In the media: Koalas can teach us about climate changes
Danish-Australian research project will provide valuable knowledge about climate changes to which the koala is extremely sensitive
In an article from the Danish newspaper Politiken, the research to unravel the mystery of the connection between koalas and eucaluptus is explained by postdoc Elizabeth Heather Neilson and Professor Birger Lindberg Møller.
The research has also been showcased in an Australian radio interview and a film produced by Reuters TV. Both can be found on the right of this page.
The leaves are, despite their lovely fragrance, extremely toxic to humans. However, the koala is able to live exclusively from a diet of Eucalyptus. Our researchers are studying the koala microbiome and how this is possible, and learning what happens to the koalas when climate changes alter the composition of the eucalyptus leaves. And what happens to the koalas when climate changes alters the composition of their only source of food?
As a so-called indicator species, the koala can help us understand how the climate changes might affect all of us. Usually climate changes is about sea levels, hurricanes, droughts and rise in temperatures. But what about the effect on our food sources; our plants?
"We will see plants that can not adapt to climate change, being attacked by diseases or new types of insects and therefore we can no longer get the expected yields. Not many makes this linkage", says Birger Lindberg Møller.
Read the full article here (in Danish) ...>
Elizabeth Neilson is currently funded by a fellowship from the VILLUM Foundation.
FILM: Koalas and Eucalyptus
Reuters TV has produced a film entitled "Eucalyptus study could be key to koala survival", explaining Elizabeth Neilson's research project.
Studying eucalyptus leaves could hold the key to understanding why the existence of the iconic koala is under threat and also help secure its future
Koalas are key to several riddles
