Starting in 2013, a mysterious disease started to spread within numerous species of sea stars, which led to dramatic declines. The greatest losses from sea star wasting disease (SSWD) was in Pycnopodia helianthoides (sun stars), now listed as critically endangered with the IUCN and recommended for listing as endangered by COSEWIC. A recent international collaboration with the Hakai Institute, University of British Columbia (UBC) and University of Washington (UW) has identified a causative agent of SSWD, the bacteria Vibrio pectenicida. This talk will outline the journey the team underwent to find a causative agent.

Alyssa-Lois Gehman is a Principal Investigator at the Hakai Institute and Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia, whose current research focuses on marine disease ecology. Alyssa’s research explores how host-parasite interactions shape or are shaped by ecological communities and their environment. Some current projects in Alyssa’s group focus on sea star wasting disease, rhizocephalan barnacle infection in hermit crabs, and integrating symbionts into biodiversity research. Prior to her position at Hakai, she held a PostDoc research position in the Harley Lab at UBC, received her PhD from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia in 2016 and her M.S. degree from Western Washington University in 2008

This presentation will be via Zoom Video Conferencing. On the Monday preceding the event, Nature Vancouver members will receive the Zoom link in the weekly e-News. The talk will begin at 7:30 pm. Non-members are welcome and should email zoom-request@naturevancouver.ca a few days ahead to register for the link.