The influence of salinity and sea star wasting syndrome on sea star species composition and distribution in Nootka Sound, British Columbia

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] The effect of salinity and Sea Star Wasting Syndrome on the distribution and composition of sea star species was studied in Nootka Sound. Using an underwater camera survey were conducted over four days the Muchalat, Tlupana and Tahsis Inlets of Nootka Sound. These surveys revealed that not only do the sea stars show a trend in their distribution from salinity, but also that the Inlets may have been struck by Sea Star Wasting Syndrome at some point in the past. These results suggest that the intertidal of Nootka Sound could be changing due to the removal of the keystone predators.

University of Washington School of Oceanography