May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity.
This year, the theme for the day is "Biodiversity and Management
of Alien Invasive Species" . The United Nations is celebrating
the day by highlighting the threat of invasive alien species
to biodiversity, the functioning of ecosystems and economies
What is an invasive species?
In the past, the Earth's mountains, deserts and oceans were
barriers to widespread movement of species across the Earth and
ecosystems evolved in relative isolation. Global trade and transport
by humans has effectively removed these barriers and species
are now regularly introduced into new habitats. In the absence
of natural pests and predators, populations of some of these
introduced species can explode with devastating effects on native
biodiversity, ecosystems, and economies. These species out of
control are invasive alien species. In the past, some
invasive species were introduced intentionally, but now the majority
of invasions are accidental. Understanding how invasions occur
and managing invasive species are now a major focus of international
research and conservation.
Listen as biologist Dr.
Lonsdale explains more about invasive species, why biodiversity
is important, and how kids can learn more and get involved.
1. Why is learning about
biodiversity important? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (948 K))
 |
Dr. Lonsdale: Biodiversity provides the air that
we breathe and the food that we eat. These alone would be good
reasons. But healthy biodiversity is also good for our souls.
A world without the duck-billed platypus would be a sadder place. |
2. What does the future
hold for biodiversity? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1.3 MB))
| |
Dr. Lonsdale: The future does not look good.
Biodiversity is under threat from climate change, habitat destruction,
and invasive species. On the bright side, all of these threats
are of human origin and can be reduced if we change our behaviour. |
3. What aspect of biodiversity
do you study and why? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1.3 MB))
| |
Dr. Lonsdale: I study invasive species, because
they are the second most important threat to biodiversity after
habitat destruction. |
4. How did you become a
scientist interested in biodiversity? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (2.1 MB))
| |
Dr. Lonsdale: I started work on a weed, a tall
tropical shrub called mimosa, that was regarded as a threat to
agriculture, but I soon realised that it was a much bigger threat
to the nesting habitat of wetland birds. |
5. What is your favorite
animal, plant or ecosystem and why? (click
the microphone to download complete audio answer (1.9 MB))
| |
Dr. Lonsdale: The tropical floodplains of northern
Australia, because they are completely transformed twice a year.
During the dry season (May - November), they become parched and
cracks extend metres into the soil, then, during the wet season
(November - May), they are flooded with a meter or more of water,
and become covered with lush vegetation, ideal for crocodiles
and waterbirds to live. Each is a different world, each unimaginable
from the other, but occupying the same space. |
6. How can kids find out
more about the tropical floodplains?
Images
of north Australian wetlands
Poetry and images
of north Australian wetlands
Kakadu national
park learning resources (information on tropical savannas, wetlands,
seasons, lightning, crocodiles)
7. Why should kids get
involved in exploring and conserving biodiversity and how? (click the microphone to download complete audio
answer (1 MB))
| |
Dr. Lonsdale: So that their children will be able to go to
a national park and see living things in their natural environment.
and how?
Encourage their parents to visit national parks, join a naturalist
or bird
watching club, subscribe to a nature magazine.
|
8. What should kids do
if they want to work for biodiversity when they grow up? (click the microphone to download complete audio
answer (1 MB))
| |
Dr. Lonsdale: Study biology and preferably maths
(there is a lot of counting in biodiversity studies!). |
Further Reading:
