The Conversation

The story of the Kangaroo Island Micro-trapdoor spider offer insight into the challenges ahead for invertebrates – the tiny engines of Australia's biodiversity – after this year's cataclysmic fires. Jess Marsh, Research fellow at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I've worked in threatened fish conservation and management for more than 35 years, but this species is special to me. Mark Lintermans, Associate professor, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Kaputar rock skink is thought to have have one of the smallest ranges of any reptile in New South Wales – at the summit of a single extinct volcano, Mount Kaputar. Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One vet suggested bushfire smoke had killed the smoky mouse – and asked, in a nod to the species' name, if this was a case of "death by irony". Andrew Peters, Associate Professor of Wildlife Health and Pathology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When the post-bushfire rains finally arrived, the situation for many fish species went from dangerous to catastrophic. A slurry of ash and mud washed into waterways, sending oxygen levels plummeting. Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Katie Doyle, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Luiz G M Silva, Freshwater Fish Scientist, Charles Sturt University Luke Pearce, Fisheries Manager Nathan Ning, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The "winners" evolved in the warm, subtropical regions. Those that evolved in cooler temperate ecosystems – the "losers" – risk becoming extinct. Luciano Beheregaray, Professor in Biodiversity Genomics, Flinders University Jonathan Sandoval Castillo, Postdoctoral Fellow Molecular Ecology, Flinders University Katie Gates, PhD candidate, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists and the community are building nests to help save the stunning green carpenter bee from extinction. Katja Hogendoorn, University of Adelaide Remko Leijs, Researcher, Flinders University Richard V Glatz, Associate research scientist, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After the bushfires, we went looking for endangered corroboree frogs. Normally, they respond to our calls. But at some sites, the ponds were silent. Benjamin Scheele, Research Fellow in Ecology, Australian National University David Newell, Senior Lecturer, School of Environment, Science & Engineering, Southern Cross University Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum Michael McFadden, PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In April, BirdLife Australia survey numbers jumped to 2,242. That's a tenfold increase from 241 in April last year. Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Georgia Garrard, Senior Research Fellow, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group, RMIT University Michelle Ward, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Monica Awasthy, Visiting Research Scientist, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electric vehicles are still relatively expensive but a trial to help them power the national grid in times of need could see owners being paid. That could make them a lot more attractive. Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Leader, Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Three quarters of WA's Stirling Ranges national park now experience fire cycles twice as frequent as species recovery rates. Kingsley Dixon, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The last time global carbon dioxide levels were around 400ppm was four million years ago. On average, the world was 3℃ warmer, but in high northern latitudes, it was up to 14℃ warmer than today. James Shulmeister, Professor, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's painfully clear nature is buckling under the weight of farming's demands. There's another way – but it involves accepting nature's limits. Sue McIntyre, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Koalas are notoriously difficult to detect. Traditional methods are costly and labour intensive. So we found a more efficient way to locate koalas in eastern NSW, using drones. Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Adam Roff, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Chad T. Beranek, PhD candidate, University of Newcastle Lachlan G. Howell, PhD Candidate | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the world warmed from the last ice age, a rise in carbon dioxide levels stalled for nearly 2,000 years. That's always puzzled scientists, but now they think they know what happened. Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, Director of the Changing Earth Research Centre and the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle Facility at UNSW, and Node Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Chris Fogwill, Professor of Glaciology and Palaeoclimatology, Head of School Geography, Geology and the Environment and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Keele University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the planet continues to warm, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall are becoming more frequent, intense and longer, according to global weather data. Jim Salinger, Honorary Associate, Tasmanian Institute for Agriculture, University of Tasmania Lisa Alexander, Chief Investigator ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Associate Professor Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government today announced $1 billion plan to divert more than ten million tonnes of waste from landfill. But waste management is about more than just recycling. Trevor Thornton, Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Heatwaves have become longer, hotter and more frequent. This trend is accelerating from climate change. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some coal workers have the right skills and work in the right location to get a job in renewables. But many, such as semi-skilled machine operators, cannot. Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Jay Rutovitz, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Berejiklian government must step up to the challenge of saving koalas in NSW from their predicted fate: extinction in the wild by 2050. Dr Christine Hosking, Conservation Planner/Researcher, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.