A tale of two sea stars: recovery (ochre star) or endangerment (sunflower star) following the 2014 epidemic

During the summers of 2013 and 2014, populations of sea stars along the west coast from Alaska to Mexico were decimated by the sea star wasting disease (SSWD) epizootic. Two of the most highly affected species along this range are Pisaster ochraceus (the ochre star), the most common intertidal species, and Pycnopodia helianthoides (the sunflower star), the most common subtidal species, both of which are endemic to the western coast of the U.S. For the ochre star, in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, we measured high case fatality rates associated with disease prevalence over 90% during the summer of 2014. Low levels of disease were observed in the summers of 2015, 2016, and 2017. Population levels following the epizootic remain stable but small, and shifted in size structure from larger to smaller stars. At one site, a dramatic increase in both juvenile and adult ochre stars occurred in 2017, giving hope for future recovery. In contrast, the most common subtidal species, the sunflower star, also suffered catastrophic mortality in 2014. However, in this case, Citizen Science Monitoring in all oceanographic basins of the Salish Sea through 2017 shows an extraordinary decimation of this species, with no sign of recovery three years after the SSWD epizootic. Extremely low population size of sunflower stars raises concern about the capacity of this species to recover, as well as to resist other stochastic events in the future

Monitoring and the San Juan Marine Stewardship Area Plan

20 years ago, the work of citizens coming together to actively steward the marine environment in San Juan County resulted in the formation of the first Marine Resources Committee(MRC), and ultimately the Northwest Straits Commission. A model for collaborative resource management, the San Juan MRC continues to be on the forefront of stewarding the ecosystem. Managing the ecosystem of our county according to the input, collaboration and direction of the citizenry utilizing a well-written plan, 6 strategies for implementation of the plan, and a standing advisory committee of citizens who are appointed by County Council to guide legislative actions is the goal. Our County Council adopted the San Juan Marine Stewardship Area plan in 2007. At community meetings held throughout the Islands, locals chose six protection strategies from the plan they felt were most important. One of these strategies unites the rest: Foster a stewardship ethic in residents and visitors. The unique marine ecosystem draws visitors from all over the world and is key to the islands’ economy and quality of life. Here, too, researchers from around the world conduct studies and learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that govern these seas. Monitoring studies provide data that can inform our management activities, and suggest direction and refinement of restoration and protection activities. Citizens are involved in all phases of this work. Recently, the REEF Volunteer Survey Project has contributed significantly using SCUBA divers from around the region. In our talk for the panel, Marta Branch and Janna Nichols will review the collaborative history of the San Juan MRC, the creation of the Voluntary Marine Stewardship Area and plan, and explore the recent contributions of Sea Doc sponsored REEF dive surveyors to the management effort

Devastating Transboundary Impacts of Sea Star Wasting Disease on Subtidal Asteroids.

Sea star wasting disease devastated intertidal sea star populations from Mexico to Alaska between 2013-15, but little detail is known about its impacts to subtidal species. We assessed the impacts of sea star wasting disease in the Salish Sea, a Canadian / United States transboundary marine ecosystem, and world-wide hotspot for temperate asteroid species diversity with a high degree of endemism. We analyzed roving diver survey data for the three most common subtidal sea star species collected by trained volunteer scuba divers between 2006-15 in 5 basins and on the outer coast of Washington, as well as scientific strip transect data for 11 common subtidal asteroid taxa collected by scientific divers in the San Juan Islands during the spring/summer of 2014 and 2015. Our findings highlight differential susceptibility and impact of sea star wasting disease among asteroid species populations and lack of differences between basins or on Washington's outer coast. Specifically, severe depletion of sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) in the Salish Sea support reports of major declines in this species from California to Alaska, raising concern for the conservation of this ecologically important subtidal predator

Delano’s Turn: Directions West of the River

Delano has been waiting. Although plans for community investment have been considered since 1989, there remains much to be done. Douglas Avenue has been redeveloped and is widely considered a tremendous success, yet the vacant Pacific Union rail corridor lays dormant, the Arkansas Riverfront is underdeveloped, vacant parcels and underutilized surface parking areas abound, and access to public space is fragmented. Recently, there are reasons for enthusiasm. Near the turn in the Arkansas River, a new residential building and an advanced learning library are under construction. Immediately adjacent, a hotel and mixed use residential building are slated for development. Wichita leadership wants to expand urban investment from the east side of the river to the west, including a renovated or redeveloped Lawrence-Dumont baseball stadium. There are many directions the community can turn. Showcasing Delano’s unique identity, leveraging existing assets, and creating cohesion are ways to move forward. Delano has been waiting. It’s Delano’s turn. Delano’s Turn: Directions West of the River presents urban design ideas for the future of the Delano district in Wichita, Kansas. Fifteen mid-level students enrolled in an intensive 8-week Community Planning and Design studio completed the work during the summer of 2017. The studio was co-led by Associate Professor Blake Belanger and Associate Professor Howard Hahn. The effort was supported with funding from the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation (WDDC) and Kansas State University’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB), and would not have been possible without the support of Blase Leven, TAB Program Coordinator. We are also grateful for the support and guidance from Jason Gregory with the WDDC, Scott Knebel with the Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning Department (WSCPD), and our external reviewers, particularly Associate Professor Carl Smith who delivered both exceptional insights and humor. Conceived by the studio professors and the WDDC, the idea for the project emerged from discussions in late 2016. Goals of the collaborative service learning studio included providing students with first-hand experience working with a community, generating creative ideas for advancing the dialogue about planning the future of Delano, engaging residents and stakeholders and responding to their input, and supporting the mission of the project partners. The studio’s process included rigorous mapping of various conditions, two community engagement workshops, design development through an iterative process, a final presentation to project partners and local planning and design professionals, and a public open house exhibiting posters of student proposals. Delano’s Turn is presented in two Volumes. Volume 1: Design Proposals begins with background, primary dilemmas, intent, methods, and process. In the following four chapters of Volume 1, we present specific urban design strategies for activating existing assets, showcasing Delano’s identity through sense of place, and increasing connectivity and cohesiveness. Volume 2: Critical Maps and Index contains over 80 maps documenting existing conditions, dilemmas, opportunities, and conceptual strategies. The maps served the studio as a vital method for developing urban design strategies. For planners and designers advancing this work, the critical maps are valuable research that may help inform recommendations and decision-making processes. In contrast to a singular master plan, the collection of ideas presented in Delano’s Turn provides a multitude of ideas that can be compared, evaluated, prioritized, and perhaps hybridized. We aspire that Delano’s Turn will contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the future direction of Delano, and will help establish a legacy for Wichita

The 2006–15 estimated count of <i>P</i>. <i>helianthoides</i> in 5 basins of the Salish Sea and the Outer Coast.

<p>Grey line marks the epidemic onset.</p

Parameter estimates of the logistic regression for SSWD prevalence in 3 asteroid species during May—August 2014.

<p>Parameter estimates of the logistic regression for SSWD prevalence in 3 asteroid species during May—August 2014.</p

The actual 2006–15 and projected 2014–15 abundance for <i>M</i>. <i>franciscanus</i> in 5 basins of the Salish Sea and the Outer Coast.

<p>Grey line marks the epidemic onset. Note: Abundance = Density Score x SF, where Density Score = [(nSx1)+(nFx2)+(nMx3)+(nAx4)] / (nS + nF + nM + nA). Here nS, nF, nM, and nA represent the number of times each abundance category was assigned for a given species.</p

Number of REEF surveys conducted by year in each studied basin in the Salish Sea.

<p>Number of REEF surveys conducted by year in each studied basin in the Salish Sea.</p