news // 4

Mystery of disappearing sea
stars possibly solved

theotherpress.ca

» Densovirus likely responsible for millions of sea star deaths

Angela Espinoza

4 Ne Edit : : : : : : :
rows or : that upon isolating the virus and : stars in the Pacific Northwest
, ' @theotherpress.ca : injecting it into healthy sea stars, : leading up to this disease

he mysterious disease that

has eliminated millions of
sea stars along the Northeast
Pacific Coast (spanning
Southern California, BC, and
Alaska) has been revealed to
likely be strains of a densovirus.

A strain of densovirus was
suggested as the cause ina
report published by the science
journal Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences
on November 17. The report
was initially filed for review
in August, and approved of in
October.

The effects of the virus
result in the limbs of sea
stars falling off, eventually
disintegrating or “melting” the

The virus has been widespread
for over a year, wiping out many
already diseased or ill sea stars.
However, lan Hewson,
microbiology professor at
Cornell University in New York

 

: and one of the scientists who
: worked on the report, as referred :
: by the Associated Press, stated

: the virus killed them as well.

One important note the

: study found was that sea stars

: living in ocean water were the

: most likely to be affected. This

: was found after sea stars in

: aquariums in Vancouver and

: Seattle, which use seawater,

: became infected. In comparison,
: sea stars in aquariums that used
: ocean water under ultraviolet

: lights, which have the ability

: to kill outside viruses, were not

: infected.

The report also states that

: the virus already exists in the
: ocean and can be found in,

: amongst other sources, sea

: urchins and plankton, yet

: scientists do not know how

: the virus has caused sucha
infected, effectively killing them. :

devastating impact in recent

: years. A noted “population

: boom” ina specific species of
: sea stars may have increased

: the possibility of vulnerability

: amongst relatives.

: “This very high number of sea

: epidemic probably is what

: exacerbated the virus and made
: the switch between something

: relatively benign into something
: that was totally virulent.”

: why sea stars are being infected
: en masse, the report concludes
: that there still remains the

: question of “how?” The virus

: and/or the sea stars had to

: change to some degree for the

: result of an already present

: disease to become an epidemic.

: specific species’ extinction asa
: result of the virus’ spread, the

: disappearance of sea stars has
: caused an abundance of sea

: urchins in the ocean—which

: sea stars normally consume—
: resulting in changes for the

: ecosystem.

: infected 20 species of sea stars
: and continues to kill many
: more.

In an interview with the
Canadian Press, Hewson stated,

While scientists now know

Besides concern for

In total, this breakout has

 

 

NEW WESTMINSTER
ELECTION RESULTS

Mayor of New Westminster
Jonathan X. Cote

 

: COQUITLAM
: ELECTION RESULTS

Mayor of Coquitlam
: Richard Stewart

By 52.94 per cent out of four : Re-elected out of three

RB C Q TO C eC ry S tore a ale ohol candidates : candidates, Mayor since 2008
Replaces four-term Mayor :
Wayne Wright : Coquitlam City Council

S a le S d ate a hh nou ake eC d : All received over six per cent of
New Westminster : votes out of 16 candidates

» Qualifying grocery stores will have restrictions City Council : Craig Hodge
All received 7.9 per cent of votes ! Terry O’Neill

Angela Espinoza : government liquor stores The announcement or higher out of 21 candidates =: Brent Asmundson

N ; : for alcohol in an attempt : was made by BC Minister of Chuck Puchmayr : Dennis Marsden
ews Editor : wes ae warty: Do
: to prevent drastic pricing : Justice and Attorney General Lorrie Williams : Teri Towner
: differences. : Suzanne Anton on November Jaimie McEvoy : Chris Wilson
Sane April 1, 2015, : Grocery stores that wish : 19. In Anton’s announcement, Bill Harper : Mae Reid
permitted BC grocery : to qualify for liquor sales : she stated, “The number Patrick Johnstone : Bonita Zarrillo
stores will be able to sell : must be at least 10,000 square : crunchers have been working Mary Trentadue :
alcohol in specified sections. : feetand prove that roughly — : extremely hard at this where : Coquitlam School
BC Liquor Stores will also : 75 per cent of sales are : they are setting the wholesale New Westminster : Board Trustees

be seeing longer hours of
operation and will remain
open on Sundays.

In addition, independent
liquor stores will begin
paying the same amount as

: recognized as foods. Those

: who qualify may have outside
: or connecting liquor sales

: areas, but must be in separate
: areas to avoid illegal alcohol

: sales to minors.

: prices and they are setting

: them with the goal that the

: prices should not look too

: different when you walk into
: the store on April 1.”

School District Trustees

All received over eight per cent
of votes out of 13 candidates
Kelly Slade-Kerr, Jonina Campbell :
MaryAnn Mortensen

Mark Gifford, Casey Cook
Michael Ewen, James Janzen

: All received over eight per cent
: of votes out of 24 candidates
: Diane Sowden

Carol Cahoon

: Chuck Denison
: Barb Hobson