The biology, ecology, and taxonomy of sea urchins in the subtropical biogeographic transition zone of southeast Australia

Abstract

Ocean warming is driving the global redistribution of marine ectothermic taxa to higher latitudes and the ecotone between tropical and temperate realms is likely to be at the forefront of this redistribution. In marine ecosystems, herbivory is a significant ecological process, regulating ecosystems through grazing, and sea urchins are among the most important herbivorous taxa across latitudes on tropical coral reefs, temperate rocky reefs and in seagrass meadows. This thesis focusses on how ocean warming will affect sea urchins in the subtropical biogeographic transition zone of eastern Australia, and I aimed to fill knowledge gaps regarding the taxonomy, ecology and biology of echinoids in this unique ecosystem.