Flora & Fauna
Chytrid fungus prompts mating surge
The rare alpine tree frog is fighting against the lethal fungus by breeding faster.
Category: Flora & Fauna
Flora & Fauna
Why do penguins porpoise?
Underwater in the freezing waters of Antarctica I watched awestruck as gentoo penguins effortlessly rocketed and swerved around me at speeds that were sometimes too fast to follow. Even more surprising was seeing the flock dash for the surface, leap clear of the water like dolphins, and hurry away.
Flora & Fauna
Fish driving cars and chimps doing maths: What teaching animals ‘irrelevant’ skills reveals about our own minds
Ecologically irrelevant research can help us understand the limits of animal intelligence and develop bio-inspired technology. It can also help us explore behavioural responses to environmental change, and advance our understanding of the evolution of intelligence.
Flora & Fauna
Why were hundreds of koalas shot en masse inside a Victorian national park?
The state government-sanctioned euthanasia sparked global attention and criticism, but experts say the root of the problem lies in the management of Victoria’s blue gum plantations.
Flora & Fauna
Scientists capture first confirmed footage of a colossal squid
An international voyage has captured the first confirmed video of a colossal squid – a 30cm juvenile – in its natural habitat at a depth of 600m near the South Sandwich Islands.
Flora & Fauna
It’s not easy being green
As well as suffering the same range of threats facing animals worldwide, our frogs continue to battle a deadly fungal disease.
Flora & Fauna
OPINION: Time to plug holes in species conservation
To prevent extinctions, we need to start addressing the big gaps in our national threatened species list, argues Hugh Possingham, the Biodiversity Council’s Co-chief Councillor.
Flora & Fauna
Planktivores surprise scientists with diversity of shapes
For decades, experts believed that plankton-feeding fishes – or planktivores – share a specialised, uniform design. However, new research shows not only is this false, but they also display the widest range of body forms of any feeding group among reef fishes.
Flora & Fauna
Lyrebirds reveal hidden farming talents
Australian researchers have found superb lyrebirds ‘farm’ the forest floor to increase their prey – a behaviour rarely seen in nature.
Flora & Fauna
Unprecedented access: Inside Tasmania’s orange-bellied parrot captive breeding program
On the outskirts of Hobart stands a collection of grey steel buildings, surrounded by a tall electrified chain link fence. It almost looks like a small prison. But you won’t find criminals behind these walls. Here, one of Australia’s rarest bird species is being brought back from the brink of extinction.