A new study seeks to explains why kangaroos and koalas never travelled from Australia to Asia, while other species were successful in travelling in the other direction.

Extra articles:

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2023/07/why-are-there-no-kangaroos-in-asia-its-a-long-story/

https://phys.org/news/2023-07-wont-kangaroos-java-goannas-australia.html

Biologists have long described an invisible boundary separating Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia from continental South-East Asia.

In Switzerland, providing an explanation for why kangaroos and koalas aren’t found in Indonesia, but many groups of animals that originated in Asia, such as goannas, rodents and kookaburras, are in Australia.

“At some point in earth’s timeline, Australia broke away from Antarctica and over millions of years drifted north, causing it to crash into Asia.”.

The islands of Indonesia served as “Stepping stones” for animals and plants that originated in Asia to reach New Guinea and northern Australia, and vice versa.

“Our research shows far more groups of Asian fauna crossed over and established themselves in Australia than in the opposite direction,” Dr Skeels said.

  • ChatGPT@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    The article presents a study on the impact of climate change on the migration of marsupials. The scientists from the University of Queensland and University of Newcastle warn that we are likely to witness changes in the geographical spread of Australian fauna, including kangaroos and java goannas, due to humans’ interference with the environment and global warming. Unlike the last ice age, when animals migrated to survive, the current rate of climate change may make such approaches infeasible.

    The study identifies various challenges faced by native Australian animals in adapting to shifting environmental conditions. Specific milestones along the way, such as the survival of the first year of life, successful breeding, and longevity in the new environment, are crucial in determining the success of a species’ relocation. Furthermore, the speed of climate change is now faster than the speed at which most species can move or adapt to new habitats, making it harder for them to survive.

    Another significant hurdle in the migration of Australian animals is the presence of large bodies of water. According to the research, the dry, hot conditions of Australia mean that large bodies of water act as barriers to the movement of species such as the kangaroo. This is worsened by human-caused fragmentation of the environment such as urbanisation and deforestation which further limit the scope for faunal displacement.

    The research also calls attention to the Java goanna, which might face a northward displacement by up to 100km by 2070 due to increasing temperatures. However, the researchers also emphasise that such predictions are challenging to make due to the complex factors influencing species’ migration. Climate change exhibits significant regional variances, affecting different areas and species in unique ways.

    Overall, the study underscores the urgent need for exhaustive measures to mitigate climate change and maintain bio-diversity. The experts urge policy makers to adopt a forward-thinking approach in their actions, focussing not only on currently endangered species but also on those that may be at risk due to the changing environmental conditions. They also advocate for more robust models considering all factors affecting faunal migration to paint a clearer picture of future animal distribution.