HRAP Online Encyclopedia

Sea Stars

No only are sea stars beautiful animals to look at, but they are also the apex predators of Pacific Northwest tide pools. As the top of the food chain, sea stars are incredibly important to the ecosystem. They keep the population of prey species in check, which helps the ecosystem stay balanced. Unfortunately, in 2012 a disease known as sea star wasting syndrome infected many sea stars along the West Coast, and Haystack Rock experienced a massive die off. Although it has been a decade since the disease first arrived, the sea stars at Haystack Rock are still in the process of recovering. Today it is possible to see ochre sea stars during a low tide that exposes the boulders on the North side of Haystack Rock, the North wall, and in the tide pools near The Needles on the South side. Other species of sea star are less common but can occasionally be spotted in these areas, especially during negative tides. To learn more about sea star wasting syndrome visit MARINe.

Sea Stars

Brittle Stars