Summary:
- Researchers have identified a virus as the primary cause behind the mass die-off of starfish, also known as sea stars, along the Pacific coast of North America in recent years.
- The virus, called "sea star-associated densovirus" (SSaDV), was found to be present in high levels in sick and dying starfish, and was able to be transmitted to healthy starfish in laboratory experiments, causing them to become ill and die.
- This discovery provides important insights into the ecological impacts of disease outbreaks, and can help scientists develop strategies to monitor and potentially mitigate future mass mortality events affecting these ecologically important marine invertebrates.