The alarm is launched by researchers at the University of Canberra: the eucalyptus trees are in jeopardy!
The study showed that the increase in global temperature of 3 degrees, which is estimated to be achieved by 2100, would have terrible effects on 650 different species of eucalyptus.
The data were published in the journal Nature Climate Change: the researchers predict “that within the next 60 years the vast majority (91%) of species distributions across Australia will shrink in size (on average by 51%) and will shift south their location on the basis of projected suitable climatic space”.
Australia risks to lose a valuable biodiversity. However this scenario is not just about plants: likely it would affected animal species living in this country and eating mainly eucalyptus: first of all koalas.
The koala mainly populates the eastern coast of the Australian continent. Their diet is based almost exclusively on the consumption of eucalyptus leaves and buds, from which they draw nourishment and water. Threaten the eucalyptus trees means endangering the survival of this marsupial.
The parameters identified in the study can be used to forecast areas of biodiversity losses and continental-scale impacts of climate change.
It’s time to get to work.
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