From: Shirley Skeel [mailto:sskeel@pugetsound.edu] Sent: Monday, February 15, 2016 10:00 AM To: mediarelations Subject: New Sea Star paper: Warm water link to Epidemic [cid:image002.jpg@01D1689B.4B020C20]Hello Environmental Reporter, The Royal Society has just published a paper showing the first evidence that warm sea surface temperatures are linked to the high death rates of adults affected by the sea star wasting disease epidemic off the U.S. west coast. The new paper, co-authored by University of Puget Sound biology professor Joel Elliott, is available here: http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/371/1689/20150212 The paper describes how: * Unusual 2-3°C warm sea temperature anomalies coincided with the high summer 2014 mortalities. * In lab experiments, adult sea star deaths were 18% higher in water temperatures of 19 degrees Centigrade, than in cooler water Joel Elliott could also talk to you about: * How some sea stars are "keystone species" and their loss could have significant effects on local marine ecosystems * Surveys in February, 2016, show that sea star numbers are still very low, but new recruits of ochre sea stars have been seen at some study sites, providing some hope for a population rebound We can supply photos and videos on the local effects of sea star wasting disease. Contact: Joel Elliott, Professor of Biology, University of Puget Sound: jkelliott@pugetsound.edu<mailto:jkelliott@pugetsound.edu> (best initially) Tel. 253. 879. 8593 OR Shirley Skeel, media relations, University of Puget Sound sskeel@pugetsound.edu<mailto:sskeel@pugetsound.edu> Tel. 253.879.2611 Cell. 510.684.6715 Joel has other interesting research on local marine communities coming up, and I will keep you in the loop. All the best, Photo: Healthy Sea Stars (Courtesy of The Royal Society) Shirley Skeel | Media Relations Manager UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND 1500 N. Warner St. #1041 Tacoma, WA 98416-1041 T: 253.879.2611 M: 510.684.6715 pugetsound.edu <http://www.pugetsound.edu/> Twitter: @sskeel