DECEMBER
2, 2019
The
survival habits of a native Australian bird have given Curtin University researchers
vital clues that may help understand how wildlife can withstand harsh heatwaves
that may prove fatal.
The
research, published in Frontiers in Physiology, monitored the physiological and
behavioural responses that enabled zebra finches, an
iconic desert bird, to survive extreme temperatures of more than 40 degrees
Celsius over three to four days at Fowlers Gap, north of Broken Hill in New
South Wales.
Lead
author Dr. Christine Cooper, from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life
Sciences, said researchers monitored zebra finches, which are distinctive
native birds known for their zebra-striped tails and commonly found in the
drier parts of Australia, while they were feeding and drinking.
"Given
that birds are particularly susceptible to extreme weather events and there
have been recent cases of mass bird deaths during heatwaves, it is important to
understand how desert Australian birds respond to heatwaves," Dr. Cooper
said.
"Our
research found that zebra finches survived heatwaves of 40 to 45 degrees
Celsius by avoiding or limiting their movement during the hottest parts of the
day and pre-emptively feeding and drinking in preparation for long periods of
inactivity."
Dr.
Cooper said the research offered important clues to understand how other
species may respond to extreme weather events, including harsh Australian
heatwaves.
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