it saps precious nutrients from the eucalyptus leaves
Posted on 05/07/2008 9:30:20 AM PDT by tobyhill
CANBERRA, Australia - Koalas are threatened by the rising level of carbon dioxide pollution in the atmosphere because it saps nutrients from the eucalyptus leaves they feed on, a researcher said Wednesday.
Ian Hume, emeritus professor of biology at Sydney University, said he and his researchers also found that the amount of toxicity in the leaves of eucalyptus saplings rose when the level of carbon dioxide within a greenhouse was increased.
Hume presented his research on the effects of carbon dioxide on eucalyptus leaves to the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra on Wednesday.
The researchers found that carbon dioxide in eucalyptus leaves affects the balance of nutrients and "anti-nutrients" — substances that are either toxic or interfere with the digestion of nutrients.
An increase in carbon dioxide favors the trees' production of carbon-based anti-nutrients over nutrients, so leaves can become toxic to koalas, Hume said.
Some eucalyptus species may have high protein content, but anti-nutrients such as tannins bind the protein so it cannot be digested by koalas.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Wasn’t Gore calling it Global Warming yesterday when he blamed the Burmese cyclone on it. I can’t keep track of what they’re calling it—is it Global Warming or Climate Change?
Something will evolve to take the Koala's place in the new ecosystem.
it saps precious nutrients from the eucalyptus leaves
Let me be the first to say that if it’s between me and my family being able to stay warm, and earn a living, and some critter, the critter loses.
I don’t care about koalas, or polar bears, or alaskan caribou or snail darters, or 3 eyed, green furry owls. If we can save them without destroying our own lives, fine. If not, sucks to be them.
I think all those greenies who idolize nature should be forced to watch predators hunt, and see how “nature” intended things to be.
You’re mean. You need to eat your family and leave the critters alone...how dare you!
Since when has cardon dioxide become a “pollutant” and tannins become “anti-nutrients”?
I hate this glib manipulation of the language almost as much as I hate the dissimulation behind the agenda.
It’s a matter of time until China occupies Australia and destroys the ecosystem with pollutants from factories.
“You’re mean. You need to eat your family and leave the critters alone...how dare you!”
Yeah, the same kind of mean as a predator. And the greenies are nice and mild, like prey. Hmmmmmm.
“You better hope they never find an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Louisiana because if they did every oil well within 200 miles on or off shore will be shut down. “
Greenies = Libs = failed species. I think it’s time we had a mass extinction.
Don’t think you have to worry about the ivory-billed woodpecker. Researchers in Arkansas have been looking for one for a couple of years now to no avail (after a report of one seen in the hardwood swamps).
The consensus (I hate that word now) is that the initial sighting was incorrect. The ivory-billed woodpecker is almost certainly extinct.
“It’s a matter of time until China occupies Australia and destroys the ecosystem with pollutants from factories.”
That’s ok, the feral cats are already taking care of the small wildlife.
I’m not saying we should pollute like mad. We should be as clean as possible, but not be stupid about it. Stupid, that’s where the greenies come in.
If the Australians allow the Chinese to destroy their ecosystem, shame on them. I wouldn’t blame the Chinese.
Nonsense. The Chinese factories in Australia will be nuclear powered since Australia has plenty of uranium and little fossil fuel stuff.
These idiots can’t even predict the weather for next week. I actually read one report recently that global warming was the cause of global cooling! How can you get one of these “paid to be a do nothing idiot” jobs? I want one!
This entire fraud is nothing more than taxes and control.
You know, we’re going at this all wrong. If we could invent some connection between the environment and some debility among Freepers, we could all be sittin’ pretty, spending our grant money.
So now global warming carbon dioxide is seen as crippling trees...
That’s one way to get around the plant food argument.
“I hate Quantas”
Taste like...chicken?
People are peering in to my fabric covered box to see why I am laughing.
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