Kevin Lafferty

Kevin Lafferty is a prominent ecologist and researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, known for his work on marine ecosystems and disease dynamics. His research has focused on the effects of pathogens on marine species, particularly in relation to the Sea Star Wasting Disease, which has devastated sea star populations along the Pacific coast. Lafferty's recent contributions have clarified the causes of this epidemic, identifying the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as a key factor, and he continues to advocate for further studies on the transmission pathways and impacts of this disease on marine biodiversity.