Sad platypus! Don't worry - your anti depressants in the water will help.

What we put down our sinks has to go somewhere - and it's going into our animals, insects (and us).

Hilarious and clever little things!

Everyone loves the furry little platypus!

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus) is such a unique animal that initial European discoveries were dismissed as ‘fakes’, thinking it was many animals sewn together. More* of this disbelief was surely due to the platypus being one of a very small group of mammals called monotremes – mammals that lay eggs but then suckle their young.

The platypus relies on consistent waterbodies, for food, shelter and reproduction (Land for Wildlife 2011). Therefore it is only found in areas of Australia where there is a reliable, clean water source. Over the years due to pollution, human intervention and general habitat quality (among other factors, the platypus’ habitat has been slowly dwindling and their numbers have decreased to a level that they are now listed as ‘near threatened’.

Decline in population of the majestic platypus!

The platypus has evolved an impressive way of finding food with great effect, the platypus find their food through extremely sensitive electroreception (they sense movement in the water), although they can find food in waters that are affected by turbidity or lack of light, platypus populations are declining due to the ability to forage efficiently.

So - what is in the water and why is it important?

As the platypus feed only in the water, reduction of water reliability or flow, or impacts to the macro-invertebrate health/population has an impact on their ability to feed. From data recorded in live trapping surveys it was found that increased nutrient enrichment (nitrogen and especially phosphorus) in fresh water bodies around Melbourne and sediment concentrations of (mainly but not limited to) Zinc, Cadmium and Lead, had a direct link to platypus populations – fewer platypuses were found in the water bodies that had higher deposits.

These findings were likely indicators of the harmful effects these toxic metals have on the platypuses food source, not only making them harmful to eat, but also the nutrient enrichment in the streams and rivers have been linked to increased populations of flies and worms and the decrease in larger macroinvertebrates usually consumed by the platypus. Additionally the change in biotic conditions lessens the foraging efficiency as high levels of auto-trophic biomass interferes with detecting and catching prey.

Any other factors? Why yes!

Climate change in general is also a major factor, but perhaps more worryingly (as the lasting effects are unknown at this stage) are the recent studies been done on the amounts of pharmaceuticals present in the water ways.

A team of researchers, found traces of 69 different medications in insects taken from six streams in and near Melbourne. Due to the diets of platypuses (and trout and other animals). It was reported for the ABC that ‘a platypus living in the most contaminated stream could be routinely exposed to up to half of an adult human’s daily dose of antidepressants’.

As Platypuses rely on clean water and healthy riparian zones, it is yet another example of just how important water conservation, climate change action and limited human interference really is. The general health of our water ways must be preserved, not just for us, but for our national icons.