habitat

“To restore the natural fire frequency and chaparral habitats,” it states, “Topanga State Park should be left to burn within reasonable public safety limits and outside of fire exclusion zones.”

"We are confident that some of the species there have not yet been described. However, a dedicated expedition would be needed to fully study this unique habitat."

"Because the new species was found in the same small area as the endangered wildflower, both could be at risk from habitat disturbance and other threatening processes like climate change," Dr. Prendergast said.

If earthquakes or similar geological motions can refresh chemical resources below the surface, this could expand the possible habitats for microbes on worlds such as Mars.

Three thousand species were found to now exist in five places or fewer, making them highly vulnerable to habitat loss, climate change and sudden catastrophic incidents like storms or wildfires, it said.