An extreme ocean heatwave in 2010-11 caused important habitat-forming seaweed to retract its range by 100km off the Western Australian coast.
The deterioration of Scytothalia dorycarpa reduced the habitat available to the interdependent web of marine species that live in this global biodiversity hotspot.
The heatwave began in December 2010 and peaked in March 2011 with recorded temperatures along the WA coastline rising two to four degrees above average for many weeks.
Read more at The University of Western Australia