Stephen C. Schroeter

Area of research

Oceanography · Ecology

Research interest

Research topics from publications: Effects of ocean climate on spatiotemporal variation in sea urchin settlement and recruitment; Thermal suppression of gametogenesis can explain historical collapses in larval recruitment in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus; Thermal suppression of gametogenesis can explain historical collapses in larval recruitment. Representative work: Abstract Sea urchins are voracious herbivores that influence the ecological structure and function of nearshore ecosystems throughout the world. Like many species that produce planktonic larvae, their recruitment is thought to be particularly sensitive to climatic fluctuations that directly or indirectly affect adult reproduction and larval transport and survival. Yet how climate alters sea urchin populations in space and time by modifying larval recruitment and year‐class strength on the time‐scales that regulate populations remains understudied. Using a, spatially replicated weekly‐biweekly data set spanning 27 yr and 1100 km of coastline, we characterized seasonal, interannual, and spatia Projections for population viability under climate change are often made using estimates of thermal lethal thresholds. These estimates vary across life history stages and can be valuable for explaining or forecasting shifts in population viability. However, sublethal temperatures can also depress vital rates and shape fluctuations in the reproductive viability of populations. For example, heatwaves may suppress reproduction, causing recruitment failure before lethal temperatures are reached. Despite a growing awareness of this issue, tying sublethal effects to observed recruitment failure remains a challenge especially in marine environments. For the urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, lar

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