Special issue elevates disease ecology in marine management

(Press-News.org) In the last several years, more than five billion sea stars have died around the world, with population declines exceeding 90 percent in some, once-abundant species. In the Bering Sea, over 10 billion snow crabs starved between 2018-2021, leading to the first-ever closure of one of the nation’s most lucrative fisheries. Meanwhile, in southern New England, a disease that causes shells to degrade emerged in the early 2000s just as the once-thriving lobster fishery collapsed. And the current avian flu pandemic has devastated marine mammal populations, killing 97 percent of elephant seal pups in one colony in Argentina in 2023.

In some of these examples, disease is directly to blame for mass mortality. In others, it is one of a number of compounding stressors facing marine ecosystems in a rapidly changing ocean. But all of these crises underscore the growing risk of marine diseases — and the mounting urgency to understand and manage them.

To that end, a new special edition of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B provides the first thorough collection of peer-reviewed studies on disease management in marine wildlife. Articles in the issue examine emerging pathogens, recent methodological advances, the increasing role of climate change, opportunities for ecosystem-based management, and guidelines for investigating new diseases. It is co-edited by researchers from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Hakai Institute, and the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center.

“One theme that stands out in this issue is that it is possible to simultaneously learn about fundamental aspects of the ecology and evolution of infectious marine diseases while also evaluating management opportunities,” said Bigelow Laboratory Senior Research Scientist Maya Groner, a co-editor of the issue. “This approach is critical as changing conditions contribute to increased disease spread.”

Despite potential consequences for coastal economies, food security, and ecosystems, marine disease ecology has historically lagged behind the study of diseases on land. Resource managers’ ability to track, predict, and manage marine diseases has been limited, and few studies have suggested management solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the ocean.

In recent years, though, the field has undergone a renaissance thanks to new genomic and AI tools and advances in ocean modeling that enable scientists to diagnose and characterize diseases and monitor their spread.

Building on a Philosophical Transactions edition from 2016 — the first journal issue focused on marine disease ecology broadly — the new publication showcases recent advances and demonstrates the value of combining traditional epidemiology approaches with novel technology.

“With the growing awareness of the consequences of major marine disease outbreaks, we are seeing great advances in our ability to quantify and detect disease events across a wide range of species, which is demonstrated in this issue,” said co-editor Alyssa Gehman, a PI research scientist at Hakai Institute. 

Articles in the issue focus largely on diseases affecting wild populations, work that is logistically, scientifically, and financially difficult. Some studies explore threats to aquaculture operations, like a deadly virus that has burdened the oyster industry in Europe and beyond. Others focus on broad impacts and how to make ecosystems, like coral reefs, more resilient to disease.

Many of the species examined have significant economic, ecological, or cultural value, from the iconic American lobster to the sunflower sea star, a keystone predator in kelp forests. And many of the diseases highlighted are responsive to environmental conditions, from warming temperatures to changing salinity.

Most importantly, the issue prioritizes translating scientific discovery into practical management strategies to mitigate the consequences of high-impact diseases. Topics covered in the issue include: molecular tools for identifying emerging diseases; strategies for investigating diseases of unknown origin; approaches for modeling disease drivers in remote parts of the ocean; and methods for evaluating species reintroduction after outbreaks.

Similar takeaways surface across every study, including the value of observer networks, efficient information sharing, regular disease monitoring, and proactive screening. These lessons learned, the editors say, emphasize how important continued funding and relationship building between management agencies and research institutions is for this work.

“Collaborations between scientists and resource managers will be essential for efficiently translating knowledge into action,” Groner said.

“The contributions in the issue reflect the benefit of collaborations between managers, industry, and academics for effective response to disease emergencies,” added co-editor David Paez, a quantitative biologist with the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center. “While much more work is needed, there is hope that we are slowly building the infrastructure to adequately respond to management needs.”

END