Koalas display the ability to regulate their body temperature more effectively than previously believed by lowering their core temperatures during cooler mornings, allowing them to anticipate and prepare for hot summer days. This behavior of predicting and adapting to extreme temperature changes has never been witnessed before.
Researchers from the University of Sydney observed a koala colony in New South Wales during the hottest time of the year in 2019, recording the highest (40.8°C) and lowest (32.4°C) body temperatures for koalas on the hottest day.
By starting with lower body temperatures on hot days, koalas were able to save water by reducing the need for evaporative cooling by up to 18 percent.
Koalas use various methods to manage body temperature, including insulative fur, concentrated urine production, seeking cooler microhabitats, panting, licking fur for evaporative cooling, and tree-hugging postures for heat exchange. Their specialized diet of eucalyptus leaves and behavioral strategies also contribute to their thermoregulation.
The observed koala population, older and afflicted with chlamydial disease, all survived six months after the study, indicating successful modulation of body temperature as a survival technique.
Koalas' survival is threatened by climate change causing more frequent and intense heatwaves, altering food sources, and contributing to habitat loss. Conservation efforts and climate mitigation are crucial for the species' survival.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: phys.org, miragenews.com, sydney.edu.au, and earth.com.