Each year, WCS scientists author or co-author nearly 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3 Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet – in bite sized helpings – of some of this published work.
1. Sea
star wasting disease has killed millions of seas starts along the
Pacific coast since 2013, so there is a need for diagnostic tests to
evaluate their health.
2. Researchers used a non-invasive technique
that is used to access the body fluid of sea stars and tested it on 26
sea stars in aquaria.
3. The results provided a useful baseline and diagnostic tool for health assessments of sea stars.
WCS Media Contact: Stephen Sautner, 7182203682, ssautner@wcs.org
Study and Journal: “Coelomic
fluid evaluation in clinically normal ochre sea stars Pisaster
ochraceus: Cell counts, cytology, and biochemistry reference intervals” from Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
WCS Co-Author(s): Harley Newton , WCS Zoological Health Program’s Aquatic Animal Medicine and Pathology Department
