Suburban Backyard Home to more than 1,000 Species
Published:18 Jan.2024 Source:University of Queensland
UQ mathematician Dr Matt Holden, ecologist Dr Andrew Rogers and taxonomist Dr Russell Yong took a census of their Annerley share house and its backyard during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, and discovered 1,150 unique species of animals, plants and fungi over a 12-month period. The idea of the species count was born when Dr Rogers went to vacuum cobwebs in his room and wondered how many spiders were on the property. The survey revealed richly biodiverse creatures including 436 moth and butterfly species, 56 different spiders, eight reptiles and 56 birds.
The researchers were also surprised to discover three species not previously recorded in Australia's leading biodiversity database, Atlas of Living Australia -- a mosquito, a sandfly, and an invasive flatworm, Platydemus manokwari, which is responsible for native snail population declines, around the world. The house was a complex ecosystem of species interacting -- they stumbled upon the moth Scatochresis innumera, which as a caterpillar spends its whole time feeding inside the dung of a Brushtail Possum before emerging as an adult.
Dr Holden said homes across all urban areas could play host to similar biodiversity. It depends on how people tend to their homes and gardens -- keeping low maintenance trees and shrubs and eliminating manicured lawns and pesticides will significantly boost the number of critters found. This has resulted in an academic research paper, showcasing the rich biodiversity in urban landscapes. People don't have to go travelling to connect with Australia's diverse range of species, just look in their own backyard.