A warming Earth could see invading species arrive in Antarctica via the floating “taxi service” of the sea. That could be a threat to the southern continent’s delicate ecosystem.
Many pet fish end up in ponds, fountains and waterways. But before ditching your goldfish in the park, stop and think about the viruses you could also be releasing.
Chytrid fungus has already wiped out six species of Australian frogs since the disease arrived in the 1970s. Without urgent action, seven more are facing extinction.
Invasive species cause some $120 billion in damages across North America yearly – and that’s just direct costs. A study of one species in one Wisconsin lake indicates the real toll is much higher.
There are birds we love to hate, such as the Noisy Miner. But much of the annoying behaviour on show may be a result of human-induced changes to habitats.
There are now six species roaming wild, and their numbers are increasing dramatically as their population expands and through human action. As they spread, they raise uncomfortable issues for conservation.
We know a lot about the potential negative effects of ocean acidification on marine creatures. But might some species actually benefit? The answer is yes, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Some Australian birds are pushing out other species, and even damaging trees. The good news is we can help stop the spread of these birds, by putting native plants in our gardens.
Rodolphe Gozlan, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
A small invasive fish known as the topmouth gudgeon has already wreaked havoc on European species and its arrival to the US and South America is only a matter of time.
There’s been a lot of talk about killing feral cats, with the government’s recently announced war on cats, with a goal to kill two million by 2020. But let’s embrace cats as part of Australia’s environment.
Feral cats are highly adaptable and highly variable, hence we must continue to search for their Achilles Heel and invest in a wide range of control methods.