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In intro level classes, you don’t expect to hear about Pisaster ochraceous more than once in a day in more than one class. After all, how many classes can discuss a specific sea star without being off topic?

I must excuse my ecology class. The experiment by Robert Paine determining the role of Pisaster in shaping community structure in the intertidal zone was put forth as an example of a classic ecological study on the first day of class. Since then, students have grasped the concept of this single study and brought it forth with cheerful confidence as examples for almost every discussion.

The experiment had two treatments, enclosures with Pisaster and enclosures without Pisaster. The findings were that species diversity went down without Pisaster and was high with Pisaster. This is mostly because mussels become

Pisaster again! photo credit- fixiewrek via Flickr

Rarely a day goes by without a mention of Pisaster, whether as an example of predator-prey dynamics, perturbation experiments, community ecology, interspecific competition, or as a keystone species.

I wasn’t surprised then, to hear Pisaster once again mentioned as example of the competitive exclusion principle, the idea being that the certain species of mussels would out compete other populations leading to their elimination from the ecosystem. I forgive them, I really do but can I help it if I’m getting a little sick of the name? There are so many species out there and so many potential examples.

However, I didn’t expect to hear Pisaster mentioned once again later in the day in my PE class. Pisaster is following me!

I guess should anticipated hearing something of marine biology when I took Basic Scuba, but nevertheless I was surprised to hear Pisaster mentioned when previous discussions always revolved around pressure groups or excess nitrogen.
Way to go Pisaster for being so prevalent. And remember folks, don’t say starfish, say sea star. After all, they aren’t fish, they’re echinoderms!