Microbial dysbiosis precedes signs of Sea Star Wasting Disease in wild populations of Pycnopodia helianthoides
McCracken, Andrew
McCracken, Andrew
Citations
Altmetric:
License
0
License
DOI
Abstract
Sea star wasting (SSW) disease, a massive and ongoing epidemic with unknown cause(s), has led to the rapid death and decimation of sea star populations with cascading ecological consequences. Changes in microbial community structure have been previously associated with SSW, however, it remains unknown if SSW-associated dysbiosis is a mechanism or artifact of disease progression, particularly in wild populations. Here, we compare the microbiomes of the sunflower sea star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, before (Naïve) and during (Exposed and Wasting) the initial outbreak in Southeast Alaska to identify changes in the microbial communities associated with sea star health and disease exposure
Description
Graduate
Date
2023-01-01