FILM: Koalas and Eucalyptus

Reuters have produced a film entitled "Eucalyptus study could be key to koala survival", explaining Elizabeth Neilson's Plant Plasticity research project.

The project investigates the complex suite of bio-active natural products present in Eucalyptus species. Despite their toxic leaf composition, eucalypts dominate the Australian landscape and are fed upon by iconic koala.

The project explores how environmental change such as increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may impact eucalypt chemistry and therefore, koala health and popluation size in different climates.

By understanding how it is able to digest lignin found in eucalyptus, Elizabeth hopes to understand how koala may be able to deal with the impacts of climate change and thereby boost the health of Australia's koala population.

Click picture to watch the movie

PP Koala focus goes global
The film has been picked up by numerous newchannels, spreading knolwedge of the project all over the world:

MSN (Global news and email server)
WBIR-TV (CBS television affiliate -US)
The Globe and Mail (Canada's most read newspaper)
CBS 47 (US national news service)
Science Daily (one of the most popular online science news web sites)
One India (India's 2nd most popular local news destination)
News Track India (Indian news organisation)