A new study revealed that the diversity patterns of starfish, from the Asteroidea group, change depending on the zone and depth where they are found. This discovery was part of the work of marine life expert Hugh Carter, published on the site Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The study’s author explained that, as they delve into the depths, diversity changes. This causes the loss of tropical diversity, which increases as it moves into temperate zones.
On the other hand, the research found that these animals seem to follow a series of patterns. One of them, known as the latitudinal diversity gradient, states that there are more plant and animal species living along the Equator, and fewer as it approaches the poles.
This pattern would explain the correlation between species diversity and temperature, although the study indicated that as depth increases, the environment becomes quite homogeneous.
A study revealed that starfish have a pattern that breaks the rules of the animal world. Photo: iNaturalis.
Ecological Characteristics of the Starfish Asteroidea
Starfish from the Asteroidea group are a fundamental part of marine ecosystems. They are characterized by their radial symmetry, arms that extend from a central disk, and a water vascular system that allows them to move and feed through hydraulic pressure.
They are opportunistic predators, with a special interest in mollusks such as mussels and bivalves, which they capture by extending their stomachs outward to digest the prey. Their role as consumers regulates marine populations and maintains balance in reefs and rocky bottoms.
Additionally, they have a remarkable regenerative capacity, allowing them to regenerate arms and even, in some cases, generate a new complete organism from a fragment.
Species of Asteroidea are distributed in almost all oceans, from tropical waters to polar regions. They mainly live in shallow marine bottoms, although some inhabit great depths. Their morphological diversity and feeding habits make them biological indicators of ecosystem health, as they quickly respond to changes in temperature, pollution, or food availability.
A study revealed that starfish have a pattern that breaks the rules of the animal world. Photo: iNaturalis Chile.
Conservation Status and Threats
While most species of Asteroidea starfish are not currently classified as globally threatened, they face multiple risks derived from human activity. Marine pollution, rising water temperatures, and ocean acidification directly affect their life cycles and reproductive capacity.
In some regions of the Pacific, epidemics such as the sea star wasting syndrome, a disease associated with pathogens and environmental stress that caused massive die-offs in entire populations, have been restricted.
Overfishing also indirectly impacts them by altering the trophic chains they depend on. The extraction of starfish as tourist curiosities or for souvenir trade locally reduced some populations, especially in highly visited coastal areas.
Faced with this scenario, scientific and environmental organizations propose conservation measures such as establishing marine protected areas, researching emerging diseases, and educating about the ecological importance of Asteroidea. Protecting these species not only ensures the survival of a fascinating organism but also the stability of marine ecosystems that sustain life in the ocean.
