August 14, 2022

Report Details

Today, we observed a total of 896 Ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) at the northern rocky outcroppings exposed by the low tides at Silver Point. We had 10 team members participate for 1.4 hours for a total survey effort of 14 hours. These efforts involved visually inspecting the stars for signs of sea star wasting syndrome (SSWS) as part of our observational study. A total of 765 stars were healthy (85.4%), 112 individuals had one white lesion on the ray or central disk (mild SSWS; 12.5%), while 19 individuals had more than one lesion, arm curling, body disintegration, or organs emerging from body cavity (severe SSWS; 2.12%). We sent images to MARINe who confirmed our correct designations of mild vs. severe disease category symptoms. Size class measurements ranged from the minute 5mm to a dinner plate sized 270mm, measured from the center of the central disk to the longest ray. No stars were touched in this observation (visual inspection only). Of the healthy individuals counted, 718 individuals measured between 30-170mm in terms of size class designations, which is 80% of all healthy Pisaster measured. Many juvenile stars were observed, especially in the crevices of California mussels along the rock wall of Silver Point rock. Additional tidepool invertebrates seen today included two tar-spot sea cucumbers associating with California Mussels and on an Ochre sea star, green spongy cushion (Codium setchellii), Hairy chiton, Hind's chiton, Monterey Dorid nudibranch, and Striped dogwinkle eggs. Inside of, and in the tidepools in the immediate vicinity of, the sea cave at Silver Point at extreme low tide, we observed a Pile worm, Button Shell, Common rock louse, Striped shore crab, Flat porcelain crab, and Pacific Hairy Hermit crab. Many curious visitors were delighted to be able to walk through the sea cave given the high level of sand deposited and save access at low tide.