Since European settlement more than 10 % of Australia’s native fauna have become extinct and the current picture reflects 46 % are at various vulnerability stages. Australia’s iconic marsupial species, koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is listed as vulnerable under national environmental law. Human population growth, road expansion and extensive land clearance have fragmented their eucalyptus habitat and reduced the ability of koalas to move across the tree canopy; making the species most vulnerable on the ground. Disease-principally chlamydia, road death, dog-attack and loss of habitat are key environmental pressures and the reasons why koalas are admitted for veterinary care. It is important to understand the dynamics of the physiological impacts that the koala faces from anthropogenic induced environmental challenges, especially on its essential biological functions (e.g. reproduction and immune system function). This review explores published literature and clinical data to identify key environmental stressors that are operating in mainland koala habitats, and while the focus is mostly on the koala, much of the information is analogous to other wildlife; the review may provide the impetus for future investigations involving other vulnerable native wildlife species (e.g. frogs). Oxalate nephrosis associated renal failure appears to be the most prevalent disease in koala populations from South Australia. Other key environmental stressors included heat stress, car impacts and dog attacks. It is possible that maternal stress, nutritional deprivation, dehydration and possible accumulation of oxalate in eucalyptus leaf increase mostly during drought periods impacting on fetal development. We hypothesize that chronic stress, particularly in urban and fringe zones, is creating very large barriers for conservation and recovery programs. Chronic stress in koalas is a result of the synergistic interplay between proximate environmental stressor/s (e.g. heat stress and fringe effects) acting on the already compromised kidney function, immune- and reproductive suppression. Furthermore, the effects of environmental pollutants in the aggravation of diseases such as kidney failure, reproductive suppression and suppression of the unique marsupial immune system should be researched. Environmental policies should be strengthened to increase human awareness of the threats facing the koala, increased funding support towards scientific research and the protection and creation of reserve habitats in urban areas and fringe zones. Global climate change, nutritional deprivation (loss of food sources), inappropriate fire management, invasive species and the loss of genetic diversity represent the complexities of environmental challenges impacting the koala biology.

中文翻译：

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了解环境压力因素对澳大利亚有袋动物的生理影响的动态，重点研究考拉（Phascolarctos cinereus）

自欧洲定居以来，已有超过10％的澳大利亚本土动物灭绝，而目前的情况则反映出46％的澳大利亚处于不同的脆弱阶段。澳大利亚的标志性有袋动物物种考拉（Phascolarctos cinereus）被国家环境法列为易受伤害物种。人口的增长，道路的扩张和广泛的土地清理使桉树的栖息地变得支离破碎，降低了考拉穿越树冠的能力；使该物种在地面上最脆弱。主要疾病是衣原体感染，道路死亡，狗袭击和栖息地丧失，这是主要的环境压力，也是考拉考拉接受兽医护理的原因。重要的是要了解考拉因人为诱发的环境挑战而面临的生理影响的动态变化，特别是在其基本生物学功能（例如生殖和免疫系统功能）方面。这篇综述探讨了已发表的文献和临床数据，以确定在大陆考拉栖息地中运行的主要环境压力因素，尽管重点主要放在考拉上，但许多信息与其他野生动植物相似。审查可能会为将来涉及其他脆弱的野生动植物物种（例如青蛙）的调查提供动力。草酸肾病相关的肾衰竭似乎是南澳大利亚考拉种群中最普遍的疾病。其他主要的环境压力因素包括热压力，汽车撞击和狗袭击。产妇压力，营养匮乏，干旱和桉树叶中草酸盐的可能积累主要在干旱时期增加，从而影响胎儿的发育。我们假设，长期的压力，特别是在城市和边缘地区，正在为保护和恢复计划制造很大的障碍。考拉的慢性应激是邻近环境应激因素（例如热应激和边缘效应）之间相互作用的相互作用的结果，这些相互作用作用于已经受损的肾脏功能，免疫和生殖抑制。此外，应研究环境污染物对肾脏衰竭，生殖抑制和独特的有袋免疫系统抑制等疾病加重的影响。应加强环境政策，以提高人们对考拉所面临威胁的认识，增加对科学研究以及在城市地区和边缘地区保护和创造保护区栖息地的资金支持。全球气候变化，营养匮乏（食物来源的丧失），不适当的火灾管理，入侵物种和遗传多样性的丧失，代表了影响考拉生物学的环境挑战的复杂性。