Scientists fear that the combination of coastal development and continued heavy rain along the NSW coast could force two species – the White’s seahorse and the cauliflower coral – into extinction in the coming months.
If the animals are lost, they will be Australia’s third and fourth marine extinctions. The warnings come just days after the federal government released a devastating State of the Environment report showing that overall Australia’s natural environment was poor and declining. The five-yearly document also showed the number of endangered species had increased 8 per cent since the last report.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that modelling suggests the La Nina weather pattern that dissipated as spring ended may return, increasing the chances of further flooding in the species remaining habitat.
Continue reading on the SMH: Extinction looms for two vulnerable Australian marine species