Surprising number of invertebrate species extinct in Australia

According to a reporter in Sydney, a new study by Australian scientists estimates that more than 9,000 species of insects and invertebrates native to Australia have become extinct since Europeans settled here in 1788.

Research led by Professor John Woinarski at Charles Darwin University has found that 9,111 native Australian insect and invertebrate species may have gone extinct in the past 236 years, with one to three more becoming extinct in the country every week.

However, because this is only an estimate and there are many gaps in knowledge, the research team believes that the actual number of extinct species could be much higher than the number found in the study, possibly as high as 60,000 species.

Invertebrates are the foundation of every healthy environment and a 'livable' planet. (Illustration photo: AP).

Professor Woinarski said that despite their particularly important role in the environment, invertebrates have not received the same conservation attention as other species.

He sees invertebrates as the foundation of any healthy environment and a 'liveable' planet. 'When we lose invertebrates, the health of our crops, waterways, forests and even our local parks and backyards decline,' he explains.

Dr Jess Marsh - a member of the Australian Biodiversity Council - also shares the same opinion, saying that thousands of invertebrate species are still at high risk of extinction, many species have lost their habitat.

The species most at risk, he said, are invertebrates that require specialized habitats or are found only in specific areas.

For example, the Golden Sun butterfly occurs in the grasslands of southeastern Australia, but very few of the formerly vast grasslands remain and their habitat is at high risk of destruction for development.

Meanwhile, climate change will exacerbate risks to these species.

Dr Marsh called on Australians to take action to prevent the extinction of these species, including protecting important habitats and reducing threats such as pesticide use.

The Biodiversity Council of Australia said the findings were alarming and backed Professor Woinarski's call for the federal, state and territory governments to step up efforts to understand, monitor and conserve invertebrates.