Decline In Koala Population

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The primary goal of this inquiry is to investigate how a decline in Koala population will affect the terrestrial ecosystem and threatens sustainability. McAlpine (2008) claimed the decline in koala population was a direct result of biotic and abiotic threats such as climate change, habitat loss and disease, which consequently impacts the biodiversity of the terrestrial ecosystem. Koalas are arboreal, folivore marsupials reliant on nutrient-rich soils with water holding capacity sufficient to ensure Eucalyptus trees can support the food and water needs of dependent animals and regeneration of new foliage (Cristescu, 2011). Furthermore, koalas are indirectly reliant on older trees which support and improve the availability …show more content…
Therefore, a koalas’ role in supporting the terrestrial ecosystem is to reduce the forest canopy to allow solar energy to penetrate the soil to assist with forest undergrowth. Additionally, faeces bioturbation helps provides a source of nutrients beneficial to the soil and other fauna within the terrestrial ecosystem (Joseph et al., 2014).Therefore, a decline in koala population will result in significant environmental ramifications for flora and fauna within the koala habitat terrestrial ecosystem (C. A. McAlpine et al., 2006). This inquiry will focus on four key elements, the impact of declining koala population on the terrestrial ecosystem; the impact of biotic and abiotic threats to koala population; explore the symbiotic relationship between koalas and the terrestrial ecosystem, and review conservation efforts to protect the terrestrial ecosystem. Most importantly, all stakeholders need to work together and take affirmative action and ensure a sustainable future that protects the …show more content…
Figures released by the Scientific Advisory Committee have estimated a decline of 80% in koala population in the eastern states of Australia to 43,000 koalas now living in the local area (Dique, Thompson, Preece, de Villiers, & Carrick, 2003). The reason for this is that recent data showed an increase in road density, human settlement patterns coinciding with healthy koala habitats and a change in climatic conditions (Gonzalez-Astudillo, Allavena, McKinnon, Larkin, & Henning, 2017). According to Kanofski (2001), a decline in koala numbers will cause a significant disruption to the terrestrial ecosystem due to a reduction in the accessibility of solar energy to rejuvenate and propagate new plants, a lack of bioturbation to provide necessary nutrients to the soil and the impact upon other animals within the terrestrial ecosystem. Therefore, this inquiry will provide an opportunity to analyse the environmental implications of a decline in koala population causes to the terrestrial ecosystem. Additionally, it will offer an opportunity to analyse the current conservation initiatives and see what changes need to be made to ensure a sustainable future, which protects the terrestrial
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