Aurora chasers in south-western WA may have caused irreversible damage to an ecological site at Lake Clifton hosting 2,000-year-old examples of the Earth's earliest life forms.
Visitors hoping to see the lights of aurora australis at Lake Clifton were seen walking off designated paths in May.There are calls for greater protection and awareness of the significance of the thrombolites.
"Unfortunately, people have not stuck to the boardwalk and the signage that says to stay off the microbial mat ground and the thrombolites. There's been people walking all over the site."Perth resident Katie McGinty said there were so many visitors to Lake Clifton that night that it was difficult to move around the boardwalk.
She said so little is known about these ecosystems, and it was unclear if the damage will be permanent.Peel-Harvey Catchment Council chair Paddi Creevey said she hoped the incident would prompt an education campaign about why these organisms were so significant.
Damage Tourists Visitors Protected Endangered Rare Environment Lake Clifton Heidi Allen Microbial Mats
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