After die-off, sea stars face uncertain future

A researcher examines an ochre star with whitened arms — a symptom of sea star wasting syndrome. So far, about 20 different species along the Pacific Coast appear to be vulnerable to the disease. (Photo: Greg Davis)Sea star wasting syndrome was first documented in Kachemak Bay in 2014, but it wasn’t until last summer that the mysterious infection began killing sea stars in large numbers.
Nearly six months later, the long-term effects of the die-off remain unclear.
Katie Gavenus is a