We sat down with threatened species expert Dr Claire Mason on National Threatened Species Day. Claire is currently working to advance climate-effective management of threatened species and protected places as a part of the NESP Climate Systems Hub.
What is your favourite threatened species in Australia?
That has to be the Shy Albatross. I studied them for my PhD, looking into the impact climate change was having to inform the design and implementation of climate adaptation interventions. They are Tassie’s very own species of albatross, only breeding on three offshore islands off the coast of Tasmania and nowhere else in the world. The Shy Albatross is a long-lived bird, so they can’t adapt as quickly as some other species, and the waters around Tasmania where they forage are a hot spot for warming. We also found some indication in our research that the fluffy chicks are vulnerable to heat stress, as they spend the summer months sitting out on an exposed nest site waiting for their parents to return to feed them. Some great management work has been trialled to support the species such as providing artificial nests and disease treatment to boost breeding success.
Your project develops a climate adaptation calendar each year, what do you hope people do with the calendar?
Our annual calendar promotes innovative strategies happening on-the-ground around Australia to help threatened species and ecological communities cope with climate change. It is a difficult space to be working in, as multiple threats are making our threatened species threatened, not just climate change. The calendar aims to provide hope, camaraderie, and inspiration for those grappling with these challenges.
This month’s feature is the very adorable Sandhill Dunnart found in outback South Australia. Climate change is increasing the risk of large wildfire destroying sandhill dunnarts’ key habitat. Population surveys are helping the planning of strategic firebreaks to limit potential habitat loss and buffel grass control strategies to limit the damaging effect of this hot-burning, highly invasive weed.
The adorable, threatened species Sandhill Dunnarts – Landscape South Australia
What’s one thing everyone can do to help threatened species?
Firstly, find out what threatened species live in your area. Then you can advocate for them, join local environmental community groups or help spread awareness on your social media accounts. Also, check out The Biodiversity Council, an independent expert group in this space, to find out more about the issues facing threatened species in Australia and what you can do to get involved in their conversation.
You can also download our 2023 and 2024 calendars to learn more about work being done across Australia to help threatened species in the face of climate change.
Finally, subscribe to the Climate Systems hub newsletter to be the first to find out who will feature in next year’s Threatened Species calendar!