ナショナルジオグラフィックさんのインスタグラム写真 - (ナショナルジオグラフィックInstagram)「Photo by Thomas Peschak @thomaspeschak | Most people think of sea stars as beautiful but lowly creatures of little ecological consequence. Nothing could be further from the truth! Like miniature lions or wolves, the ochre sea stars pictured here are voracious hunters, preying on and even controlling mussel populations. Legendary ecologist Bob Paine called ochre sea stars keystone predators, their presence or absence significantly impacting the intertidal ecosystems they inhabit. In 2013 a mysterious wasting disease afflicted them in the Pacific Northwest and quickly the disease severely decimated populations from Alaska to Mexico. Fortunately sea star populations are now showing signs of recovery, with juveniles colonizing some rocky shores in great numbers. However, it will probably take another five years before the recovery is complete. To experience more underwater photographs and discover other marine keystone species follow @thomaspeschak」7月12日 12時33分