Sian Liddy, Out of Balance (PLACES 2025)

Climate change has facilitated the range expansion of the long-spined sea urchin to the fragile kelp ecosystems of Tasmania. These urchins are voracious herbivores and when their predators have been overfished, they can collapse underwater kelp forests through overgrazing. Decades after their first arrival in Tasmania, less than 5% of Giant Kelp populations remain. This is the test of one such urchin, found while snorkelling in an area where Giant Kelp used to be abundant.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.