Number of arthropods well below expected

2010/05/25 Aulestiarte Lete, Izaro - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Biologia
• Zoologia

Although there are many types of arthropods, their real number is much smaller than previously thought. A new estimate has been made at the University of Melbourne (Australia) and it is estimated that the number of arthropod species found in the tropics, in which most animal species in the world are represented, is around 3.7 million. Experts also suggested that in their day they could be 30 million.

To reach this conclusion, Australian researchers have relied on counts made in New Guinea since 1994. A mathematical model has been applied to this data and it has been proven that the number of arthropod species can be between 2 and 7 million.