Lyla Lindsey
Asterias amurensis, also known as the Northern Pacific seastar, is a species of seastar native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, far eastern Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and British Columbia in Canada. It has successfully invaded the southern coasts of Australia and is considered an invasive species, causing damage to native species, especially in Tasmania. The seastar has the potential to move as far north as Sydney, and its presence in Australia has been attributed to various introduction pathways, including the live fish trade, ship ballast water, ship hull fouling, and the translocation of machinery and equipment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Northern Pacific seastar, Japanese common starfish, flatbottom seastar, Japanese seastar, Japanese starfish, north Pacific seastar, purple-orange seastar |
| Scientific name | Asterias amurensis |
| Native range | Japan, North China, Korea, Russia, Alaska, Aleutian Islands, British Columbia in Canada |
| Introduced range | Australia, including Tasmania, Victoria, and potentially as far north as Sydney |
| Habitat | Shallow waters, estuaries, mud, sand, silt, rocky sheltered areas of intertidal zones, reefs, up to 200m deep |
| Appearance | Five arms with pointed, upturned tips, small central disc, colours ranging from yellow to orange with purple markings |
| Size | Up to 50 cm in diameter, arms usually grow to 16.1 cm |
| Diet | Bivalves, gastropod molluscs, barnacles, crabs, crustaceans, worms, echinoderms, ascidians, sea urchins, sea squirts, other seastars |
| Reproduction | Sexual and asexual, spawning between July and October, females carry up to 10-25 million eggs |
| Impact | Highly invasive, damaging to native species, potential for ecological and economic harm, listed as a pest species of national priority in Australia |
| Control | Prevention and control measures implemented to stop further spread, but eradication is difficult due to established and widespread populations |
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What You'll Learn
Asterias amurensis is a pest in Australia
Asterias amurensis, commonly known as the Northern Pacific seastar, is a species of starfish native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, far eastern Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and British Columbia in Canada. It is typically found in shallow seas and estuaries, and can grow up to 50 cm in diameter. The species has a distinctive appearance, with five arms featuring upturned tips and a small central disk. The underside is yellow, while the dorsal side displays a range of colours, including orange, yellow, red, and purple.
Asterias amurensis has invaded the southern coasts of Australia, particularly in Tasmania, Victoria, and Port Philip Bay, where it is considered a pest. It was introduced to Tasmania in the 1980s and has since spread to other regions. The species is well-adapted to the warmer waters of Australia, with temperatures of 22°C, and can tolerate a wide range of salinities. It prefers shallow waters and is found in estuaries, mud, sand, or rocky sheltered areas of intertidal zones.
The Northern Pacific seastar is a highly invasive species and has been listed as an Australian pest species of national priority due to its negative impacts on aquaculture and commercial shellfish industries. It has a rapid reproduction rate, with females capable of carrying up to 20 million eggs and releasing 10-25 million eggs per year. The species has a diverse diet, preying on bivalves, gastropod molluscs, barnacles, crabs, crustaceans, worms, echinoderms, ascidians, sea urchins, sea squirts, and even other seastars. This broad appetite contributes to its ecological and economic harm in Australia.
The introduction of Asterias amurensis to Australia is likely due to human activities. The species can be transmitted through seawater in the live fish trade, ship ballast water, ship hull fouling, and the translocation of machinery and equipment, including recreational boats and salmon cages. Once established, eradication is extremely difficult due to the species' ability to rapidly reproduce and disperse.
The Australian government has recognised the significant impact of Asterias amurensis, ranking it as one of the ten most damaging potential domestic target species based on overall impact potential. Prevention and control measures are being implemented to stop the species from invading new waters and causing further harm to native species and industries.
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It is native to the coasts of Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Alaska
Asterias amurensis, also known as the Northern Pacific seastar and Japanese common starfish, is a starfish species native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, far eastern Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and British Columbia in Canada. It is typically found in shallow seas and estuaries, preying on large bivalve molluscs and other gastropods, crabs, barnacles, ascidians, sea squirts, and algae. It is distinguished by its lack of interactinal plates and the reticulated arrangement of its dorsal plates, with distinctive upturned tips on its arms. The underside is yellow, while the dorsal side displays a range of colours, including orange, yellow, red, and purple.
In Japan, Asterias amurensis is abundant at 20 metres depth, but its population decreases at 50 metres, where it is replaced by another starfish species, Distolasterias nipon. Population booms in Japan can affect mariculture operations and are costly to control. The species has a significant impact on scallop plantations and populations of certain bivalves, as well as some effect on mussels and oysters in Tasmania. It is considered a pest in mariculture operations and is parasitised by various organisms, including the scuticociliates Orchitophrya stellarum, which infect its gonads and can lead to castration and death.
In Russia, Asterias amurensis is found in the Peter the Great Gulf in Primorsky Krai, the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in the eastern Chukchi Sea, Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, and the Strait of Tartary. It is also present on both coasts of Sakhalin. The species has been observed preying on itself during periods of low food abundance and is capable of digging clams out of the seabed.
In Alaska, Asterias amurensis has been observed in aquaria, where it is preyed upon by king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus). The bacterium Colwellia asteriadis, a commensal species, has been isolated from Asterias amurensis hosts in the sea off Korea and has shown no negative effects on its host. Asterias amurensis is considered useful in traditional Chinese medicine and is included in the 2015 Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China.
