The Conversation

The 'brumby bill' which passed the NSW upper house late last night, is an embarrassing step backwards for the state. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Tim Doherty, Research Fellow, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia was thought to have some of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, but a recent count has found that fish numbers have plummeted by a third. Graham Edgar, Senior Marine Ecologist, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Trevor J Ward, Adjunct professor, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand has set itself a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, and a recent report by the Productivity Commission lays out how it could hit that target. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here are ten common misconceptions about what dogs need and how they communicate with us. Plus, a gallery of reader and staff dog pictures! Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Winter is here, and many farmers are still waiting on their 'autumn break' of heavy rain. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be a dry, warm winter – although the snow season will likely be good. Jonathan Pollock, Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Manager of Long-range Forecast Services, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Conservation fences create a few hundred square kilometres of safety for vulnerable native animals surrounded by 7.6 million lethal square kilometres. Michael Bode, Associate Professor of Mathematics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When environmental needs outstrip government funds, people power steps up. Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Carla Archibald, PhD Candidate, Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Rachel Friedman, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Richard Fuller, Professor in Biodiversity and Conservation, The University of Queensland Rochelle Steven, Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Queensland Tiffany Morrison, Principal Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Global warming will be most noticeable where the weather doesn't normally vary much, such as the tropics. But these places are also home to many of the world's poorest and least culpable nations. Andrew King, Climate Extremes Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Luke Harrington, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Queensland's new land-clearing laws are a huge missed opportunity. Philippa England, Senior Lecturer, Griffith Law School, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is no way to effectively administer fertility control to thousands of horses scattered through a huge national park meaning population growth will only be limited as they run out of food Andrea Harvey, Veterinary Specialist, PhD scholar (wild horse ecology & welfare), University of Technology Sydney Carolynne Joone, James Cook University Jordan Hampton, Adjunct Lecturer, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sailing ships have been around for thousands of years - long before the advent of fossil fuels. With the global shipping sector now attempting to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, could sails be due a renaissance? Christiaan De Beukelaer, Lecturer in Cultural Policy, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Leaked reports reveal that some of New Zealand's largest fishing companies have been under-reporting their catch of the commercially valuable hoki by hundreds of tonnes. Elisabeth Slooten, Professor, University of Otago Bruce Robertson, Associate Professor in Wildlife Management and Conservation Genomics, University of Otago Glenn Simmons, Research Fellow, University of Auckland Graeme Bremner, Associate professor Nigel Haworth, Professor of human resource development, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Magpies living near airports are less likely to flee from the sound of passing planes, new research shows. But it's unclear whether this makes them more or less likely to actually get hit. Mike Weston, Associate Professor, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research highlights the role of sea turtles and dugong in the dispersal of seeds and maintenance of seagrass meadows, an important marine habitat and the primary food source for both animals. Samantha J Tol, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Alana Grech, Assistant Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Paul York, Senior Research Scientist in Marine Biology, James Cook University Rob Coles, Team leader, Seagrass Habitats, TropWATER, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's recently announced review of its national fuel stockpiles is timely indeed. The country is almost totally reliant on oil being shipped through some of the world's most contested regions. Anthony Richardson, Research Fellow, Future Social Service Institute, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sandpaper figs are the swiss army knife of Australian flora. Danica-Lea Larcombe, PhD Candidate in Biodiversity and Human Health, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many fruits, nuts and other crops rely on bees to pollinate their flowers at just the right time of year. Many farmers rent bees to get the job done at pollination time. Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Echidnas can survive quite low levels of oxygen. Christine Cooper, Senior Lecturer, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Bunya pine is a unique and majestic Australian tree that commands respect. Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Are you stressed? Of course you are. Read about awesome plants instead. Madeleine De Gabriele, Deputy Editor: Energy + Environment Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.