National Science Week: 2024 - Species Survival - More than just sustainability.

                                                                   How important is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. 

Many times, our actions and decisions and reactions to the situation are just about staying alive. Unfortunately, when you go into survival mode many people just focus on surviving, they don't think about what comes after. When you think sustainably you are concerned about the long term and not just surviving.

                                                                    .

                                                                Tasmanian Devil's facial tumor

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened with extinction because of a contagious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease. 

Understanding functional genetic diversity is particularly important for species at risk from disease such as the Tasmanian devils and devil facial tumor disease (DFTD and bats and white-nose syndrome. Such assessments allow for a greater understanding of genes involved in disease resistance and susceptibility. Loss of genetic diversity, particularly at immune genes, increases the susceptibility of populations to other disease events. 

A program was developed to breed Tasmanian Devils in captivity to eradicate the Facial tumors, eventually releasing a healthy, disease resistant community back to the wilds of Tasmania.

                                                         AI's contribution

By analyzing massive amounts of data and providing insights and tools that can inform decision-making, AI has the potential to transform the way we manage natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect biodiversity. In fact, AI is already making significant strides in four categories that are critical to sustainability:  Biodiversity, Energy, Transportation and Water.

Species identification: AI can help identify and classify different species of plants and animals by analyzing images or sounds. This can help to monitor populations, track changes in biodiversity over time, and identify areas that need conservation efforts.

Habitat mapping: AI can help map and monitor habitats of different species, such as forests, wetlands, and oceans. This can assist in identifying areas that need protection or restoration, and better understand how different species interact with their environment.

Microplastics exposure can lead to physical harm, chemical exposure, inflammatory responses, and even behavioral changes in animals. Chronic exposure to MPs may have long-term health implications. MPs can adsorb and transport chemical contaminants, potentially increasing pollution exposure.

Plastic waste present in the marine environment is a threat to both the environment and marine fauna due to the risk of being swallowed by marine life. Statistics show that at least 267 species worldwide are affected by this problem, including 44% of birds, 43% of mammals, 86% of turtles and various fish species.

The microplastics found in water and soil carry different types of contaminants and serve as carriers for bacteria and persistent organic pollutants. Microplastics and nanoplastics may pose acute and chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, developmental toxicity, and genotoxicity.

The consequences of microplastics on human health are poorly understood. Due to the abundance of microplastics in environment, exposure may occur via consumption, inhalation, and skin contact. Humans may experience oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, immune system disruption, and transfer of microplasticss to other tissues after being exposed to them.

                            Click image for Microplastic facts and figures

We share our island home with more than 200,000 animal species. This is more than any other developed nation. 

 Australia, Brazil and China are the 3 countries with the highest number of endemic plant species (meaning they grow nowhere else).

10% of Australia’s endemic land mammals have been lost to extinction in the last 200 years

                                                                                 Sustainable Chemistry

Green chemistry (also called sustainable chemistry) helps to save and conserve resources (less water and energy use, reduced environmental impact of chemicals once they are used, or more sustainable production processes), achieving benefits that create a healthier environment. It promotes the creation of ecologically safe materials as well as chemical practices. Green chemistry may become safer, more ecologically friendly and more sustainable by employing nontoxic chemicals and processes that do not put the ecosystem under threat.

                                                                                        Climate Change

Clean water is a basic human right, yet climate change is already affecting our access to clean water; for example, it causes more floods and droughts to occur globally. Climate change, pesticide use and habitat loss are causing us to lose many species, and also decreasing the overall population of many insects. Globally, up to 40% of insects are threatened with extinction over the next few decades. This affects the birds and animals that rely on insects for food, and us as we rely on insects to pollinate the plants that we eat.