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Scientific studies in Australia identify 90 animal species at risk from climate change. These studies are far from comprehensive – the actual number is likely to be much greater. The list of species at risk (see next page) includes mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians in all parts of Australia, and has been compiled from a range of studies: Brereton et al, 1995; Busby, 1988; Dexter et al 1995; Arnold, 1988; Chapman and Milne 1998; Garnett and Crowley, 2000; NSW NPWS, 2000; Kanowski, 2001; Pouliquen-Young and Newman, 1999.
The species identified so far as at risk of climate change comprise one-third of species on the national “Endangered” list, and about one-sixth of those listed as “Vulnerable” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Environment Australia, 2001). In other words, climate change is a threat for at least one third, and probably more, of the endangered species the Federal Government is obliged to protect.
The number of Australian species threatened by climate change could be far higher, but are yet to be studied because of extremely low levels of Government funding for climate impacts research.
However it is also possible that some of these identified species may be able to adapt to climatic change, to survive and thrive outside their current climatic range and habitat. Scientific studies whilst incomplete, must be considered as a serious warning, for certainty is only possible with observational studies once sustained climate change has occurred, by which time it may be too late for many species (IPCCb, 2001).
Certain species are particularly at risk from climate change because (Brereton et al, 1995):
- Species that have lost large areas of habitat because of land clearing or other uses (like the Bilby Macrotus lagotis and Giant Gippsland earthworm Megascolides australis) are at risk because if their habitat is unable to adapt to climate change it is unlikely that habitat will be recreated elsewhere.
- Animals that have been reduced to small populations and have a small genetic base (such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii) are at risk because they may not be as robust in dealing with changes.
- Species that have very specific and narrow habitat requirements (such as the Lemuroid Possum Hemibelideus lemuroides in Queensland and the Leadbeater’s Possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri in Victoria) are at risk because they are less able to adapt. These species may be very dependent on certain forest types and specific plants, which could also be negatively affected by climate change.
- Animals that have a poor ability to migrate are at risk if climate change requires them to move to new areas with more suitable climate.
- Species that have lost large areas of habitat because of land clearing or other uses (like the Bilby Macrotus lagotis and Giant Gippsland earthworm Megascolides australis) are at risk because if their habitat is unable to adapt to climate change it is unlikely that habitat will be recreated elsewhere.
- Animals that have been reduced to small populations and have a small genetic base (such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii) are at risk because they may not be as robust in dealing with changes.
- Species that have very specific and narrow habitat requirements (such as the Lemuroid Possum Hemibelideus lemuroides in Queensland and the Leadbeater’s Possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri in Victoria) are at risk because they are less able to adapt. These species may be very dependent on certain forest types and specific plants, which could also be negatively affected by climate change.
- Animals that have a poor ability to migrate are at risk if climate change requires them to move to new areas with more suitable climate.
- Animals that are located on the edge of their range (such as the Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa) are at greater risk than those at the centre of their range.
- Animals like Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus are at risk by the changes that increased CO2 may have on the quality of food plants. Plants may have more roots and stems, less leaf tissue, and reduced food quality from reduced nitrogen content and increased concentrations of defensive compounds such as phenolics and tannins (Arnold, 1988; Lawler et al., 1997).
- Even animals with currently wide distributions, such as the Antilopine Wallaroo Macropus antilopinus across the Kimberley, Top End, and Cape York Peninsula, may see the climate of most of their current range become unsuitable (Busby, 1988). The Wallaroo is of economic significance to Aboriginal people as an important food.
Australian species identified as at risk from climate change
Mammals
Antilopine Wallaroo
Banded Hare Wallaby
Black-footed Rock-wallaby
Bridled Nailtail Wallaby
Broad-tooothed Rat
Brush-tailed Bettong
Central Rock-rat
Coppery Brushtail Possum
Dibbler
Dusky Hopping-mouse
Eastern Barred Bandicoot
Eastern Quoll
Ghost Bat
Golden Bandicoot
Greater Bilby
Heath Mouse
Heath Rat
Herbert River Possum
Kowari
Leadbeater’s Possum
Lemuroid Ringtail Possum
Long-footed Potoroo
Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo
Mitchell’s Hopping Mouse
Mountain Pygmy-Possum
Mulgara
New Holland Mouse
Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Pebble-mound Mouse
Plains Rat
Quokka
Red-tailed Phascogale
Rufous Hare Wallaby
Sandhill Dunnart
Shark Bay Mouse
Smoky Mouse
Swamp Antechinus
Western Barred Bandicoot
Western Mouse
Western Quoll
Amphibians
Northern Corroboree Frog
Sharp-snouted Day Frog
Southern Bell Frog
Southern Corroboree Frog
Spotted Frog
Spotted Tree Frog
Sunset Frog
White-bellied Frog
Yellow-bellied Frog
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Birds
Alexandra’s Parrot
Black-breasted Button-quail
Black-eared Miner
Carpentarian Grasswren
Forty-spotted Pardalote
Golden-shouldered Parrot
Gouldian Finch
Ground Parrot
Helmeted Honeyeater
Hooded Plover
Little Tern
Mallee Emu-wren
Malleefowl
Night Parrot
Noisy Scrub-bird
Orange Bellied Parrot
Pink Robin
Plains Wanderer
Red Goshawk
Red-lored Whistler
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Regent Honey Eater
Regent Parrot
Rufous Bristlebird
Slender-billed Thornbill
Sooty Owl
Southern Cassowary
Swift Parrot
Western Whipbird
Reptiles
Broad-headed Snake
Legless Lizard
Pink-tailed Legless Lizard
She-oak Skink
Striped Legless Lizard
Swamp Skink
Fish
Australian Grayling
Swan Galaxias
Trout Cod
Invertebrates
Giant Gippsland Earthworm
Ulysses Butterfly
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Mountain Pygmy-Possum
Image courtesy of World Wide Fund For Nature
Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo
Image courtesy of Wet Tropics Management Authority
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