Repository for Summer 2023 Multi-Species Sea Star Wasting Disease Experiment.

Repository Structure:

code

Contains scripts and code for manipulating, organizing, and analyzing data.

data

Contains data files related to project.

images

Contains images of interest related to experimental setup, disease signs, etc.

output

Contains directories that match files from the code directory with outputs from the code.

protocols

Contains protocols related to various aspects of the project.

Project Background Information:

Purpose

Understand if there is a difference in disease progression/ prognosis between three different sea star species when exposed to sea star wasting disease (SSWD).

Species studied

Juvenile Sunflower Stars, Pycnopodia helianthoides

Ochre Stars, Pisaster ochraceus

Leather Stars, Dermasterias imbricata

Hypotheses:

1. Pycnopodia helianthoides will show no resistance and progress through disease signs to death.
2. Pisaster ochraceus will demonstrate some resistance, and some may recover or show no signs of disease.
3. Dermasterias imbricata will demonstrate complete resistance and not progress through disease signs to death.

Experimental Design