Urchins are dying off across the Caribbean. Scientists now know why

Summary: A type of single-celled microorganism associated with coral diseases is to blame

Summery: Sea urchins in the Caribbean have been dying since early 2022, and scientists have finally identified the cause as a scuticociliate microorganism called Philaster apodigitiformis. This microorganism is usually not associated with mass mortality, and it is unclear why it has become so harmful to urchins. Long-spined sea urchins are crucial to Caribbean coral reefs, and this die-off is similar to one that occurred in the 1980s. While there is no treatment for this disease, identifying the pathogen allows for the development of possible options. The scuticociliate has been observed in the tissues and fluids of sick urchins and tends to cluster in their body walls and at the base of their spines. The next step was to infect healthy urchins with the pathogen, and they exhibited common symptoms of sick urchins. It is unclear if the same pathogen was involved in the 1980s die-off, and there are probably other factors involved.

Full story -https://digiofficial.com/2023/04/20/urchins-are-dying-off-across-the-caribbean-scientists-now-know-why/