Another day, another silly computer model study which aimed to be very concerned, and came out as very concerned
Climate change likely to turn up heat on koalas
A changing climate means that by 2070 koalas may no longer call large parts of inland Australia home, researchers have found.
Using a detailed ecological model, the University of Melbourne study shows hotter temperatures and altered rainfall patterns will make it much more difficult for koalas to get the water they need – making inland populations vulnerable to heat-stress.
The researchers mapped potential koala habitats in 2070 by using information about koala behaviour, physiology, body size, and fur to predict how much energy and water koalas need to survive under the climate at a particular location. They found that the climatically suitable area dramatically reduced by 2070, particularly in Queensland. The koala’s range across Australia was limited by water requirements for keeping cool, with the timing of rainfall and heat waves being crucial in limiting the koala in the warmer parts of its range.
Got that? They were able to get their crystal balls, er, computer models to tell them exactly what they wanted: doom for koalas! Because they know exactly what the weather will be 50+ years from now. They wouldn’t be able to tell you what it will be specifically 20 days from now, but 50 years? Easy peasy!
Dr Brendan Wintle, Deputy Director of the National Environmental Science Programme’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, and a co-author of the study, says describing where koalas and other threatened species find refuge from changing climate and other threats such as cats and foxes allows efficient focus of conservation efforts and limited conservation funding.
And this is one of the (many) things that bugs me about the Cult of Climastrology. There are real environmental issues going on, yet these cultish fools focus on ‘climate change’ rather than those issues, often placing those real issues much lower. Koala populations suffer from chlamydia and habitat loss. Habitat loss plays a huge part, which brings them into contact with cars and dogs. Feral animals. Bushfires, which can be anthropogenic, but, mostly because of idiots playing with fire. Dieback, where cutting back in forests creates separate pockets, which can die off. Feral animals brought by humans to Australia. Real issues. Not tiny climatic swings as have been going on for longer than humanity.
