Sea Star Wasting Disease outbreak discovered in Florida by a UF ecologist

Sea Star Wasting Disease outbreak discovered in Florida by a UF ecologist

Last year, an ecologist at the University of Florida discovered an outbreak of a disease affecting starfish. The discovery of what’s called Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) in Florida was shocking. Alex Romer is a quantitative ecologist at the University of Florida who specializes in invasive species. During a snorkeling trip at Lake Worth Cove in Palm Beach County, he noticed some sea stars that did not look healthy. Romer says he recognized the…