Environmental Biotechnology: Impacts on Biodiversity and Sea Snake

This report delves into the critical issue of environmental biotechnology's impact on biodiversity, specifically highlighting the plight of the Short Nosed Sea Snake (Aipysurus apraefrontalis). The introduction establishes the significance of biodiversity and its connection to human well-being, while also pointing out anthropogenic factors as key drivers of species extinction. The report then provides a detailed profile of the Short Nosed Sea Snake, including its habitat, physical characteristics, life cycle, and ecological importance within coral reef ecosystems. It explores the threats to the species, such as habitat degradation, coral bleaching due to rising sea temperatures, and potential risks from fishing activities. The analysis also considers the snake's low reproductive rates and fragmented populations, making it highly vulnerable to environmental changes. Finally, the report discusses conservation efforts, including the establishment of nature reserves and wildlife management protocols, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges in safeguarding the species. The conclusion underscores the urgent need for action to prevent the extinction of this and other species, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity for both environmental and human well-being.

Running head: Environmental Biotechnology
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
-Destruction of Biodiversity
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction:
Biodiversity can be understood as the variability found in all living species from
diverse sources like marine, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the ecological systems
they are a part of. Biodiversity includes the diversity within and between species as well as of
the ecosystems. It is the basis of the ecosystem services that is closely connected to the well
being of humans (greenfacts.org 2018). As per some scientists, anthropological factors are
responsible for the sixth mass extinction. Even though there are debates as to whether
extinction of species thousands of years ago in Australia could be linked to the indigenous
people thousands of years ago, there is no doubt that in the last two centuries, extraordinary
changes in environment and loss of biodiversity have occurred due to anthropogenic
activities. The stress on the environment is attributed to key factors like overpopulation, loss
of habitat and loss of species. Studies suggest that in the last 200 years in Australia, 75% of
rainforest and 50% of all forests have been lost (australianmuseum.net.au 2018).
About Short Nosed Sea Snake
Common Name: Short Nosed Sea Snake or Sahul Reef Snake
Scientific Name: Aipysurus apraefrontalis
Category: Critically endangered

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Figure 1: Short Nosed Sea Snake; source: (Carnivoraforum.com 2018).
Habitat: Short nosed sea snakes can be found in the edges and flats of the coral reefs. They
are mostly found where the water is more than 10 metres deep, and they generally rest during
the day under overhangs of the coral at depths of 1-2 meter (australiangeographic.com.au
2018). The species usually prefers sandy substrata sparse in coral. They feed mostly on fish,
especially eels (Heatwole and Cogger 1994).
Description of body form: The snake grows up to 60 centimetres in length. It is slender
shaped and has a small head. Their colour is brown and has patterns of colours varying
between brown and purple. The body is covered with overlapping scales. The skin is shed in
two to six weeks. The snake has a specialised gland under the tongue that eliminates the
excess salts from the sea. In order to breathe, the snake must come to the surface of the water,
and can spend about two hours underwater. The snake has a single lung that spans most of the
length of the body. The species also has the ability of cutaneous respiration because of small
blood vessels in the skin. They also have inwardly opening valves on the nostril that prevent
the entry of water (australiangeographic.com.au 2018).

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Life Cycle: The species have a lifespan of 8-10 years with approximately 5 year generation
length. The snakes are viviparous and have a gestation period of 6-7 months. They are slow
growing with small broods and high mortality rate among juveniles. The reproductive phases
occur at the sea (Environment.gov.au 2018).
Importance to the ecosystem
The species takes shelter under the rubble and corals and hunts eels and small fishes
in the coral reef by poking its head into sand burrows. Their habitat is fragmented since
Hibernia and Ashmore reefs are set apart by 40 kilometres and separated by water channel
more than 400 meter deep having not intermediate reef (Environment.gov.au 2011). The
species are tertiary predators, and therefore are integral part of the food chain. In the coral
ecosystem, they play a key role in the maintenance of the density of small coral fishes.
Therefore this species is vital to the biodiversity of the place. Additionally, these snakes are
the members of rare group of viviparous reptiles that represents a highly evolved branch in
reptilian evolution. Such aspects emphasize their importance to the ecosystems in Australia.
Factors related to its decline
Threats to the short nosed sea snake’s existence have not been clearly identified yet.
However, their species declined significantly over the last several years, and the reasons for
the decline in their populations in Ashmore and Hibernia areas are unclear. The species are
not harvested by the fishery industry neither is there are reports of illegal trade on this species
or of accidental captures by fishing trawlers. The most significant factor affecting the species
is because of the modification or degradation of their coral habitats, for example bleaching of
the corals due to increasing temperature of the sea. This shows that climate change being a
significant stressor to the population of the species. Additionally, the rising temperature can
also increase the upper lethal limit which has been measured at 36 degree Celsius

