Platypi
1.Introduction
Bushfires have a large impact on biodiversity. They kill wildlife bacteria and microbes, allow some
plants to seed and cause habitat and food loss. This report will analyse the effects of bush fires on
platypi and the run-on effects on the eco-system. If one considers the inter-relationships between
plants and between plants and animals, it appears that there are some relationships more critical
than others in relation to their responses to fires. If a species is absolutely dependent on another,
and the latter is a fire sensitive one and thus more likely to become extinct. (Gill, 1995). This is a good
source as it is from a published book that won biology awards This report will address the question
How is the biodiversity of the platypi’s habitat affected by bushfires?
2.The direct effect of fires on platypi
“Post-fire rain events are known to cause significant damage to water quality, habitat structures and
resource availability when large amounts of ash, charcoal and eroded soil are washed into waterways
with greater run-off due to less vegetation and canopy cover around the riverbanks.” (Figure 1)
(MCKENNA, 2023)
Figure 1 (MCKENNA, 2023)
This shows the severe habitat degradation that platypi face after fires. While platypi can breathe
through their lungs making them less susceptible to bushfire damage, they are still severely affected.
14-18% died after the 2019 fires (WWF, 2021)which is a large percentage of the population. The
platypi also give birth less after fires and can stop producing milk causing existing babies to die. This
data clearly shows that bushfires directly impact platypi population. (WWF, 2021)
3.The indirect effects of fire on platypi
Platypi have 3 main food sources, small fish, crustations and insect larvae. All 3 of these are highly
affected by fire. There has been a 95 per cent decline in fish longer than 36 centimetres — the
historical average size, he said. And fewer fish populate parts of the river that saw greater ashfall
(CBC, 2019). While this happened in Colorado the same thing happens in Australia. This poses a
problem as platypi feed on these fish and with less fish they have less food. Platypi need shade and
trees burning in fires reduce that causing devastation to platypi population. “As waterways dry up,
platypuses can perish in fires as they attempt to travel to deep pools for refuge. “Then with
vegetation incinerated, the first post-fire rains wash silt and nutrients into rivers degrading water
quality and driving declines in macroinvertebrates, the prey of platypus,” Dr Bino said. (WWF, 2021)
This shows there are many indirect effects on platypi caused by bushfires and is a reliable source as it
is government approved.
4.The effect of declining platypi population on the whole food web
Figure 2 (THE PLATYPUS, n.d.)
When the platypus population dwindles it is mainly because of the lack of food. The producer or
bacteria and microbe population decreases significantly after a fire. (MCKENNA, 2023) This causes
the herbivores to have more competition with each other and die. This repeats and the populations
decrease significantly. This causes the biodiversity in the area to go down. Bushfires kill the trees in
the platypi’s habitat causing the biodiversity to decrease further. While some eco systems benefit
because of fire, the platypi’s home, small rivers significantly decrease in biodiversity.
5.Conclusion
Platypi are directly affected by bushfires with ash clogging up water ways. They are indirectly
affected by their food dying and losing shade. This significantly decreases biodiversity and allows for
invasive species to take over in the future. This shows that bushfires have a large effect on the eco
systems of the platypi’s diversity.
Bibliography
CBC. (2019, 8, 8,). Wildfire causes 80% fish loss in colorado river, survey finds. Retrieved from CBC:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.5311626/wildfirecauses-80-fish-loss-in-colorado-river-survey-finds-1.5302894
Gill, A. a. (1995). Extinctions of biota by fires. In A. a. Gill, Extinctions of biota by fires (pp. 309-322).
Sydney.
MCKENNA, K. (2023, 2 3). Continued impacts of the Black Summer bushfires on native fish and
platypus. Retrieved from finterest.com.au: https://finterest.com.au/continued-impacts-ofthe-black-summer-bushfires-on-native-fish-and-platypus/
THE PLATYPUS. (n.d.). Retrieved from mrsgrensp: https://mrsgrensp.weebly.com/
WWF. (2021, Apr 1 ). NEW STUDY FINDS FIRES TOOK A FURTHER TOLL ON DROUGHT IMPACTED
PLATYPUSES. Retrieved from WWF: https://wwf.org.au/news/2021/new-study-finds-firestook-a-further-toll-on-drought-impacted-platypuses/?rd=1