Simon Atkinson
Appearances
Global News Podcast
Concern in Europe after Trump and Putin agree to start Ukraine talks
Unlike birds and mammals, crocodiles can't regulate their own body temperatures. So, when they get hotter, they need to change their behaviour. Scientists have been analysing data from sensors on wild crocodiles in far north Queensland since 2008. In that time, peak temperatures locally have jumped by 0.5 degrees Celsius and the body temperatures of the animals has risen by more than 0.1 degrees.
Global News Podcast
Concern in Europe after Trump and Putin agree to start Ukraine talks
Previous studies suggest hotter crocs don't dive for so long, giving them less time underwater to ambush prey and that devoting extra time to keeping cool means activity for reproducing and staying safe from predators is reduced.
Global News Podcast
Concern in Europe after Trump and Putin agree to start Ukraine talks
The researchers from the University of Queensland and the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve at Australia Zoo will now focus on how a hotter planet is impacting the overall health of the region's crocodile population. Simon Atkinson in Cairns.