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Australia's unique tree-dwelling koalas may become a victim of climate change, new research reported on Saturday shows.

Australian scientists say that eucalyptus leaves, the staple diet of koalas and other animals, could become inedible because of climate change.

"What we're seeing, essentially, is that the staple diet of these animals is being turned to leather," said professor Bill Foley of the Australian National University. "Life is set to become extremely difficult for these animals."

Greenhouse experiments carried out by Australian researcher Ivan Lawler found that increased carbon dioxide reduced nitrogen and other nutrients in eucalyptus leaves and boosted tannins, a naturally occurring toxin.

This sharply reduced the levels of protein in the leaves, requiring koalas and other animals to eat more nutritionally poor eucalyptus leaves to survive.

"The food chain for these animals is very finely balanced, and a small change can have serious consequences," Dr. Lawler said.

Koalas and greater gliders, a large gliding possum, depend entirely on eucalyptus leaves for food. Some other marsupials, including brushtail and ringtail possums and many wallaby species, feed extensively on the leaves.

Many insect species also feed exclusively on the leaves.