High koala mortality associated with low browse moisture in tropical environments
Irene Delma CliftonSchool of Medical and Applied Science, Central Queensland University, PO Box 5606, Mackay MC, Qld 4741, Australia. Email: d.clifton@cqu.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 32(2) 157-159 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM10015
Submitted: 17 February 2009 Accepted: 7 May 2010 Published: 5 August 2010
Abstract
At St Bees Island, central Queensland, during drought conditions from July 2001 to April 2003, 85% of koala deaths occurred when browse moisture fell below 51% fresh weight. Drought-induced mortality (and changing frequencies or intensities of drought due to climate change) may have a considerable effect upon this population.
Additional keywords: climate change, drought, Phascolarctos cinereus.
Acknowledgements
Funding and field support for this project was provided by Earthwatch International, Central Queensland Koala Volunteers, Centre for Environmental Management (CQU), CQU Research Training Scheme, Australians for Animals, and Mr Peter Berck. Animal experimentation was conducted with approval of CQU Animal Experimentation Ethics Panel, Certificate number 01/06-112 and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Scientific Purposes Permit E4/001032/99/SAA and C6/000075/01/SAB.
Clifton, I. D. , Ellis, W. A. H. , Melzer, A. , and Tucker, G. (2007). Water turnover and the northern range of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Australian Mammalogy 29, 85–88.
Martin, R. (1985). Overbrowsing, and decline of a population of the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, in Victoria. I. Food preference and food tree defoliation. Australian Wildlife Research 12, 355–365.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Melzer, A. , Tucker, G. , Hodgon, J. , and Elliot, B. (2003). A note on predation on koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus, by raptors, including wedge-tailed eagles, Aquila audax, in Queensland. The Queensland Naturalist 41, 38–40.
Nagy, K. A. , and Martin, R. (1985). Field metabolic rate, water flux, food consumption and time budget of koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus (Marsupialia: Phascolarctidae) in Victoria. Australian Journal of Zoology 33, 655–665.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tucker, G. , Melzer, A. , and Ellis, W. A. H. (2007). The development of habitat selection by subadult koalas. Australian Journal of Zoology 55, 285–289.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |