metridium die-off?

[wedivebc]

I am not sure what the life cycle of a plumose anemone is but today on 2 different wreck in the Nanaimo area a large reduction of the anemone population was quite apparent. You could see thousands of round patches where they used to be but about 80% of the population seemed to be missing. There are quite a number of new babies starting up but the large forest seems to be greatly reduced.
Anyone have an idea what could cause that?

 

[TSandM]

I haven't been up to BC recently, but the last dive I did down here, we went to the I-beams in Cove 2 (about 90 fsw) and my buddy and I both commented that the metridiums looked like there was something wrong with them -- not just closed up, but limp and wrong-looking. I wonder if the water is too warm for them this summer?