The Australian Alps’ colourful alter ego
While many Australians know and love our alpine regions for their winter beauty, their lesser-known wildflower season sees the landscape burst to life with a brilliant tapestry of colour.
Tag: nature
People
Ocean warrior
This English-born marine scientist has stepped up to become a leader in the fight to safeguard the world’s reefs.
The day a Mungo swallow ‘slapped me in the face’
As I was coming up the rickety steps of the Zanci Homestead dugout in Mungo National Park several years ago, something slapped me in the face and squeaked. My head snapped up to see, 10cm from my face, a welcome swallow defending its nest site. I was definitely not welcome!
Largest study on genetic diversity finds glimmers of hope amid general global decline
Before species go extinct, their populations often shrink and become isolated. Healthy populations tend to have a large gene pool with many genetic variants circulating. But the path to extinction erodes genetic diversity, because a species’ gene pool shrinks as the population declines. Losing genetic diversity limits the ability of populations to adapt to threats such as disease and climate change.
Nature & Wildlife
Return of the red goshawk
A formidable native bird of prey that eats cockatoos for breakfast has been sighted in Central Australia for the first time in three decades.
Nature & Wildlife
Rescuing the matriarch trapdoor spiders of Porongurup
This extraordinarily successful wildlife rescue story will change your view of spiders.
Serious sea smarts
Octopuses are sparking innovation and inspiring us in ways we never thought possible.
Bird flu ‘panic’: Dire advice to pet owners not to release exotic birds into Aussie bush
Authorities are warning that one of Australian’s most popular pets – the rose-ringed parakeet – could become our next “extreme” pest.
Biodiversity
Moonstruck: How lunar light influences animal behaviour
Lunar animal research is receiving the technological and methodological breakthroughs necessary for the next wave of intriguing findings.
Nature & Wildlife
OPINION: The nature target shortfalls of COP16
The recent COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia was a chance to check on targets aimed at rescuing the world’s threatened plants and animals. There were some successes but, ultimately, it did not deliver all that was hoped for, writes Dr James Fitzsimons.