Australia’s Alpine Insects

Abstract

Australia’s small alpine and subalpine zones, confined to the south east of the country, represent an extreme and harsh environment – and one that is also vulnerable to climate change, with forecasts of severe reduction in snow cover likely to occur over the next few decades as conditions warm. In addition to these projected changes, considerable human pressures exist with development of resorts and facilities, including improved access, for winter sports and, increasingly, for summer recreational tourism. Whilst some ambiguity may remain over the effects of climate change, commercial fears that it may indeed render the areas increasingly unsui­table for winter recreation are themselves pressure for more intensive short term developments. The region is thus regarded as one of the most vulnerable in Australia, but supports a considerable variety of characteristic animals and plants that are not found at lower elevations, and that in some way have adapted to thrive in the extreme cold environment with winter snow cover.