A nice six-armed sea star (Leptasterias sp.) from Mendocino County on 15 July 2021. This individual was large for a six-armed sea star — about 7 cm across (arm tip to arm tip).
Well, it's a longer story! Six-armed sea stars used to be common along the Sonoma Coast, but their populations declined dramatically, potentially due to a harmful algal bloom (or something associated with the bloom), about 10 years ago. So for example, we haven't seen one on Bodega Head during that time. However, Leptasterias is doing fine to the north and south of Sonoma County. The one in this post was in Mendocino County.
Is this sea star uncommon along the Sonoma
ReplyDeletecoast? Uncommon farther north?
Well, it's a longer story! Six-armed sea stars used to be common along the Sonoma Coast, but their populations declined dramatically, potentially due to a harmful algal bloom (or something associated with the bloom), about 10 years ago. So for example, we haven't seen one on Bodega Head during that time. However, Leptasterias is doing fine to the north and south of Sonoma County. The one in this post was in Mendocino County.
ReplyDeleteI hope this helps!
Jackie