The case of the invasive long-spined sea urchins, Centrostephanus rodgersii, thriving and expanding around Tasmania, mostly due to climate change impacts, offers several valuable lessons, for example:

• Ecosystem Vulnerability: The case highlights the vulnerability of ecosystems to invasive species in the face of changing climate conditions. It underscores the importance of maintaining the balance of natural ecosystems, as disruptions caused by climate change can create opportunities for invasive species to proliferate.
• Complex Interconnectedness: The case emphasizes the intricate interplay between climate change, species interactions, and ecosystem health. It shows how alterations in temperature and environmental conditions can impact species behaviour, reproduction, and interactions, causing cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.
• Adaptation and Resilience: Understanding how species adapt and thrive in changing conditions is crucial. The sea urchin's success in the altered climate sheds light on the adaptability and resilience of certain species. This knowledge can aid in predicting and managing future ecological shifts caused by climate change.
• Ecological Management Strategies: The case underscores the importance of proactive management strategies to address invasive species. Efforts need to focus not only on controlling the invasive species directly but also on restoring or enhancing the resilience of ecosystems to better withstand and recover from such invasions.
• Long-term Monitoring and Research: Continuous monitoring and research are crucial in understanding the evolving dynamics of ecosystems under climate change. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing studies to assess the impacts of changing environmental conditions on different species and ecosystems.
• Community Engagement and Education: Raising awareness and involving local communities in managing and mitigating the impact of invasive species is essential. Empowering communities with knowledge about the potential effects of climate change on local ecosystems can aid in early detection and response to invasive species.

By learning from the success of invasive long-spined sea urchins around Tasmania due to climate change, we can better prepare and develop strategies to manage, adapt to, and mitigate the impact of invasive species in the context of broader climate-related ecological shifts.

In Tasmania, invasive long-spined sea urchins, Centrostephanus rodgersii, have caused significant ecological issues in local marine ecosystems, made worse by climate change.

The sea urchins have multiplied rapidly due to a combination of factors linked to climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures have facilitated the range expansion and reproduction of these urchins. Additionally, disruptions in local ecosystems, such as overfishing of their natural predators, have led to their unchecked population growth.

Their increase in numbers and range expansion have resulted in the degradation of vital marine habitats, particularly adding to the destruction of giant kelp forests. The sea urchins graze voraciously on kelp, leading to 'urchin barrens'—areas where kelp forests have been decimated, leaving barren areas that lack biodiversity and ecological richness.

Climate change has contributed to the conditions favouring the increase of these sea urchins, exacerbating their impact on Tasmania's marine ecosystems. The combination of warmer waters, reduced predator pressure, and altered ecological balance has created an environment that allows the sea urchins to thrive, leading to significant ecological disruption around the state.

Tasmania, an island state of southern Australia, is home to various unique and important species. While there isn't a comprehensive list of keystone species specifically identified for Tasmania, several species are considered ecologically significant and could be significantly affected by climate change, such as:

• Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii): While not a keystone species in the traditional sense, the Tassie Devil is an iconic carnivorous marsupial in Tasmania. Their population has been greatly impacted by a transmissible cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Climate change might further stress their habitats, affecting food availability and disease spread. Extinction of Tasmanian Devils could disrupt the ecosystem as they play a role in controlling smaller mammal populations.
• Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera): Although not an animal, giant kelp plants were a vital part of Tasmania's underwater ecosystem. Climate change affecting water temperature and ocean acidification has impacted kelp growth and persistence. As a foundation species, its widespread decline around Tasmania could disrupt the entire underwater ecosystem by affecting species that depend on it for habitat and food.
• Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus): This small carnivorous marsupial is also at risk due to habitat loss and changing ecosystems. Their extinction could affect the balance of smaller prey species and disrupt the food chain.

If any of these species were to considerably decline or go extinct due to climate change or other pressures, the consequences could be significant, for example:

• Ecosystem Disruption: Keystone species often have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance. Their disappearance could lead to imbalances in food chains, population dynamics, and habitat structure.
• Loss of Biodiversity: The extinction of any species reduces overall biodiversity. This loss can affect the resilience and adaptability of ecosystems, potentially making them more susceptible to further changes and disturbances.
• Ecological Services Disruption: Many species provide vital ecological services, such as seed dispersal, pollination, or predator control. Their disappearance could disrupt these services, impacting the overall health and function of the ecosystem.
• Cascading Effects: The loss of one keystone species could trigger a cascade of secondary extinctions or ecological changes. For instance, if a predator disappears, it might cause an overabundance of its prey, leading to further ecosystem imbalances.

Preserving these keystone species and their habitats is crucial to maintaining the health and balance of Tasmania's ecosystems. Efforts in conservation, habitat protection, and climate change mitigation are vital to prevent the loss of these important species and their potential extinction