Predicting co-extinction risk of invertebrates on endangered plants

当一个依赖物种随着其宿主物种的消失而灭绝时，就会发生共灭绝。最近的一项海外模拟研究表明，通过这一机制对全球生物多样性的损失可能很高，但只有当大量宿主灭绝时才会如此。然而，估计受到限制，因为没有从濒危植物中取样的昆虫数据集。因此，估计的准确性仍然未知，特别是对澳大利亚昆虫。该项目将通过对濒危植物进行取样，提供迄今为止最准确的估计，并确定维持濒危昆虫存活种群的管理战略，从而保护澳大利亚的生物多样性。

Co-extinction occurs when a dependent species goes extinct with the loss of its host species. A recent overseas modelling study suggested losses to global biodiversity through this mechanism may be high, but only when a large number of hosts are extinguished. However, estimates were constrained because there are no datasets with insects sampled from endangered plants. Thus, the accuracy of the estimates remains unknown, particularly for Australian insects. This project will provide the most accurate estimate to date by sampling endangered plants and identify management strategies for sustaining viable populations of endangered insects, thereby conserving Australia's biodiversity.