The Conversation

Have you ever paused to think about the athletic abilities of Australian wildlife? Let’s look at some of our best competitors and how might they fare in a contest against humans and overseas entrants. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Urgent action is now needed to protect these vulnerable populations and ensure the night parrot doesn’t become extinct. Rachel Paltridge, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ecology, The University of Western Australia Clifford Sunfly, Ngururrpa Ranger, Indigenous Knowledge Nicholas Leseberg, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Whether it’s electric two-wheelers or trucks, buses or bicycles, electric vehicles in India are hard to miss. David T. Hill, Emeritus Professor of Southeast Asian Studies, Indo-Pacific Research Centre, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Global action is urgently needed to tackle microplastic – and the problem has never been more pressing. Karen Raubenheimer, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Organising to stop gasfields or coal mines sounds like a similar challenge. But one environmental group has endured, while the other ran out of energy. Here’s why Amanda Tattersall, Associate Professor in Urban Geography and Host of ChangeMakers Podcast, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We examined how households in Victoria cope with, adapt to and endure summer heatwaves. Most took a short-term view. A more sophisticated, long-term approach to managing heatwaves is needed. Sarah Robertson, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Gordon Walker, Professor at the Lancaster Environment Centre and previously co-director of the DEMAND Centre, Lancaster University Ralph Horne, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s main environment laws have long been regarded as not fit for purpose. But efforts to strengthen environmental protection have met huge pushback. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor in Environment and Property Law, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pairing First Nations lore with genetic analysis lets us retrace how important food trees were deliberately moved thousands of years ago Monica Fahey, Adjunct Fellow in molecular ecology, Macquarie University Emilie Ens, Associate Professor in cross-cultural ecology, Macquarie University Maurizio Rossetto, Principal Research Scientist, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust and Honorary Professor, The University of Queensland Oliver Costello, Director, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, Indigenous Knowledge Patrick Cooke, Indigenous Knowledge, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The crime of genocide was adopted in 1948 following the second world war. Given the existential threats from ecological crises, it is timely to call for the recognition of ecological crime. Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato Leilani Tuala-Warren, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Studying carnivore ‘kill rates’ – typically the number of prey killed over time – can help us better understand the role of apex predators in ecosystems across the globe. Luke Emerson, PhD Candidate in ecology, Deakin University Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s easier to steal another seabird’s meal than catch your own fish. But this behaviour by skuas, frigatebirds and gulls is contributing to the spread of lethal avian influenza Simon Gorta, PhD Candidate in ecology, UNSW Sydney Richard Kingsford, Professor, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Rohan Clarke, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A recent announcement that kiwi and moa are Australian immigrants is not borne out by available evidence. Working out when birds arrived in New Zealand requires both fossil evidence and genetics. Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Alan Tennyson, Curator of Vertebrates, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Pascale Lubbe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Ecology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We must make protected areas more effective, to conserve what’s left of Earth’s plants and animals. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The High Speed Rail Authority has publicly outlined plans that allow for some optimism that Australia could have these trains in the late 2030s. Philip Laird, Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just 14 of Auckland’s largest building rooftops add up to the same area as the biggest solar farm – but they could generate electricity where it’s most used to keep the lights on during disasters. Priscila Besen, Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Andrew Burgess, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Ann Morrison, Associate Professor in Interactive Design, Auckland University of Technology Imelda Piri, Lecturer in Environmental Engineering, Auckland University of Technology Stacy Vallis, Lecturer in Architecture , Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is facing climate hazards on all fronts this spring and summer. Climate scientist Andrew King walks us through the Bureau of Meteorology’s new national outlook. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s new National Hydrogen Strategy, released on Friday, signals Australia’s bold ambitions to the world - but much remains unclear. Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Turtles often encounter fences as they wander over land in search of water, or a mate. We tracked 20 turtles to study how they interact with fences. Here’s how to make fences turtle-friendly. Eric Nordberg, Senior Lecturer (Applied Ecology and Landscape Management), University of New England Deborah Bower, Associate Professor in Zoology and Ecology, University of New England James Dowling, PhD Student, Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There’s a risk that the belief that electric vehicles are much greener results in owners driving more often or faster, or using cars instead of public transport. Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Mobility & Resilience, UNSW Sydney David A Hensher, Professor and Director, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Sydney Hadi Ghaderi, Professor in Supply Chain and Freight Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s not enough to have parks in city outskirts or urban green belts. Green spaces must be accessible for residents and placed to provide effective flood protection for cities. Paul Blaschke, Honorary Research Associate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Edward Randal, Research Fellow at the NZ Centre for Sustainable Cities, University of Otago Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Associate Professor in Regenerative Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Meredith Amy Claire Perry, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy and Health Equity, University of Otago Philippa Howden-Chapman, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Professor of Public Health, University of Otago Ralph Brougham Chapman, Associate Professor in Environmental Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.