Self-Assessment

Self-Assessment: A short summary of my research- for a more in depth view read all my posts on my blogs.

            The coolest thing about Australian wildlife is that over 80% are endemic to Australia (not found anywhere else in the world). Just like Australia, the majority of wildlife in New Zealand is native to the country. Unfortunately, both of these countries have extinction problems. 1/3 of Australia’s unique mammals are at the risk of extinction! The Australian government regulates international trade, protecting species against overexploitation and Australian ecosystems against the introduction of foreign species. As for New Zealand, Europeans bringing predators with them, along with the loss of habitat, led to the extinction of a number of species. Because of this tragedy, over 20% of New Zealand is covered in national parks and reserves. There is a strict no-take policy in these parts of the country which means that no fishing or disrupting the land is allowed.

My research had a profound effect on me. I truly realized how many species in Australia and New Zealand are endemic and endangered. The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is as fragile as it is beautiful. Coral bleaching is becoming more and more of an issue for the reefs. They are an integral part in the survival of oceanic ecosystems. There are a few things that can be done so save the reefs including; not wearing sunscreen in the water, not touching the coral, and scientists removing the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and the Drupella Snail.      

           

One of the most well known animals in Australia is the koala. One thing Australians can do to save koalas is stop building in their eucalyptus environments. Since this is the only area they can survive, if they are destroyed they have nowhere else to go. Because of this they are all crammed into the few eucalyptus woodlands left, spreading more diseases. Australians can also not let their pets  out at night as they prey on koalas. 80% of koalas along Queensland’s Coast have already been lost. The Australian Koala Foundation is hoping to secure a Koala Protection Act to help ensure the survival of koalas, modeled after the Bald Eagle Protection Act of the US which prohibits selling, killing or possessing the species.

            

Another iconic animal for Australia is the cassowary, Australia’s heaviest bird. They are endangered due to habitat destruction by houses and farms, pigs and dogs hunting them, and getting hit by cars. They are known as a keystone species, meaning that if they went extinct there would be huge repercussions as they are vital since they disperse seeds.

            

Native to an island off of Australia’s mainland, is the Tasmanian Devil of Tasmania. They are endangered due to Devil Facial Tumor Disease, where tumors grown around their face and muzzle and is highly contagious and make it difficult for them to feed.

            

Australia is home to two of the most venomous snakes in the world, the Inland taipan and the Eastern brown snake. The Inland taipan is so venomous that one bite has enough poison to kill 100 fully grown men, however it is shy unlike the Eastern brown snake which is responsible for about 60% of snake bite deaths in Australia.  

           

A cool fact about kangaroos is that they can do something called embryonic diapause. This means that they can literally pause the embryonic development and get pregnant again. They can have up to three embryos at a time! Kangaroos are similar to another one of Australia’s famous animals, the wallaby. However, there are distinct differences between the two including their snouts, where they live, and the size of them.

           

Echidnas are found all throughout Australia, and the “spines” on their bodies are actually long, hollow, tough hair follicles that serve as their main form of defense.

            

 New Zealand’s wildlife (Te Wao Nui) is divided into six habitats: The Coast (Takutai), The Islands (Moutere Rahui), The Wetlands (Ngo Repo), The Night (Te Po), The Forest (Te Wao Nui a Tane) and The High Country (Whenua Waotu). In caves are glowworms, which are actually the larvae of the Arachnocampa luminosa fly (found no where else). They glow due to a chemical reaction, and that light draws in insects who get stuck in the worms’ threads of silk.

            

The Coast: Whales are popular in New Zealand winters because that is their migrating season. Albatross’ are birds who can cover 1800km in just a single day! Fur Seals are the most common seals in NZ and their population is growing. Today commercial fishing is one of the main sources of death usually by entanglement and drowning. In New Zealand this species is protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 which specifies that all wild seals cannot be touched or fed. New Zealand now has 6 penguin species: Yellow-eyed penguin, Erect crested penguin, Snares crested penguin, Fiordland crested penguin, Eastern rockhopper penguin, Little blue penguin (the world’s smallest penguin). Also, NZ has more species of sea birds nesting along its shores than any other country. There are many conservation movements going on to save the wildlife, sometimes to even move endangered species to protected islands. Also a rahui is a set of restrictions that local tribes place on activities and natural resources in the area in order to restore the area.

            

In the harsh landscape and extreme climate of the high country, almost every living thing is unique. The inhabitants of this rugged landscape are well-known for their resilient character. The world's only alpine parrot is the kea, the kea's intelligence helps it survive and adapt in the harsh alpine environments of the South Island. 

            

The Islands: Tuatara belong to an ancient family of reptiles that have remained virtually unchanged since before the time of the dinosaurs. They are the last of their kind on the planet. Tuatara today only survive in pest-free sanctuaries and off-shore islands. Another fact is that New Zealand has over 30 species of skink and over 40 species of gecko. Antipodes Island Parakeet is a parakeet found only on Antipodes Island. Island refugees show that the native birds and reptiles can thrive if we keep them safe from predators. These sanctuaries require ongoing care to remain pest free. 

            

The Forest: For it's size, New Zealand has lost more Rainforest than any other country on Earth! 99% of its original forest cover is lost forever. The kauri tree is a national treasure of New Zealand. Kauri are now threatened by the kauri dieback disease. Kauri dieback is caused by a fungus-like disease which is spread through soil movement. Please clean your shoes, tires and equipment of all soil before and after visiting kauri forests, and keep to the tracks.

            

The Wetlands:  Less than 10% of the wetlands that existed before human settlement remain today, and they support more bird life than any other habitat in New Zealand. 

            

The Night: The night reveals some of New Zealand's most distinctive and precious animals, like the iconic flightless bird, the kiwi, which are a symbol of New Zealand's unique natural heritage. Natives are even called Kiwis! Also, the morepork is New Zealand's only endemic owl.

            

This is a VERY condensed version of my research, so for the full research please see my in depth blogs I have already posted.