About this species

Longspine sea urchins have undergone a southward climate-driven habitat expansion from New South Wales and have established in Tasmanian waters over the last few decades. Longspine sea urchins have a tendency in the absence of predation by large fish and rock lobsters to overgraze seaweeds and algae on rocky reefs. This grazing leads to what scientists describe as ‘barrens’ which equates to bare rock and a habitat devoid of life. Log in Tas waters only. Read more…