Posted on 12/26/2008 9:17:28 PM PST by I got the rope
A government scientist has warned that climate change, and specifically the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is pushing up toxins and lowering nutrients in eucalyptus leaves.
Dr Dan Lunney, of the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change, said the trend would force koalas out of trees and on to the ground to search for food, putting them in danger.
"What currently may be good koala habitats will become very marginal habitats," he said. "This means koalas have to change trees more often to get to the leaves they need.
"As koalas change trees they have to walk across the ground, if they walk across the ground they are vulnerable to dogs and if there are roads in the middle they are vulnerable to cars as well."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
You nailed it - and first!
ROFL, that is great!
Dr Dan Lunney, of the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change, said the trend would force koalas out of trees and on to the ground to search for food, putting them in danger."the fact that the koala is so darned cuddly looking isn't the reason I chose that particular species to make unfounded claims. Honest."
They are looking for a cute creature from all major industrialized nations.
Since Australia doesn't have polar bears, the Koala must be used.
In China it will be the Panda.
In India it will be the tiger.
.......on and on and on.
In the end, the AGW farce will endanger only ONE animal.....humans, because we will be prevented from having the resources, machines, and systems that provide for good health, comfort, and prosperity. They are attempting to coerce us back to subsistence existence.
I call BS on this one: ALL trees and flowering plants are growing 17% to 27% MORE with the increased CO2 levels! No exceptions.
Totally bogus, extremist AGW-hype.
From www.co2science.org - From its section on ecalyptus trees and CO2:
“
The Growth Response of Eucalyptus Plantlets to Elevated CO2 Reference
Kirdmanee, C., Kitaya, Y. and Kozai, T. 1995. Effects of CO2 enrichment and supporting material in vitro on photoautotrophic growth of Eucalyptus plantlets in vitro and ex vitro. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant 31: 144-149.
What was done
The authors removed actively growing shoots of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and grew them for six weeks in near-sterile environments at atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 400 and 1200 ppm, while using different supporting media. Thereafter, the plantlets were moved to a greenhouse for an additional four weeks of growth under ambient CO2 concentrations.
What was learned
After the first six weeks of the study, the plantlets grown in air of elevated CO2 concentration exhibited an average net photosynthetic rate across all media treatments that was 26% greater than that displayed by plantlets grown in air of 400 ppm CO2. This phenomenon lead to a 23% increase in CO2-enriched plantlet total dry weight across all media treatments. In addition, after the final four weeks of growth in air maintained at 400 ppm CO2, the plantlets that were previously exposed to air of 1200 ppm CO2 displayed survival percentages that were 13% greater than those of plantlets previously grown in ambient air.
What it means
As the air’s CO2 content continues to rise, Eucalyptus plantlets - and perhaps recently germinated seedlings - will probably display enhanced rates of photosynthesis and biomass production. Thus, young Eucalyptus trees will likely sequester ever more carbon within their woody tissues as time progresses.
Reviewed 14 August 2002
Photosynthetic Response of Eucalyptus to Elevated CO2 and Water Stress Reference
Palanisamy, K. 1999. Interactions of elevated CO2 concentration and drought stress on photosynthesis in Eucalyptus cladocalyx F. Muell. Photosynthetica 36: 635-638.
What was done
Eucalyptus seedlings were grown for seven months in glasshouses receiving atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 380 and 800 ppm, before water was withheld from half the seedlings in each CO2 treatment to study the interactive effects of elevated CO2 and drought on photosynthesis in this species.
What was learned
After eight months of differential CO2 exposure and one month of differential water application, well-watered seedlings grown at 800 ppm CO2 displayed net photosynthetic rates that were 120% greater than those of well-watered seedlings exposed to ambient CO2. Water stress, however, decreased photosynthetic rates of all seedlings, regardless of atmospheric CO2 concentration. Nonetheless, water-stressed seedlings grown at elevated CO2 still exhibited net photosynthetic rates that were 12% greater than those of their water-stressed counterparts.
What it means
As the CO2 content of the air rises, it is likely that Eucalyptus seedlings will exhibit increased rates of photosynthesis, even during times of water stress. Thus, it is likely that CO2-induced increases in photosynthesis will lead to greater biomass production in this woody species, even when soil moisture is low, as during drought conditions.
Reviewed 1 May 2000
I'm glad you have "seen the light". The enviro-movement has lost it's roots in real problems and moved on to imagined or contrived problems with anti-human and anti-American "solutions".
HA!!!
Great post!
Guess the Aussies now need a KOALA KING to manage their affairs. Sort of like America’s CAR CZAR.
However, we Tennesseans did not vote for him when he ran for prez in 2000, hence denying him the needed electoral votes to win...
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