
Alarming new study suggests Australia’s extinction tally worse than initially thought
A new study estimates that more than 9000 insects and other native invertebrates have become extinct in Australia since European arrival in 1788 and between 1–3 additional species become extinct every week.
Invertebrates include species such as worms, snails and spiders, and many more play a crucial role in the environment – such as pollinators and earthworms, which are important for maintaining soil health.
Dr Jess Marsh from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences, contributed to the study. She says there is a lot we can do to prevent extinctions, including by protecting important habitats and reducing threats like pesticide use.
“Using pesticide in your garden often kills the beneficial invertebrates your garden need, like bees and flies that pollinate, lady beetles that help control aphids, and worms that improve your soil,” says Dr Marsh.
Most at risk are invertebrate species that require special habitats, or which only occur in specific areas of the country.
Read the full story from the University of Adelaide.