Tag: Environment
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Animals may be ‘threatened species’ after algal bloom
An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along…
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The giant cuttlefish and the deadly algal bloom
When dead fish began washing up on South Australian beaches earlier this year, Dr Scott Bennett was alarmed. Scott is a marine ecologist at the University of Tasmania, and knew that dead fish on shore meant trouble under the surface. On a dive in June, Scott came face-to-face with the devastating impact of the largest…
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Naming newly discovered giant insect a sticking point
What could be Australia’s heaviest insect has been discovered in northern Australia’s high altitude rainforests. The supersized stick insect, about 40cm long, was discovered in high altitude trees in Millaa Millaa in Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands and identified by James Cook University researcher Angus Emmott and wildlife expert Ross Coupland. “They live high up in the…
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The great cleanup, humanity’s next big project
It’s easy to find a dystopian future described in movies and literature. Technology ruling us all? The Matrix and Terminator. Too little water? Mad Max. Too much water? Water World. A frozen world? Snowpiercer. No human fertility? Children of Men. Total surveillance? 1984. Theocratic dictatorship? The Handmaid’s Tale. These are all excellent works of fiction,…
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The Gold Coast is fighting to turn tide on Mother Nature
It’s feared the planned replenishment of Australia’s famous Gold Coast beaches could be pushing sand uphill, as the popular tourist destination fights to turn the tide on Mother Nature. The Queensland holiday hotspot faces a years-long recovery as its city council splashes millions on the battle to return sand sucked out to sea along its…
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Cuttlefish catastrophe feared from deadly algal bloom
A devastating algal bloom is threatening a population of cuttlefish that gathers annually in a unique global phenomenon, and swift action has been urged to protect it from a catastrophic wipe-out. A Biodiversity Council report outlines seven urgent responses to the algal bloom off South Australia’s coast, including spending at least $10 million to kick-start…
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From grasslands to killing fields: Why trees are bad news for one of Australia’s most stunning birds
Picture this. A small, rainbow-coloured chick emerges from its nest for the first time. It stretches its wings and prepares to take flight. But before the fledgling’s life in the wild has begun, a sharp-beaked predator swoops in, leaving nothing but a tiny skeleton. This is the sad scenario playing out on Cape York Peninsula,…
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Algal bloom crisis to go under Senate microscope
An “unprecedented” agal bloom crisis that could cripple Australia’s sea life has drawn a rare showing of political unity. Labor, the coalition and the Greens have backed a Senate inquiry into the crisis that has killed tens of thousands of marine animals since it was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March. It has since…
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Climate warning turns up heat on efforts to net zero
Capital cities across Australia could face scorching temperatures exceeding 50C alongside a surge in extreme fire days unless the nation urgently slashes climate pollution and adopts a strong 2035 emissions target, the Climate Council warns. The independent climate science organisation finds climate change is accelerating faster than previously predicted, and global efforts to combat it…
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Multimillion-dollar water fix for Queensland tourism hotspots
Resilient Rivers’ new two-year initiative will transform 16,000 kilometres of waterways across Noosa, the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the partnership will ensure the health and protection of SEQ’s most important natural assets ahead of the Olympics. “While other global cities are known for buildings and structures, Southeast Queensland is…