Urchins Surged 10,000%. Scientists Just Released Their Critically Endangered Predator
Beginning in late 2013 and intensifying through 2014–2015, an extreme marine heatwave known as 'The Blob' struck the Pacific Coast. It devastated marine life, killing off vulnerable species crucial to the region's ecosystem. Sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) were particularly affected and met a gruesome end, with 90 to 100% of the population killed in some areas. The infected sea stars were marred by white spots, contorted limbs, and tissue decay. Sadly, this wasn't the end for many individuals. These conditions preceded an unnaturally horrifying death as the body of each sea star lost its structural integrity, causing it to liquefy only days after symptoms appeared. Kelp forests are crucial to mitigating climate change. Sunflower stars are the gatekeepers of California's kelp forests. They eat predators like purple sea urchins, which feed on kelp. When this balance was…