A field trip, part of the Science of Oil Spills (SOS) class conducted by OR&R in Seattle during the week of August 4, 2014, featured a presentation by local marine biologist and citizen scientist Michael Kyte on on "Sea Star Wasting Syndrome."

The 42 SOS students were told about how the disease is detroying sea stars (starfish) along the entire Pacific coast of North America. Kyte, a scientist with 40 years experience, is a member of a national response team that is monitoring sea stars from Baja to British Columbia.

The scientist also became one of the instructors on the field trip, answering student questions and providing reliable insight the discussion of marine ecological processes. OR&R thanks him for volunteering his time and expertise.

For further information, contact Alan.Mearns@noaa.gov.

Go back to OR&R Weekly Report.