Australia's threatened species face extinction due to climate change
25 Mar 2008
Australia's extinction crisis heats up as temperatures rise in the face of global climate change, a new report by WWF-Australia says.
Using research conducted by the Climate Change Ecology Group at Macquarie University, WWF reveals along with existing threats to Australia's unique species such as habitat loss and introduced predators, climate change is likely to have a negative impact on Australian species, with some already experiencing its effects.
"Australia already has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Almost 40 per cent of mammal extinctions globally in the last 200 years have occurred in Australia," said WWF's Species Program Leader, Dr Tammie Matson.
Rapid climate change of more than 2oC is considered perilous. If this is to be avoided, global greenhouse gas emissions will have to peak in the next couple of decades. Even if greenhouse gas emissions were to suddenly drop to zero, the Earth is still committed to approximately 0.4 oC of warming by 2050. This new climate will be hotter and different to what we experience today, just as Australian average temperatures are now around 0.9oC higher than they were 100 years ago. But it's not just the obvious impacts of climate change like rising temperatures and declining rainfall that are dangerous to our threatened species.
"The early signs are that climate change is likely to make all of the existing threats to species worse. Climate change may mean more frequent and hotter wild fires in many areas, reduced connectivity between already fragmented habitats and the expansion of introduced predators like the European fox," Dr Matson said.
"Australian species are not immune from climate change and there are still many unknowns as to how species will be impacted by climate change but the early warning signs are already there for some threatened species like marine turtles."
As temperatures at turtle nesting beaches increase, so does the proportion of females produced, as turtle sex is determined by temperature. A highly skewed sex-ratio could pose problems for turtle populations. At some beaches, the lethal temperature (34oC) is already being regularly exceeded.
Australia's current protected area network (national parks and nature reserves) is currently not large or connected enough to protect our threatened species. Climate change will render some habitats unsuitable for species that used them before. If species have any chance of persisting in an environment that is already severely degraded, we have to make sure they have homes to go to and this means a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system.
"With the number of threats to our species increasing, it is up to us to do our bit by reducing our own carbon emissions. Small actions taken in your everyday life is all it takes to make a big difference. It's as simple as switching off your lights," Dr Matson said.
For more information
Helen Pitman, TSN Communications Officer, 0439 605 107, 02 8202 1205
Dr Tammie Matson, WWF - Species Program Leader, 02 8202 12216, 0424 545 190
Australian Species and Climate Change
Australia already has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Almost 40 per cent of mammal extinctions globally in the last 200 years have occurred in Australia. This incredible continent is losing species at an unprecedented rate and, as most species found here aren't found anywhere else, the loss of Australian species is a loss for the whole world. The habitat destruction and alteration, invasive species and altered fire regimes, that have occurred as a result of our use of the land, are the major factors in driving Australia's shocking extinction record.
