Climate change putting koalas diet at risk; researchers

by Rich Bowden - Apr 7 2008, 05:48

Researchers have released a study showing climate change is putting the diet of the iconic koala at risk.

Researchers have found climate change is threatening the food of the koala. The iconic Koala Bear with child. Credit: deeleea/Flickr

Koalas' staple diet, a specific form of eucalyptus tree leaf, is being made inedible because of the effect increasing temperatures are having on the trees.In a report in the Weekend Australian, Australian National University (ANU) science professor Bill Foley said: "What we're seeing, essentially, is that the staple diet of these animals is being turned to leather. This is potentially a very significant development for the future of some marsupial populations. Life is set to become extremely difficult for these animals."The newspaper quoted research from James Cook University researcher Ivan Lawler which showed an increase in carbon dioxide through climate change will reduce the levels of nitrogen and other nutrients in eucalyptus leaves and boosted tannins, a naturally occurring chemical toxin."With more carbon dioxide, animals need to eat more and more leaves to get their required protein levels," he said."The balance in the leaves shifts from nutrients to non-nutritional fibre. It eventually reaches a threshold when leaves are no longer tenable as a food source. The food chain for these animals is very finely balanced, and a small change can have serious consequences."The eucalyptus leaf favoured by the koala is already low in protein forcing the animals to consume up to 700g per day to gain the required nutrition.Koalas depend entirely on the eucalyptus leaf for food.

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