Indicator: BD-01 The number of fauna and flora species described in Australia compared with previous years and estimated total number of species
Data
| Taxon | Estimated number of species described | Estimated total number of species | Percent endemic to Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertebrates | |||
| Mammals | 378 (369) | ~378 (~369) | 83% |
| Birds | 828 (825) | ~828 (~825) | 45% |
| Reptiles | 869 (633) | ~900 (~633) | 89% |
| Amphibia | 219 (176) | ~220 (~176) | 93% |
| Fishes | 4 500 (4 150 | ~5 250 (~5 250) | 90% |
| Agnatha | 5 (5) | ~10 (~10) | 40% |
| Cephalochordata | 8 (8) | ~8 (~8) | 50% |
| Tunicata | 754 (536) | ~850 (735) | 25 – 30% |
| Total vertebrates | 7 561 | ~8 444 | 79% |
| Invertebrates | |||
| Hemichordata | 17 | 22 | 25 – 30% |
| Echinodermata | 1 165 (1 206) | ~1 406 (~1 400) | 31% |
| Insecta | ~80 000 (58 532) | ~95 000 – 204 743 (~83 860) | unknown |
| Arachnida | 5 711 (5 666) | ~27 960 (~27 960) | unknown |
| Myriapoda | 405 | ~2 800 | unknown |
| Crustacea | 7 130 (6 426) | ~9 500 (~9 500) | unknown |
| Onychophora | 71 (56) | ~80 (~56) | unknown |
| Mollusca | ~8 700 (9 336) | ~12 250 (~12 250) | 38% |
| Annelida | 2 300 (2 125) | ~4 230 (~4 230) | 67% |
| Nematoda | ~2 060 (2 060) | ~30 000 (30 000) | unknown |
| Acanthocephala | 56 (57) | ~160 (~160) | unknown |
| Platyhelminthes | 1 593 (1 506) | ~10 000 (~10 800) | unknown |
| Cnidaria | 1 705 (1 270) | ~2 200 (~1 760) | unknown |
| Porifera | 1 416 (1 416) | ~3 500 (~3 500) | 56% |
| Others | 2 213 (2 929) | ~5 015 (~7 230) | unknown |
| Total invertebrates (rounded) | 114 600 | ~250 000 | unknown |
| Plants | |||
| Bryophyta | 1 852 (1 500) | ~2 200 (~2 500) | 25% |
| Vascular Plants | 18 140 (15 638) | ~20 500 (20 000 to 25 000) | 90% |
| Ferns and allies | (446) | (~500) | (40%) |
| Gymnosperms | (113) | (unknown) | (96%) |
| Magnoliophyta | (17 580) | (19 000 – 21 000) | (91%) |
| Total plants | ~20 000 | 23 000 | 84% |
| Others | |||
| Lichens | 3 227 (2 877) | ~5 000 (~5 000) | 34% |
| Fungi | 5 672 (12 500) | 160 000 – 250 000 (250 000) | 90% |
| Bacteria | ~40 (unknown) | 40 000 (unknown) | unknown |
| Cyanophyta | ~40 | 12 000 – 40 000 | unknown |
| Algae | ~10 000 (5 000) | 12 000+ (10 000 to 12 000) | unknown |
| Viruses | ~400 | unknown | unknown |
| Protoctista | ~10 000 (unknown) | ~65 000 (unknown) | unknown |
| Total other | ~30 000 | 300 000 – 400 000 | unknown |
| All Species | |||
| Vertebrates | 7 558 | ~8 444 | 79% |
| Invertebrates | 114 600 | 250 000 | unknown |
| Plants | 20 000 | 23 000 | 84% |
| Others | ~30 000 | 300 000 – 400 000 | unknown |
| Grand total | 172 200 (139 664) | 580 000 – 680 000 (745 000) | unknown |
Source: Chapman A D (in press) 2006, Numbers of living species in Australia and the World, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Source: Department of the Environment and Heritage 2001, Numbers of living species in Australia and the World. Report for the Department of the Environment and Heritage, CSIRO Publishing, Canberra, viewed N/A, http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/biodiversity/biodiversity04-3b.html#table46.
What the data mean
Progress has been made since 2001 in identifying and classifying species. In all, there are an estimated 20 000 native flora species and over 258 000 native fauna species in Australia. Many species are yet to be described. The greatest unknowns are of the invertebrates, especially insects, single celled organisms, vascular plants and fish.
Data Limitations
The number of known species was estimated by collating information from systematists, taxonomic literature, on-line resources and previous compilations.
For less well known groups, the total number of species is very difficult to estimate, and any estimate will inevitably involve a high degree of uncertainty.
Interpreting the data/information that can be collected is difficult, as progress may be in the increase in the effort of looking for new species and improved institutional arrangements rather than in increased or decreased species diversity.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Species diversity
Australia is home to almost one million species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. About 91 per cent of flowering plants, 83 per cent of mammals, more than 45 per cent of birds, and 90 per cent of fish are endemic - that is, they are only found in Australia. However, by world standards species richness is low in some taxa, eg the number of freshwater fish species in Australia reflects the small amount of freshwater habitat.
There are very few examples where the number of species is believed to be the final total. For most groups, there are still large gaps in our knowledge. Invertebrates, for instance, make a major contribution to species diversity in Australia but with the exception of a few charismatic groups, such as the butterflies, there is very little biological or ecological knowledge of the species. Microorganisms are also an important component of species richness in Australia and can have utilitarian and indirect values in both marine and terrestrial systems. Very little is known about these organisms.
This indicator illustrates the state of our knowledge of flora and fauna and how many species we have been able to identify over the past five years.
Other indicators for this issue:
Further Information
Australian Biological Resources Study
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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