This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A vast stretch of land where animals roam widely and plants grow freely. That's what most people would picture if they thought of a conservation area.
Such places are vital for protecting large animals and entire ecosystems. They make managing environmental threats, such as fire and weed invasions, much easier. However, some parts of Australia simply don't have the space to support a large conservation area.
This is particularly true in agricultural regions. In the crop-growing region of northwestern Victoria, for example, remnant reserves may cover less than 100 hectares (247 acres). These smaller reserves are often undervalued and overlooked.
However, our latest research reveals these remnant areas can be critical to the survival of smaller plants and animals. Our recent study took a closer look at grasshoppers in western Victoria. We rediscovered a previously undescribed species of the Keyacris genus of grasshoppers, which includes the threatened Key's matchstick.
We named the new species the Murray Mallee matchstick (Keyacris bungunnia) because it lives around the region where an old megalake, Lake Bungunnia, existed during the Pleistocene epoch. The Murray Mallee matchstick likely hopped about on its shores. Matchstick grasshoppers, named for their distinctive sticklike appearance, are unique to Australia.
The roughly 250 related species are found in many habitats across the country, including desert and mulga scrubland, eucalyptus woodland and grassy plains. Far from being pests, these native grasshoppers are a natural part of Australian landscapes, feeding on native plants and supporting local food webs. Our latest study, led by student Kim Kaufmann, mapped the distribution of this grasshopper species across several sites.
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