Scientists identify bacteria behind massive sea star die-off on the West Coast

Scientists have identified a strain of bacteria, Vibrio pectenicida, as the cause of the wasting disease that has killed billions of starfish along the West Coast since 2013, leading to ecological shifts such as sea urchin overpopulation and kelp decline. The discovery offers hope for recovery efforts, including breeding resistant starfish and restoring kelp forests, while raising questions about environmental triggers like climate change.