in PTMSC Ochre Star tanks. **The final 2014 Pisaster ochraceus observation indicated a blood star with category one wasting symptoms that did not carry over or Rainbow Star progress in 2015. koehleri

Slime Star tesselatus

Stimpson Sun Star

Sunflower Star Pycnopodia helianthoides

Vermillion Star Pa ge 6 Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014

Plot Observation Results

In February 2014, PTMSC mottled stars(Figure 7). May and the smallest medi- established and observed Ochre stars had a median an size observed in August. the variety of sea stars at size of 115 mm from the As no mottled stars were the rocky jetty at Indian center of the body to the observed in July 2014, the Island County Park, Port tip of the longest arm in 3 median size could not be Ochre Sea Star Hadlock, Washington. In of the 5 observations con- calculated. May 2014, UCSC’s Melissa ducted in 2014. The small- PTMSC was able to see a Miner helped expand the est median size was ob- decline in the population focus of PTMSC’s plot to served in November 2014. of sea stars found within include a second plot adja- Median size of mottled their plots through 2014. cent to the first. stars was more variable , As only one plot was es- PTMSC staff and volun- with the largest median tablished in February 2014, teers documented the sizes size observed in of observed ochre and Mottled Sea Star Figure 7. Sizes of Ochre and Mottled Sea Stars Compared By Seasonal Observation Sea Star Wasting Annual Report 2014 Pa ge 7

Sea Stars Observed in PTMSC Plots 70 Sunflower Number of Diseased Individuals

60 20% Sunflower Number of Healthy Individuals Mottled Number of Diseased Individuals 50 Mottled Number of Healthy Individuals Ochre Number of Diseased Individuals 40 Ochre Number of Healthy Individuals

30 % Stars Observed With Wasting Symptoms #Individuals 20 0%

8% 0% 10 0% 33% 50% 25% 0% 0 % 0% 0% 0 May 2014 Jul 2014 Aug 2014 Nov 2014 Feb 2015

Figure 8. Comparison of Individuals and Percent of the percentage of wasting and population size was not used in the com- Individuals with Wasting Per parison in Figure 8, where observers saw a total of 53 sea stars with 0% Seasonal Observation wasting within the plot. Mottled stars were not observed within the plots during the July 2014 observation. Sunflower stars were not observed in the plots during both the July and August observation. There does ap- pear to be a decrease in the amount of wasting observed over time.

Citizen Scientists During A Plot Observation at Indian Island County Park

A Healthy Ochre Star Next to A Wasted Ochre Pa ge 8 Sea Star Wasting Annual Report Discussion and Conclusion

The data collected from species of sea stars that ering this to be a pattern. These data sets are the begin- monitoring in PTMSC tanks waste at the same time. ning of a long-term observation and at the Indian Island There also appeared to be As with all projects, effort and are currently not sta- County Park plots shows two peaks of wasting, possi- “science is a process.” Both tistically relevant, as it will take that later in the year of bly to be considered as two data sets may have large many years of comparison to 2014, there was a large de- separate wasting events as amounts of variability due see any other patterns that can cline in the population of there was a period of reced- to a constant learning curve be correlated with wasting. sea stars in both locations ing wasting documented in observing sea stars. Data However, each data set did and a decline in the progres- between the two time peri- quality comparison showed show apparent patterns of a sion of wasting presence in ods. that observers had some decline in population over time, the remaining sea stars. variability in categorical as- The November 2014 plot as well as a decline in the per- Both sets of data do indicate sessment. In the tank obser- observation data suggests centage of sea star wasting ob- that there are still sea stars vation, 1/2 category assign- that the median size of sea served by the end of 2014. present in both locations, ments were not documented star population present at as wasting, as this was not a and many species are still Indian Island County Park represented. formalized wasting category may have decreased, alt- by UCSC protocol. The tank observation data hough more observations suggests a pattern of some are necessary before consid-

The Main Questions Remaining in the Mystery of Sea Star Wasting Sea Star Wasting Annual Report Pa ge 9

Three Important Lessons Learned From Sea Star Wasting

What’s Next for Sea Star Wasting Monitoring at PTMSC?

Introducing PTMSC’s Two New Sea Star Wasting Projects PTMSC will continue on with the two projects established in 2014 to monitor progression of sea star wast- ing in the tanks and at the intertidal monitoring plots. As part of the tank monitoring protocol, environmental conditions will be collected and ana- lyzed upon completion of the cali- bration assessment. In addition, the New Project! tank monitoring will also continue to A collaboration with the Port visually assess animals related to sea Townsend High Schools Engi- stars for any indication of wasting. neering and Robotics class to New Project! In 2015, PTMSC has added two ad- give a real world application for ditional projects that centralize Two subtidal plots to continue moni- building remotely operated around sea star wasting. toring sea star wasting progression. underwater vehicles for sub- One adjacent to the Indian Island Jetty tidal sea star wasting observa- Plots and one under the PTMSC Pier. tion. References Bates, A. E., Hilton, B. J., & Harley, C. D. (2009). Effects of temperature, season and locality on wasting disease in the keystone predato- ry sea star Pisaster ochraceus. Dis Aquat Org, 86, 245-251. Hewson, I., Button, J. B., Gudenkauf, B. M., Miner, B., Newton, A. L., Gaydos, J. K., .Wynne, J., Groves C.L., Hendler, G. Murray, M. Fradkin, S., Breitbart, M., Fahsbender, E., Lafferty, K., Kilpatrick, A.M., Miner, C.M., Raimondi, P., Lahner, L., Friedman, C.S., Daniels, S., Haulena, M., Marliave, J., Burge, C.A., Eisenlord M.E., & Harvell, C. D. (2014). Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(48), 17278-17283.

Acknowledgements We would like to extend our thanks to:  Melissa Miner and the UCSC team for taking the time to describe sea star wasting syndrome to the volunteers at PTMSC, establishing our intertidal plots, guidelines on tank observation, and continued guidance on this project.  Drew Harvell of Cornell University for guiding our data collection and adding to our understanding of the progression of wasting symptoms in various species.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center  All of the PTMSC Citizen Scientists involved in this project, for their continued 532 Battery Way dedication, compassion, and curiosity. Port Townsend, WA 98368  Jamie Montague, the PTMSC Citizen Science Coordinator, who quickly rear- Phone: 360-385-5582 ranged the citizen science budget to allocate for this time-sensitive project.  Matt Tyler and the Jefferson County Parks and Recreations staff who have al- lowed us to set up and observe our intertidal plots, even in the dark of night.  Our PTMSC members and donors for your continued support of our organiza- tion which allowed us to respond in a timely manner. Sea Star Wasting Scientists at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Shannon Phillips Howard Teas Chrissy McLean Callay Boire-Shedd John Conley Kathleen Waldron Citizen Scientist PTMSC Marine Program Coordinator Citizen Scientist 2nd Term PTMSC AmeriCorps Citizen Scientist Citizen Scientist

Amy Does Dana Kovac Lee Merrill Luzi Pfenninger Rich Rackowski Citizen Scientist Citizen Scientist Citizen Scientist Citizen Scientist Citizen Scientist

As our project continues, our team continues to grow! Check back in for the 2015 Sea Star Wasting Annual Report next year!

Dennis Cartwright Toni Davison Citizen Scientist Citizen Scientist *References to and citations of data, summary of data, and published conclusions in this report should be written as follows: Sea Star Wasting Annual Report, 2014. Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Citizen Science Program, 2014.