Implications of range overlap in the commercially important pan-tropical sea urchin genus Tripneustes (Echinoidea: Toxopneustidae)

摘要: Sea urchins of the genus Tripneustes are among most abundant and ecologically important pan-tropical marine invertebrates. Recognized as potent ecosystem engineers due to their intense grazing macroalgae sea grass highly valued for gonads, wild populations commercially exploited fisheries aquaculture. Recently, a new species, kermadecensis (Bronstein et al. 2017), was described from southern Pacific Ocean, off Kermadec Islands, near tropical/sub-tropical transition zone. Here, we explore range and, in particular, T. by morphological genetic tools determine whether it also occurs Australia. We report, first time, presence second kermadecensis, show that is fact throughout sub-tropical eastern Australia, where association with coral temperate reefs has been recognized decades ‘lamington urchin’. As commercial exploitation stock-release programs rapidly expanding, global warming causes tropicalization driving expansion its congener gratilla, call re-evaluation conservation vulnerability along Australian continent action aquaculture industry genetically confirm species identity stocks facilities.