Australia's threatened species - Box 1 Australia's threatened species 1. Sponsored by Biologists know that most species are not easily seen. In fact, based on the number of species we already know, scientists estimate that many more species remain to be discovered. New ones are being found as fast as scientists look for them.
Most undescribed species are small and occur in soil, tropical rainforests and marine habitats .
Extinction is probably already affecting these 'hidden' species. Many small organisms are important. For example, the living things in soil carry out all sorts of useful services such as decomposition, nutrient cycling and creation of good soil structure. For example, it is becoming clear that the increasing acidification that is a problem in several parts of the country is bad for the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are so important to the growth of many crops and native plants. Many species still to be studied Below the soil, in regions of the Earth's crust once considered to be of interest only to geologists, life is also turning up.