From the ArcaMax Publishing, Science & Technology Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/technology/s-344731-681103
CANBERRA, Australia (UPI) -- An Australian scientist contends global
warming is putting the country's koala population at serious risk.
Ian Hume of the University of Sydney said warmer temperatures and
increased levels of carbon dioxide are affecting the level of
nutrients and "anti-nutrients" on eucalyptus, the main food source of
the species, the Australian Academy of Science said in a news release.
Anti-nutrients are things that are either toxic or interfere with the
digestion of nutrients.
The findings were presented this week at a meeting of the academy.
"If there is a significant rise in CO2 concentration in the
atmosphere, which we're already seeing, that's going to push the ratio
of nutrients to anti-nutrients even lower by increasing the
concentration of these carbon-based anti-nutrients," Hume said in a
statement. "I'm sure we'll see koalas disappearing from their current
range even though we don't see any change in tree species or structure
of the forests."
Hume said changes in eucalyptus nutrient content may force koalas to
travel in search of more nutrient-rich species, increasing their risk
of being hit by vehicles or eaten by predators.