OLogy: Chasing Spiders Down Under

One reason for this unusual variety of spiders is Australia’s separation from other continents. For millions of years, plants and animals lived in isolation, so Australia has its own unique ecosystems with species unlike anywhere else on Earth

. But some of Australia’s rare spiders are endangered

. We need to gather information about each species quickly, before it becomes extinct

and our chance to learn about and save that spider is lost forever.

Yes! Spiders are one of the major predators of insects, so there might be a huge increase in insect populations. Insects would devour trees, crops, and grasses.

of spiders, we can learn what role they play in their ecosystems, how they can benefit our lives, and how we can protect them.