The Birch Aquarium was able to successfully spawn three critically endangered sunflower sea stars, a milestone achievement in the recovery of the invertebrates.
The stars play an"essential role" in the overall health of kelp forests, safeguarding kelp forests from the adverse effects of overgrazing by sea urchinswas able to successfully spawn three critically endangered sunflower sea stars, a milestone achievement in the recovery of the invertebrates, it was announced Wednesday.
According to the aquarium, for nearly a decade, a mysterious Sea Star Wasting Disease has swept across the West Coast, causing a mass die-off of sea stars particularly in warming waters. It hit sunflower sea stars the hardest, nearly driving them to extinction. "Birch Aquarium can help this recovery effort by providing genetic diversity, exemplary animal care techniques and groundbreaking new protocols," Torres said.
The sex of three of Birch Aquarium's sunflower stars was unknown until this spawning event -- which is why the aquarium decided to induce these particular stars. In February, the aquarium induced one sea star and determined it was female. Then in March, a different star naturally spawned and was sexed as male. Now, the aquarium can confidently confirm that four males and one female make up its population.
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