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It was introduced to Tasmania in the 1980s
Asterias amurensis, commonly known as the Northern Pacific seastar, is native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, far eastern Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and British Columbia in Canada. It was introduced to Tasmania in the 1980s and has since become an invasive species in Australia, causing significant damage to native species.
The introduction of Asterias amurensis to Tasmania is believed to have occurred through various pathways, including the live fish trade, ship ballast water, hull fouling, and the translocation of machinery and equipment. The species has a high capacity for dispersal, which has contributed to its successful invasion of new areas.
In Tasmania, Asterias amurensis has had a particularly detrimental impact on native oyster, mussel, and scallop populations. It preys on large bivalve molluscs, and its presence has disrupted the local marine ecosystem. The seastar's ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually has further contributed to its rapid population growth in the region.
The invasion of Asterias amurensis in Tasmania has not only caused ecological damage but also holds potential economic implications. The species has affected aquaculture and commercial shellfish industries, highlighting the significance of implementing prevention and control measures to limit its spread to new waters.
The successful invasion of Tasmania by Asterias amurensis underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring, management, and research to mitigate the species' impact and prevent further ecological and economic harm. The development of national control plans, including chemical, physical, and biological approaches, is crucial to address the challenges posed by this invasive species.
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It has a high potential for ecological and economic harm
Asterias amurensis, or the Northern Pacific seastar, is a marine species native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, far eastern Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and British Columbia in Canada. It has invaded the southern coasts of Australia, and has the potential to move as far north as Sydney.
The seastar is considered a severe "marine pest" due to its broad feeding habits and ability to adapt to new environments. It has a wide range of prey, including mussels, scallops, clams, barnacles, crabs, crustaceans, worms, sea urchins, sea squirts, and even other seastars. Its feeding habits have been known to cause damage to native species in Tasmania, including the critically endangered spotted handfish.
The seastar's ability to establish large populations in new areas poses a significant threat. In Port Philip Bay, where they were first detected in Australia, their numbers reached an estimated 12 million individuals in just two years. This rapid population growth, coupled with their feeding habits, can have devastating ecological consequences. For example, an infestation of starfish in Qingdao, China, led to a 50% reduction in sea cucumber production and an 80% reduction in scallop production, resulting in significant economic losses for the shellfish industry.
In Australia, A. amurensis is identified as one of the ten most damaging potential domestic target species based on its overall impact potential. Its invasion and impact potential have been ranked as a "medium priority species", indicating a reasonably high impact and invasion likelihood. While prevention and control measures are being implemented, eradication is almost impossible due to the seastar's well-established and widespread presence in Australia.
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It can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and salinities
Asterias amurensis, commonly known as the Northern Pacific seastar, is a species of starfish native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, far eastern Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and British Columbia in Canada. It has invaded the southern coasts of Australia and is considered a pest in the country.
The Northern Pacific seastar is highly adaptable to a wide range of temperatures and salinities. While it typically prefers water temperatures of 7–10°C, it has successfully invaded the warmer Australian waters, adapting to temperatures of 22°C. This ability to tolerate varying temperatures has allowed it to establish itself in diverse habitats, including shallow waters, estuaries, mud, sand, silt, rocky sheltered areas, and reefs.
The starfish's adaptability is further evident in its ability to survive in a broad range of salinities. It can be found in both oceanic waters and estuarine environments, which often have varying levels of salinity due to the mixing of freshwater and seawater. This tolerance for different salinities has likely contributed to its successful invasion of Australian waters, as it can withstand the salinity fluctuations commonly found in coastal environments.
The Northern Pacific seastar's reproductive strategies also play a crucial role in its ability to establish itself in new areas. It reproduces both sexually and asexually, with spawning occurring between July and October in Australian waters. The female seastar has an exceptionally high reproductive capacity, capable of carrying up to 10–25 million eggs per year. This rapid reproduction rate, combined with its ability to tolerate a wide range of temperatures and salinities, has likely contributed to its successful invasion and population growth in Australia.
The invasive nature of Asterias amurensis has had significant ecological and economic impacts in Australia, particularly in Tasmania and Victoria. It poses a threat to native species, including oysters, mussels, and scallops, and has been listed as an Australian pest species of national priority due to its negative effects on aquaculture and commercial shellfish industries. The starfish's ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions has made its eradication challenging, and prevention and control measures are ongoing to limit its spread to new waters.
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Frequently asked questions
Asterias Amurensis, or the Northern Pacific Sea Star, is believed to have been introduced to Australia through a variety of pathways, including the live fish trade, ship ballast water, ship hull fouling, and the translocation of machinery and equipment.
Asterias Amurensis is native to the coasts of Japan, North China, Korea, Russia, Alaska, and the far North Pacific waters.
Asterias Amurensis was first detected in Port Philip Bay and was introduced to Tasmania in the 1980s, and has since spread to Victoria and other parts of southeastern Australia.
Asterias Amurensis is considered an invasive species in Australia, causing damage to native species, particularly in Tasmania. It has been listed as a pest species of national priority due to its negative impacts on aquaculture and the commercial shellfish industry.
Prevention and control measures are being implemented to stop the species from establishing in new waters. The National Introduced Marine Pest Coordinating Group is developing national control plans, including options for control, eradication, and long-term management.
