Scott Ling: Revolutionising Strategies to Combat Sea Urchins on Australia's #greatsouthernreef

One of the most pressing challenges on the Great Southenr Reef is the rise of the long-spined sea urchin, Centrostephanus rodgersii, an invasive species whose unchecked population growth has led to the creation of 'urchin barrens' – areas where lush kelp forests once stood, now stripped bare. These barren landscapes represent a significant loss of habitat and biodiversity and signal the interruption of essential ecosystem functions. The surge in urchin numbers is a complex puzzle that is strongly tied to warming ocean temperatures, the decline of natural urchin predators, and shifts in the reef's ecological equilibrium. Ling has been instrumental in investigating these complexities, a task that has led to innovative strategies to manage the issue. Since 2001, Ling's ongoing research commitment to understanding urchin ecology across south-eastern Australia has meant his long-term observations and experimental results provide a key witness statement to the Urchin Senate Inquiry.