the+Future+koala-luke+ingram

the future koala
due to the increase in temperatures causing more frequent drought in Australia the clearing of the koalas habitat to make way for urbanization the koala will have to adapt to which may include -having to spend more time on the forest floor due to the lack of trees -due to increase movement the koala will require a different food source or another way to conserve energy -a more advanced way of controlling temperature ( keeping cool) -multiple ways of storing energy without the need for long periods of sleep these new issues which the koala will need to adapt to so it will survive.

the climate of Australia in the future will be hotter due to climate change and because of deforestation the number of eucalyptus trees will also be decreased limiting the koalas environment. some of the aspects include
 * environment**

-as stated before the temperature level of Australia will increase this will lead to an increase of drought this will cause the koala to search for other sources of water to hydrate itself. -there will be a decrease in the number of eucalyptus trees in the future do the growth of cities and towns. this lack of trees will cause the koalas to have to search for other sources of food and shelter or have to walk longer distances to find new trees. -due to cities and towns being in close vicinity koalas will have to deal with more human interaction leading to them having to become used to humans being in close vicinity or find ways to avoid them

due to the koalas major food source being in low quantity's due to deforestation (which also causes the koala to have to move over longer distances to find food) the koala will have to adapt to a new diet which will give the koala greater nutrition allowing it to spend less time sleeping and more time moving around to find food. this is due to the today's koala having to spend more time searching for food.
 * A more advanced diet**

a more advanced diet will also mean that the koala will be able to find food more easily as instead of searching for one food type (the eucalyptus leaf for example) the koala will be able eat more variety of foods making food hunting easier and requiring less energy.

due to climate change and global warming the temperature around Australia is likely to increase. Because of this the koala may have to adapt to keeping itself cool during the summer months. an adaption to help the koala achieve this is thinner fur which will lighten the weight of the koala making it faster. the thinner fur will help the koala from becoming extinct as it will prevent the amount of time the koala needs to spend regulating its body temperature.
 * Thinner Fur**

thinner fur will also decrease the energy requirement by preventing the koala from carrying all the extra weight and heat which thicker fut will bring in a hotter climate.

due to the decreasing number of trees koalas will have to adapt to living in a community to help defend itself form predators or to find food as as a group. the koala will have to adapt to this style of living due to a lack of the koalas regular habitat and major food source.
 * Group living**

the group living will also provide a greater level of protection to the young similar to that of witch the diprotodon protected its young from predators. the koalas which will be able unable to live in groups may eventually be forced to leave there homes due to the groups of koalas forcing the koalas out of there homes.

with the lack of trees the koala will be forced to spend more time on the ground closer to its predators.due to this the koala will have to be able to defend itself, while the claws the koala already has are strong they are suited to climbing and griping trees they were not adapted to suitably defend itself against predators which may attack it. sharper claws will help the koala survive due to a stronger defense allowing it to stay alive if it cant run away form attacks.
 * claws built for defense rather than climbing**

in the future the koala will have to spend more time of the ground than it used to. this will require the koala to adapt to surviving on the ground to be able to travel the long distances to find food,water and shelter. the koala will adapt to this by becoming faster on the ground by losing its awkward walking style which slows it down allowing the koala to escape predators. the koala will also have to become fully nocturnal so it can travel without the threat of attack. these adaptions will help the koala survive as they will allow the koala to escape the koala to avoid predators.
 * the ability to survive on the ground**


 * bibliography**
 * 1.Koalas in danger (6th April 2010)** **from the independent (nature) retived june 19th 2011 from**
 * http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/koalas-in-danger-805228.html**
 * 2.the koala (2000-2009) Thekoala retrieved June 20th 2011 from**
 * http://www.thekoala.com/koala/**
 * 3. Australia's changing climate (28th December 2004) retrieved June 15th 2011 from**
 * http://mclean.ch/climate/Australian_climate.htm**