As ochre sea star ‘baby boomers’ grow up, species showing signs of recovery

by Steve Lundeberg, Oregon State University
October 30, 2025

The “baby boom” of ochre sea stars that followed a population crash a decade ago is enabling the species to recover on the Oregon Coast, according to new research by scientists at Oregon State University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The study, published in Ecosphere, does not determine whether the boom was triggered by the wasting disease epidemic that pushed ochre sea stars to the brink of extinction in Oregon, or simply a fortunate coincidence.

But either way, a study of multiple sites along the coast revealed many encouraging signs for ochre sea star populations.

“Wasting disease remains in circulation and populations continue to fluctuate, but there’s also much evidence that ochre sea stars are bouncing back,” said the study’s lead author, Sarah Gravem, an OSU postdoctoral researcher when the project began.

Keep reading: https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/ochre-sea-star-%E2%80%98baby-boomers%E2%80%99-grow-species-showing-signs-recovery

Read the Ecosphere paper: https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/ochre-sea-star-%E2%80%98baby-boomers%E2%80%99-grow-species-showing-signs-recovery