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https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/brink-of-extinction-steep-drop-in-platypus-numbers-as-drought-bites-20200116-p53rz8.html>
"The platypus, once viewed as so bizarre as to be mythical, could end up
merely a legend as habitat destruction and climate threats push the
mammal towards the “brink of extinction”.
Researchers say platypus numbers may have halved or more since Europeans
arrived in Australia, predicting local extinctions may have occurred
across 40 per cent of the species’ range due to dam building, land
clearing and other disruptions, according to a study published in the
scientific journal Biological Conservation.
Taking present day threats and the climate into account, the researchers
predicted platypus numbers would decline between 47 per cent and 66 per
cent over 50 years.
When adjusted for projected climate change, the decline of an animal
once common in waterways across much of the country would be even
steeper, at 51 per cent to 73 per cent out to 2070, the research found."
Via SejaDia and Jennifer Freeman.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
