biostudies-literatureHodin JCalifornia Sea Grantthe Ocean Protection CouncilThe Nature Conservancy of Californiae0318879https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12407436biostudies-literatureUnknown20(9)The sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, was a top benthic predator throughout its former range from Alaska to northern Mexico, until its populations were devastated starting in 2013 by a disease known as seastar wasting. The subsequent absence of sunflower stars from northern California waters was coincident with a dramatic ecological phase shift from healthy bull kelp forests (Nereocystis luetkeana) to barrens formed by purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), a prey of sunflower stars. Modeling suggests that restoration and resilience of kelp forests can be enhanced by the return of sunflower stars. Towards this end we run a conservation breeding program for sunflower stars in the Salish Sea of Washington, where sunflower stars have persisted in much reduced numbers. We PloS oneStar Power: Early life stages of an endangered sea star are robust to current and near-future warming.PMC12407436TNC-CAR/HCE-15Brito MHodin JAnteau FPCurliss FPeng JSValdez VVAshcraft BFSchwab CJKalytiak-Davis ARWeertman WfalseStar Power: Early life stages of an endangered sea star are robust to current and near-future warming.The sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, was a top benthic predator throughout its former range from Alaska to northern Mexico, until its populations were devastated starting in 2013 by a disease known as seastar wasting. The subsequent absence of sunflower stars from northern California waters was coincident with a dramatic ecological phase shift from healthy bull kelp forests (Nereocystis luetkeana) to barrens formed by purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), a prey of sunflower stars. Modeling suggests that restoration and resilience of kelp forests can be enhanced by the return of sunflower stars. Towards this end we run a conservation breeding program for sunflower stars in the Salish Sea of Washington, where sunflower stars have persisted in much reduced numbers. We 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-05-29T21:37:20.762Z2026-04-08T06:05:45.994ZS-EPMC124074364090191610.1371/journal.pone.0318879