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Sunflower Stars

Sunflower Stars, Pycnopodia helianthoides

These iconic sea stars have recently been listed as critically endangered. The once numerous sea stars were all but wiped out on the Pacific Coast of North America by a mysterious wasting disease that was first noticed in 2013. Since then there have been small pockets trying to recover, but estimates are 90 % of the population has been lost. This has led to dramatic changes in the marine eco system. A trophic cascade happened as the sea stars died off. Urchins took over and then wiped out much of the kelp beds. This important shallow water habitat has been drastically altered and the effects are only just being measured. 

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A large Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides. These sea stars are true giants, growing up to one meter across, with many ...
Mass of Sunflower and Mottled Stars in Barkley Sound prior to the wasting disease that wiped out vast quantities of these sta...
A Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides. These sea stars are true giants, growing up to one meter across, with many arms.
Large Sunflower Star on piling of Argonaut Wharf in Campbell River.
Sunflower star closeup showing some of its foot suckers.
Two Sunflower Stars entwined.
Orange coloured Sunflower Star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, among Eel Grass.
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides. These sea stars growing up to one meter across, and typically have between sixteen ...
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in Discovery Passage.
A Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides. These sea stars are true giants, growing up to one meter across, with many arms.
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in Discovery Passage.
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in Discovery Passage.
Sunflower star closeup showing some of its foot suckers.
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in shallow water eating a Kelp Crab.
Small Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in shallow water.
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in shallow water eating something envelpoed in its arms
Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, in shallow water eating something envelpoed in its arms
An example of sea star wasting disease in a Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides.
Juvenile Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides.
Juvenile Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, with varying sized arms.