Water warmed by climate change is exposing baby crocodiles to predators, according to a new study, because it drastically reduces the amount of time they can hide underwater. Young crocodiles rely on “fright dives” to escape their predators,which include birds of prey, large fish, turtles, and larger crocodiles.
But in warmer water, a result of climate change, their defensive dives are shortened by half, University of Queensland researcher Craig Franklin said, warning that “young crocs will become more vulnerable as the climate heats up.”
The cold-blooded aquatic reptiles consume oxygen faster when exposed to warmer water as their metabolism increases, according to the study, which exposed baby crocodiles to current river temperatures of about 28 degrees Celsius and also to temperatures of about 34 degrees, expected by the end of the century.
At 28 degrees, crocodiles could stay submerged for about 18.5 minutes under normal conditions and over an hour if they felt harassed.
But in warmer water, they could only stay under for nine minutes, and a maximum of 28 minutes if they felt threatened.
“We are concerned that crocodile youngsters will become more vulnerable to predators as they are likely to have to surface more frequently if the temperature continues rising,” Franklin said in a statement.
Crocodiles are a protected species in Australia. Since a hunting ban in 1971, their population has soared from near-extinction to nearly 100,000 across the tropical north. — dpa
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