Summary
Tom Pavey, a doctoral student at Oxford University, conducts research on the impact of climate change on lion populations. His interest in geology, sparked during his studies at Monash University in Melbourne, complements his current focus on understanding how climate change affects species distributions over time. Pavey’s research involves collaboration with the Wild Crew at Oxford, where he utilizes extensive data and modeling to explore the long-term effects of climate change on lions.
Pavey recently completed a unique theatrical tour, performing all of Shakespeare's plays with a small cast, which he describes as a challenging yet rewarding experience. His fieldwork includes trips to various African countries, where he sets up camera traps and works with GPS collar data to monitor lion movements. This hands-on approach allows him to observe lion behavior and gather crucial data for his research.
Preliminary findings indicate that certain regions in Africa, particularly West and Central Africa, are likely to experience significant habitat loss for lions due to climate change. This could lead to genetic inbreeding and declining populations as healthy males struggle to disperse between fragmented habitats. Pavey aims to inform policymakers about these potential impacts, advocating for proactive measures to protect lion populations and raise awareness of the broader consequences of climate change on conservation efforts.
Show Notes
Lions are under considerable stress across Africa. Their habitat is fragmented and impacted by human activity such as agriculture. Being unable to roam freely, has led to inbreeding. Climate change is expected to impact their habitat and bring additional stress.
More from The Science Show - Separate stories podcast
No more “Red In Tooth and Claw”? Well, that’s not the only story in evolution – from the beginning. Rowan Hooper in his latest book, Togetherness, shows how lichens, corals and even ourselves, flourish by means of other life forms. We have mitochondria, plants have chloroplasts, both formerly free-living creatures. We would not have evolved to our current form and could not survive without these once-invaders.
Bees survive by collaboration. To fight infection, bees arrange their honey and other stores in ways that repel disease. Microbiologist and bee researcher Kenya Fernandes led a study into the ways bees arrange their hives for maximum protection from microbial infection.
Why did reptiles prevail for so long and why did mammals take so long to become dominant predators? Adam Lindholm is looking at body size, availability of prey and environmental conditions to reconsider our understanding of the history of reptiles and mammals.
Theme parks and museums draw big crowds for dinosaurs. Kids love them. But palaeontologist James Ronan says some displays are based on ideas from the 1970s and present sound effects from movies. He says it is important to present current ideas about palaeontology accurately. So James Ronan is undertaking a worldwide audit of dinosaurs. Science communicator and podcast host Conor O’Keefe is also disturbed by inaccurate dinosaur displays at theme parks and supports the dinosaur edit saying it is long overdue.
Over the past few years, our environment seems to have experienced multiple extreme events in quick succession. With a summer fuelled by what may be the strongest and wettest El Niño ever, can our wildlife withstand more extremes? Jonathan Webb speaks with Professor Euan Ritchie about what we're currently seeing with flying foxes, what could happen to other species over the summer, and what we can do to help our native creatures. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: [email protected] Featuring: Professor Euan Ritchie, Deakin University Further information: WIRES wildlife rescue assistance on 1300 094 737 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Burramattagal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.