Marine Disease Dynamics in Echinoderm Populations
Summary
Marine disease dynamics in echinoderm populations have emerged as a critical focus owing to the ecological prominence of this phylum. Echinoderms, including sea stars and sea urchins, function as keystone species and ecosystem engineers in temperate and tropical habitats. Disease outbreaks such as wasting syndromes, parasitic infestations and microbial dysbiosis can trigger rapid population declines, provoke trophic cascades and alter benthic community structure. A combination of biotic factors (viral agents, opportunistic bacteria and parasites) and abiotic stressors (temperature anomalies, hypoxia and organic matter enrichment) interact to determine outbreak onset, progression and severity. Host responses range from innate immune activation and collagen matrix maintenance to microbiome reshaping at the animal–water interface. Long-term surveillance reveals spatial variation in susceptibility and recovery potential, underscoring the need for integrated monitoring, mechanistic studies and predictive environmental management to safeguard echinoderm diversity and the ecosystem services they support.
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Marine Disease Dynamics in Echinoderm Populations publication trend
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Technical terms
Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD): Multi-species syndrome of sea stars characterised by arm twisting, ulceration and tissue disintegration leading to mass mortality.
Densovirus: Single-stranded DNA virus implicated in association with symptomatic sea stars, though causality may vary by species and location.
Microbiome dysbiosis: Imbalance in the normal microbial community at the host–water interface that may shift towards opportunistic or anaerobic taxa during disease.
Diffusive boundary layer: Thin film of water adjacent to the organism’s surface where gas exchange occurs and where microbial activity can alter oxygen availability.
Keystone species: Organism whose ecological role has a disproportionately large effect on community structure and ecosystem function relative to its abundance.
References
- Sea stars resist wasting through active immune and collagen systems. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2023).
- Evidence That Microorganisms at the Animal-Water Interface Drive Sea Star Wasting Disease. Frontiers in Microbiology (2021).
- Sea Star Wasting Disease in the Keystone Predator Pisaster ochraceus in Oregon: Insights into Differential Population Impacts, Recovery, Predation Rate, and Temperature Effects from Long-Term Research. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Decreased Temperature Facilitates Short-Term Sea Star Wasting Disease Survival in the Keystone Intertidal Sea Star Pisaster ochraceus. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Evidence for a trophic cascade on rocky reefs following sea star mass mortality in British Columbia. PeerJ (2016).
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