Tuesday, January 17, 2012

What species are endangered by the Australian wildfire?

Where the fires have impacted upon genetically isolated populations there is a serious risk of these species becoming endangered. The Churchill - Jeeralang complex of fires effectively wiped out 2 of the last 3 remaining Strzelecki Koala populations - the one in the story is from this population. Koalas are by no means an endangered species per se, however the particular genetic strain remaining in the Strzeleckis is widely regarded as being the most pure of its form left in Australia (i.e., unchanged since before European occupation). Now that their habitat and overall numbers within this genetic pool has been vastly decreased it will be a long time before this important genetically isolated species will be able to recover, therefore making this population locally endangered. Additionally there are sure to be species of flora and fauna that exist in particular niches in these fire affected areas and could well now be clified as endangered, time will tell in this regard.

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