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(Iucnredlist.org 2018). The population of this species have reduced by 90% as per studies.
Also, the risks of injury to the snakes due to fishing activities by the Northern Prawn
Fisheries cannot be entirely ruled out. Also, since the species have a low rate of reproduction,
small size of the clutch, fragmented population and specificity of its habitat, makes then
especially vulnerable to climate changes and genetic drifts and even local extinctions.
Measures taken to prevent their extinction
A nature reserve has been built in the Ashmore reef in 1983, and it monitors illegal
fishing. In 1990, focus was given to the protection of marine wildlife through the setup of
Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1989. In 2002, a second management plan
was put in place by the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia. These wildlife
management protocols are aimed to safeguard the marine biodiversity and the quality of their
habitats. However, it is not clear how and to what extent these management policies can
safeguard the populations of short nosed sea snakes (Iucnredlist.org 2018). Also a reduction
in the number of fishing vessels by Northern Prawn Fishery (from 96 to 56) can be expected
to reduce the changes of accidental fishing or injury to the coral snakes.
Conclusion
Coral snakes are a critically endangered species in Australia, whose existence is under
threat due to the climatic changes that is destroying their habitat. The loss of this amazing
species is an indication of the increasing stress on the natural biodiversities in Australia as
well as globally due to factors directly or indirectly related to human activities. It is important
therefore that urgent steps are taken to prevent the extinction of these species, like many other
species that we have already lost. Conserving the biodiversity is important not only for the
protection of the environment and other species, but also for continuity of our own well
being.

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References:
australiangeographic.com.au., 2018. Short-nosed sea snake. [online] Australian Geographic.
Available at: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/australian-endangered-species/
2015/06/short-nosed-sea-snake/ [Accessed 9 Mar. 2018].
australianmuseum.net.au., 2018. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO AUSTRALIA'S BIODIVERSITY?.
[online] australianmuseum.net.au. Available at: https://australianmuseum.net.au/whats-
happening-to-australias-biodiversity [Accessed 9 Mar. 2018].
Carnivoraforum.com., 2018. Short-nosed Sea Snake - Aipysurus apraefrontalis. [online]
Carnivoraforum.com. Available at: http://carnivoraforum.com/topic/10396658/1/ [Accessed 9
Mar. 2018].
Environment.gov.au., 2011. Advice to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the
Committee) on Amendment to the list of Threatened Species under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. [online] Environment.gov.au. Available
at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/1115-listing-
advice.pdf [Accessed 9 Mar. 2018].
Environment.gov.au ., 2018. Aipysurus apraefrontalis — Short-nosed Seasnake. [online]
Environment.gov.au. Available at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=1115
[Accessed 9 Mar. 2018].
greenfacts.org ., 2018. 1. Biodiversity: What is it, where is it, and why is it important?.
[online] Greenfacts.org. Available at: https://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/l-3/1-
define-biodiversity.htm [Accessed 9 Mar. 2018].

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Heatwole, H. and Cogger, H., 1994. Sea snakes of Australia. Sea snake toxinology, pp.167-
205.
iNaturalist.org., 2018. Short-nosed Sea Snake (Aipysurus apraefrontalis). [online]
iNaturalist.org. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/35265-Aipysurus-apraefrontalis
[Accessed 9 Mar. 2018].
Iucnredlist.org., 2018. Aipysurus apraefrontalis (Sahul Reef Snake, Short-nosed Sea Snake).
[online] Iucnredlist.org. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/176770/0 [Accessed
9 Mar. 2018].