Latest news with #CraigFranklin
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts concerned after discovering behavioral shift in ancient predators: 'Activity necessary … is reduced'
Saltwater crocodiles in northern Australia are changing how they behave to cope with rising temperatures, spending more time cooling off and less time hunting as their bodies get dangerously hot, reported Cosmos Magazine. Research published in Current Biology shows that since 2008, the highest body temperatures in these reptiles have increased by 0.55 degrees Celsius. This matches local air temperature trends, which are rising 0.05-0.2 degrees per decade in northern Australia. "As ectotherms crocodiles can't regulate their own temperature like birds and mammals," says Kaitlin Barham, a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Queensland and the study's lead author. "So, as their environment is becoming warmer, the animals in our study are also getting hotter and needing to spend more time on cooling behaviours. "But if their time and energy is dominated by the need to stay cool, activity necessary for hunting, keeping safe from predators or reproducing, is reduced." Researchers tracked 203 crocodiles in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula using satellite trackers and internal temperature sensors. They found 65% of the animals exceeded their critical thermal limit of 32 degrees (90 degrees Fahrenheit) at least once, with 22% reaching dangerous temperatures above 34 degrees (93 Fahrenheit). When crocs overheat, they can't perform normal behaviors needed for survival. Their hunting ability suffers dramatically. "Hotter crocodiles don't dive for as long, which is concerning because as ambush hunters, they need to wait underwater holding their breath for a wallaby or feral pig to come past," explains study co-author Professor Craig Franklin from the University of Queensland. This heating forces them to surface more often to breathe and spend longer recovering, making them less effective hunters. They're also using more energy on cooling behaviors rather than finding food, staying safe, or reproducing. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If these reptiles keep overheating, it could create broader problems for river ecosystems where they play a key role as top predators. Their struggle is a warning sign of how warmer temperatures affect wildlife. The crocodiles are already helping themselves by adapting their routines. "We saw that crocs were putting a bit more effort into cooling behaviours," Barham explains. "That might be as simple as they're spending more time on the bank at night, rather than on the bank during the day." Researchers suggest that if warming continues, these reptiles may need to move further south to cooler waters. The study team wants to examine how crocodiles in southern Queensland handle heat waves compared to their northern counterparts. Scientists will continue monitoring these prehistoric survivors to better understand their adaptations. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Crocodiles may be forced to change ways due to climate change, researchers find
BRISBANE, Australia – The world's changing climate may be altering the behavior and health of crocodiles, leading to noticeable changes. A recent study led by researchers at Australia's University of Queensland's School showed that warming temperatures are pushing crocodiles closer to their thermal limits, altering their behaviors. Fifteen years of data collected from some 200 wild crocodiles revealed that the reptiles spend more time than ever around their critical body temperature range of 32-33°C, leading to changes in their cooling behavior. "As ectotherms, crocodiles can't regulate their own temperature like birds and mammals, so as their environment is becoming warmer, the animals in our study are also getting hotter and needing to spend more time on cooling behaviours," Kaitlin Barham, a researcher at the University of Queensland, said in a statement. "But if their time and energy is dominated by the need to stay cool, activity necessary for hunting, keeping safe from predators, or reproducing is reduced." Florida Man Describes Prying His Head Out Of A 12-Foot Alligator's Mouth As 'Nothing Short Of A Miracle' The warmer temperatures drive the reptile's ability to remain submerged for extended periods, which can alter behaviors such as hunting, swimming, and reproduction. Higher temperatures can lead to heavier breathing in animals, as the ectotherms rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. Biologists warn that if temperatures rise above critical thermal limits, it could lead to increased stress and trigger more frequent episodes of breathing, which impacts their norms. "Hotter crocodiles don't dive for as long, which is concerning because, as ambush hunters, they need to wait underwater holding their breath for a wallaby or feral pig to come past," Craig Franklin, a co-author of the study, stated. Nearly a quarter of the animals examined in the study had body temperatures that climbed above 34 °C, but researchers did not mention if there were any deaths attributed to the warm weather. "By monitoring [body temperature] and diving activity in 203 free-ranging estuarine crocodiles over 15 years, we show that the [body temperature] of crocodiles has increased alongside rising air temperatures since 2008, reflecting the climatic shifts caused by the ENSO cycle," the study said. ENSO is the abbreviation for the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, which controls global weather patterns through extremes such as La Niña and El Niño over parts of the Pacific. Since reliable technology started keeping track of world temperatures in the 1950s, the warmest year of any decade has been periods dominated by an El Niño event, which have led to the planet's warmest years. Demise Of Australia's Large Kangaroos Likely Not Caused By Climate Change, Study Suggests The study did not explore whether alligators face the same challenges as crocodiles. Biologists note that while both are reptiles, there are significant differences between the two species. Alligators have a broad, U-shaped snout, whereas crocodiles feature a narrow, V-shaped snout. According to government estimates, there are more than 100,000 saltwater crocodiles living in the wild in Australia, while alligators are not native to the continent and are even considered to be an invasive article source: Crocodiles may be forced to change ways due to climate change, researchers find
