Evidence That Microorganisms at the Animal-Water Interface Drive Sea Star Wasting Disease.

摘要: Sea star wasting (SSW) disease describes a condition affecting asteroids that resulted in significant Northeastern Pacific population decline following mass mortality event 2013. The etiology of SSW is unresolved. We hypothesized sequela microbial organic matter remineralization near respiratory surfaces, one consequence which may be limited O2 availability at the animal-water interface. Microbial assemblages inhabiting tissues and asteroid-water interface bore signatures copiotroph proliferation before onset, followed by appearance putatively facultative strictly anaerobic taxa time lesion genesis as animals died. lesions were induced Pisaster ochraceus enrichment with variety (OM) sources. These results together illustrate depleted conditions established heterotrophic activity response to loading. was also modestly (∼39%) aquaria, suggesting small perturbations dissolved exacerbate condition. susceptibility between species significantly positively correlated surface rugosity, key determinant diffusive boundary layer thickness. Tissues SSW-affected individuals collected 2013-2014 δ15N reflecting processes, suggests this phenomenon have affected during time. impacts enhanced subsequent diffusion limitation more pronounced under higher temperatures due lower solubility, rugose asteroid restricted hydrodynamic flow, larger specimens their area volume ratios affects potential.