The Conversation

Huon pines in Tasmania have locked up significant amounts of mercury pollution from the state's mining industrial history. And that can be released back to the atmosphere in bushfires. Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University Kathryn Allen, Academic, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Simon Haberle, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Whiskers are not just ordinary hairs. They are thicker and go deeper into the tiger's skin and send messages to its brain about what is happening in the world around it. Alexander Richard Braczkowski, PhD Candidate - Wildlife Cameraman, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive pest ants cause billions of dollars worth of damage to crops, and threaten some of Australia's World Heritage rainforests. The federal budget has pledged nearly $30m on wiping them out – but how? Lori Lach, Associate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Dingoes help conservation efforts by controlling the population of feral cats. Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's environment took a beating in 2018, as temperatures rose, rainfall declined, the health of rivers and ecosystems worsened, and floods, droughts and bushfires all took their toll. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After repeated bleaching in 2016 and 2017 corals on the Great Barrier Reef are producing far fewer offspring. Morgan Pratchett, Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The conservation frontline is not just in remote rainforests. It's right in our urban backyard. Kylie Soanes, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Melbourne Pia Lentini, Research Fellow in Applied Ecology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor has ditched its reliance on a single economy-wide climate policy, in favour of a range of different measures that will all help drive down emissions. But some crucial issues remain unaddressed. Nicky Ison, Research Associate, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor's ambitious plans to reduce transport emissions will be dead in the water without regulatory CO2 emission standards and real financial and non-financial incentives for buyers. Anna Mortimore, Lecturer, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Marine heatwaves have caused coral bleaching in one of the most isolated ecosystems in the world. Tess Moriarty, Phd candidate, University of Newcastle Bill Leggat, Associate professor, University of Newcastle C. Mark Eakin, Coordinator, Coral Reef Watch, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Rosie Steinberg, PhD Student, UNSW Scott Heron, Senior Lecturer, James Cook University Tracy Ainsworth, Associate professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Twelve power projects are in the running for federal government dollars: six pumped hydro, five gas and one coal. It's clear which one shouldn't be on the list, for economic and environmental reasons. Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Chytrid fungus has caused declines in 501 amphibian species, according to a new analysis. Most of the damage happened in the 1980s, before the fungus itself was even discovered. Benjamin Scheele, Research Fellow in Ecology, Australian National University Claire Foster, Research Fellow in Ecology and Conservation, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We have quantified the effects of twelve power station closures in five states. Local unemployment shoots up and comes down only slowly. Paul Burke, Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Rohan Best, Lecturer in Economics, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report suggests New Zealand should rethink climate policy and use forests to offset only agricultural emissions, which make up half of the country's total emissions, and not carbon dioxide. Ivan Diaz-Rainey, Associate Professor of Finance & Director, Climate and Energy Finance Group, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For more than 30 years, Environmental Defenders Offices around the country have worked to help people take legal action on environmental issues. They've notched some big wins along the way. Amelia Thorpe, Associate Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A barrier just 50km wide might stop water-reliant cane toads in their tracks. Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate extremes are killing Australian trees, but we don't know where they're dying. Scientists are asking the public to use their phones to help. Belinda Medlyn, Professor, Western Sydney University Brendan Choat, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University Martin De Kauwe, Senior Research Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With strategic planning, the marine protected area network could be a third smaller, cost half as much, and still meet the international target of protecting 10% of every ecosystem. Kerstin Jantke, Postdoctoral Researcher on conservation biology, University of Hamburg Alienor Chauvenet, Lecturer, Griffith University Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland James Allan, Postdoctoral research fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Kendall Jones, PhD candidate, Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The moss that grows in pavement cracks and on the edge of basketball courts in every town and city in Australia has a secret superpower. Alison Haynes, PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive tropical fire ants spread by eating their fat useless sons. Pauline Lenancker, PhD student in biology and ecology, James Cook University Lori Lach, Associate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.