Hidden Australian biodiversity
Despite Australia’s biodiversity being like a great masterpiece, full of details often missed or misunderstood. It’s easy to get caught up thinking about threatened species like koalas and giant pandas. What we shouldn’t lose sight of is that among the most underappreciated species of all are their parasites. Science shows that so many Australians don’t even realize they share their backyards with previously undetected invertebrates. Yet this raises unsettling questions about how we value other species. The nation is currently preparing to announce the winner of its “underrated Australian animal” poll on August 15.
Meg Shaw, an environmental behavior researcher at Monash University, points out the moral and practical complications that come with species identification and conservation. Yet she emphasizes that naming a species is just the first step. That doesn’t mean, though, that their ongoing fight for survival is done. “Describing species is a whole science in itself, and it’s often quite a lot of work,” she explains. This highlights the importance of continuing research and education on these more obscure species.
The Overlooked Invertebrates
Australia’s biodiversity is conservatively 80% invertebrate, most of which are not yet described. According to Dr. Shaw, “The estimates are that around two-thirds of the invertebrates in Australia haven’t been described, and that equates to probably around 200,000 species.” This outrageous number underscores the need for more scientific research and public education about these amazing creatures.
Dr. Shaw further elaborates on the alarming extinction rates among invertebrates, stating, “Estimates recently suggested 9,000 invertebrates have gone extinct in Australia since colonization, and that equates to still one to two per week going extinct.” While some invertebrates might have names, many do not, leaving them vulnerable in an environment that often prioritizes more charismatic fauna.
Kate Umbers is an ecologist at the University of Western Sydney. She’s particularly concerned with the societal biases that play into which species receive the lion’s share of attention. “There’s a real value judgement there around what is important, what deserves to live, and what deserves to go extinct,” she says. Umbers makes the case for turning attention to these less-celebrated creatures, in order that people might foster an emotional bond with them. Just sharing more content about these species that are under-represented helps people realize that they are out there, helps get people aware, and then starts raising that level of empathy for them.
The Case of the Ibis
The Australian white ibis has started being called the “bin chicken.” This singing canary of a shorebird often generates heated discussions over its real or imagined worth. For Dominique Potvin, a bird ecologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast, all this has led to years spent studying this remarkable bird. Yet she goes on to make the case that while the ibis might not be underrated, it is frequently misconstrued because of its lifestyle as a scavenger.
Ibis really are everywhere, and anywhere. When you get behind their feathers, and actually look at them, you find this whole ecosystem living on them,” Dr. Potvin notes. She has caught and tagged thousands of ibis across southeast Queensland for the Big City Birds project. It is her academic research that has propelled this wonderful initiative. This persistent effort seeks a greater understanding of their behavior and ecology, highlighting their intrinsic role within our urban ecosystems.
Dr. Potvin has conducted research into the parasites that live on the ibises themselves. “I’ve been part of a paper that described a louse species on ibis,” she notes. This example serves as an illustration that even well-known species, like the ibis, can carry with them lesser-known organisms. These invisible but essential organisms merit our focus and investment.
The Tjakura and Turtle Frogs
Among Australia’s not-so-famous species are Tjakura, or great desert skink, and turtle frogs. Living in elaborate, thermoregulating networks of burrows with family units, the Tjakura boasts highly developed social structures beneath its unassuming appearance. Turtle frogs have a pretty interesting life-history, too. They spend almost all of their lives underground. This behavior is what renders them one of Australia’s most enigmatic creatures. Due to very little being known about their habits or ecological role, their conservation status is alarming.
Both species are great examples of how regular Australians can unknowingly live side-by-side with the world’s coolest wildlife in their own backyards. Dr. Shaw asserts, “It’s fairly feasible that most Australians have undescribed invertebrates in their backyards.” This notion invites citizens to engage with their environments more consciously and to appreciate the diversity present in seemingly mundane spaces.
