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Body temperature of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-east Queensland

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Abstract

The distribution of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Queensland is predicted to contract as a result of climate change, driven by the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves and drought. However, little is known about the physiological responses of this species to environmental extremes under field conditions. This study aimed to establish the efficacy of surgically implanted thermal radio transmitters and data loggers to measure the body temperature of free-ranging koalas across a range of environmental conditions and ambient temperatures. Five free-ranging koalas in southeast Queensland were implanted with thermal transmitters and data loggers waxed together as a single package. Body temperatures were recorded for variable periods ranging from 3 to 12 months. Diurnal rhythms in body temperature were detected irrespective of season. The long-term diurnal body temperature peak for all koalas occurred between 16:00 and 17:00 h and body temperature was 36.7–36.9 °C, the long-term nadir occurred between 07:00 and 08:00 h and body temperature was 35.4–35.7 °C. Koala body temperatures as low as 34.2 °C and as high as 39.0 °C were recorded. Thermolability became apparent when ambient temperatures were outside the deduced thermal neutral zone for koalas (14.5–24.5 °C): heat was accumulated during the day and dissipated during the cool of the night. While this study is the first to report on body temperature of free-ranging koalas in their normal behavioural context, further investigations are necessary to determine the physiological boundaries of the thermal niche for this species, in order to better equip models that will more accurately predict the impacts of climate change on koalas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Peter Brice for his invaluable advice and insight into thermal biology. The authors are grateful to Leonie and John at the Hollow Log Country Retreat for allowing us to use their facilities for our research and turning their common room into our field surgery. The authors would also like to thank Samantha Spicer, the veterinary nurse who kindly assisted Dr. Vere Nicolson with surgical procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture & Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia

    D. Adam & S. D. Johnston

  2. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia

    L. Beard & G. Grigg

  3. Dreamworld Veterinary Clinic, Dreamworld, Coomera, Queensland, 4209, Australia

    V. Nicolson

  4. School of Agriculture & Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia

    J. B. Gaughan & A. T. Lisle

  5. Koala Ecology Group, School of Agriculture & Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia

    S. FitzGibbon, B. J. Barth, A. Gillett & W. Ellis

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  1. D. Adam
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  2. S. D. Johnston
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  3. L. Beard
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Correspondence to D. Adam.

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Adam, D., Johnston, S.D., Beard, L. et al. Body temperature of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-east Queensland. Int J Biometeorol 64, 1305–1318 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-01907-y

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