Chapter 27, Problem 11STP

Summary Introduction

To write: The reason the oyster farmers should not cut up sea stars and toss the parts back into the water.

Introduction: Sea stars are the echinoderms that are also known as starfish. They belong to the class Asteroidea. They live in water. It can feel the sense of light and movement by raising the end of its arm. Echinoderms have bony plates that help them to move easily. Sea stars use their arms and tube feet for moving.

Explanation of Solution

Oyster is the mollusk that is used as food. Oyster farming is aquaculture and it is done in many parts of the world. Sea stars feed on oysters. They are commonly found in the oyster farming areas. Sea stars can regenerate their body parts even after their body parts are cut off. If the oyster farmers cut the body parts of sea stars and toss the part back to the water, they can reform the body part again and get alive and will feed on the oysters again. Therefore, it will be meaningless to cut up the sea stars if their parts are tossed back into the water.

Conclusion

Thus, the oyster farmers should not cut up sea stars and toss the parts back into the water.