Biodiversity

More than 1,770 species in Australia are listed as threatened or endangered. Invasive species are the biggest single threat.

close up of white bird with orange beak

The Australian National Wildlife Collection holds a significant collection of fauna and flora of New Guinea and the Pacific islands, critical to understanding the evolution of species in Australia and the wider Pacific. The Collection now includes bird specimens from New Caledonia, including the iconic Kagu.

equipment being winched out of ocean

New camera technology that can withstand enormous water pressure in the deep oceans, and navigate the steep, rugged and rocky terrain of seamounts, is shining new light on deep-sea biodiversity.

bacteria filaments under the microscope

Our planet’s past wouldn’t be the same if not for cyanobacteria. CSIRO is collecting diverse microbes like these to secure our globe’s future.

rainforest rocky pool surrounded by forest

Australia’s tropical rainforest plants can be identified with just a few simple clicks.

a group of people in a forest at the base of a tree discussing and looking up

Pollinators such as bees, birds, bats and butterflies are in decline globally, a threat to biodiversity and food production all over the world. The importance of pollinators isn’t new to many indigenous communities around the world.

whale approaching the surface of the water

New research reveals how climate change could influence future krill abundance and whale populations in the Southern Hemisphere.

clown fish, sea anemone, clam shell highlighted on reef with sea surface backlit

The Australian public has united with scientists to help them identify what truly makes the Great Barrier Reef ‘beautiful’.

green seedlings sprouting from blackened ground

Most plant research focuses on grown plants or on seedling behaviour. It is only now that researchers are beginning to examine seed traits and how the beginning of a plant’s life affects everything which comes after.