Sea Stars in Nanaimo

We are getting closer to the solstice and the tidal differences are getting bigger. Our kayak tours are sometimes at a low tide and then we see a lot of sea stars (or starfish but biologists like to call them sea stars ;-) ). The most common sea stars in the Nanaimo area are the Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus) and the Leather Star (Dermasterias imbricata). The Ochre Sea Star is purple or orange and feels very tough, almost like a rock. The Leather Star is orange and feels like soft leather. 
Both species almost disappeared in 2013 due to the Sea Star Wasting Syndrome and is possibly caused by a single-stranded DNA-virus and/or environmental changes like the warming of the ocean, i.e., still not fully understood. Luckily the Ochre Sea Star and the Leather Star bounced back relatively quickly but some sea stars like the Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides, with 16 to 24 limbs!) which eat the Ochre Sea Star is still not seen in the Nanaimo waters. 
During our tours we explain how the sea stars live, move and eat. It is always great to see them sometimes in big clusters hanging from the rock walls. 

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