Question

starting in 2013, sea star wasting disease, an infectious disease, was observed in a type of sea star called sunflower stars. sea star wasting disease causes abnormally twisted arms, white lesions, body disintegration, and death in sea stars. sunflower stars are a major predator of sea urchins. how did the outbreak of sea star wasting disease impact the average kelp canopy area? construct a hypothesis that is supported by the data and your knowledge of kelp forests. in the years that followed the emergence of sea star wasting disease in sunflower stars, the average kelp canopy area was relatively. this may have occurred because the disease caused the population of sunflower stars to. this meant that sea urchins had predators, so the sea urchin population and grazed on kelp.

Explanation:

Sunflower stars predate sea urchins. Sea - star wasting disease reduces sunflower star population. Fewer predators mean sea urchin population increases. Sea urchins graze on kelp, so more grazing reduces kelp canopy area.

Answer:

In the years that followed the emergence of sea star wasting disease in sunflower stars, the average kelp canopy area was relatively lower. This may have occurred because the disease caused the population of sunflower stars to decrease. This meant that sea urchins had fewer predators, so the sea urchin population increased and grazed on more kelp.